Czech schools

School attendance in the Czech Republic is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15. Most children attend state schools, but there are also newly established private and church schools. Education at state schools up to 18 or 19 is free of charge but students at secondary schools have to pay for their textbooks. Private and church schools charge school fees. All schools are coeducational. Children in our school system do not wear uniforms. Handicapped children are educated separately.

The school year starts on 1st September and ends on 30th June of the following year. The school year is divided into two terms (September-January, February-June). A school day is different at different types of schools. The average number of lessons at a secondary school is around thirty a week, primary schools have fewer lessons, while specialised schools often have more. Classes begin between 8 and 8.15 and there are from 4 to 6 lessons in a row, followed by a lunch break, usually 45 minutes long, which is one period, and then afternoon classes. Afternoon classes end between 4 and 5 at the latest. Breaks between the lessons last from 5 to 15 minutes.

Pupils and students are evaluated by marks from 1 to 5, 1 is the best, 5 is the worst. Each term students get their school report with marks from both compulsory and elective subjects.

Education in our country includes these stages: pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary.

Pre-school education is provided by crèches for children up to 3 years of age and nursery schools for children aged 3 to 6. Not many children attend crèches but quite a lot of them attend kindergartens. At the age of 6 children start to attend primary schools and they stay there until 15. At the age of 15 the pupils transfer from primary to secondary schools. Some pupils, whose parents wish them to, can transfer to grammar schools at the age of 11 after they have passed an entrance examination.

At the age of 15 pupils can choose among a variety of secondary schools:

a) grammar schools with general and rather academic education which prepare students for university study,

b) special schools which include technical colleges, specialised in building, chemistry, engineering etc., business academies, agricultural schools, nursing schools, music and art schools which offer professional education and

c) vocational schools training would-be workers for practical jobs.

Secondary education usually lasts for 4 years and at grammar and specialised schools it is finished with a school-leaving examination which is required by all universities and colleges. This examination is taken in four subjects at grammar schools (Czech, a foreign language and two optional subjects chosen from foreign languages, science subjects or humanities) and in five or more subjects at specialised schools. The examination is held in May and is mostly oral except Czech language in which an essay is written about a month before. The oral part of the exam takes about two hours, half an hour for each subject. A student chooses one of 25 to 30 topics by drawing a number and after 15 minutes' preparation he/she speaks on the topic and solves given tasks. After the graduates have passed their school-leaving exam they receive the School-Leaving Certificate and they can apply for study at universities and colleges.

Universities and colleges provide tertiary education which lasts from 4 to 6 years. Each secondary school graduate can apply for as many universities and colleges as he/she likes but before he/she is accepted they have to pass an entrance examination in the subjects in which the university specialises. The examination consists of a written test and an interview.

Every large regional town in our country is a seat of a university or college now, but the oldest ones are the most renowned. Our oldest university is Charles University in Prague, founded by Charles IV in 1348 as the first Central and East European university. Other notable universities are Masaryk University in Brno, Palacký University in Olomouc and Purkyně University in Ustí nad Labem. Prague has also one of the two technical universities in our country (ČTU), the other one is in Brno.

Undergraduates can study a variety of subjects such as economics, foreign trade, architecture, law, journalism, the humanities, foreign languages, medicine, science, music, art, drama, engineering or computer science at various schools e.g. School of Economics or Architecture, Law, Medical or Science Faculty, Faculty of Journalism, Teachers' Training College, Art School, College of Agriculture, technical universities or polytechnics.

The university or college students can enrol at three-year courses for a Bachelor’s Degree or four and five-year courses for a Master’s Degree. Medicine usually takes 6 years. The university or college study is finished with a state examination and every undergraduate also has to write a thesis in order to receive a diploma in a certain field of study. The diploma is handed over at a graduation ceremony. Doctoral Degrees are awarded after other few years of study, which may be also individual, and completion of another thesis.

Full-time university students are expected to bear the expense of their tuition and they also have to pay for their accommodation and board. The students from distant places usually lodge at a hall of residence (dorm). Only a limited number of students get a grant or a scholarship.

For those who do not want to enter the university there are various types of two-year training courses such as for managers, businessmen, social workers, specialised nurses or language experts.

A SCHOOL, A CLASSROOM

School buildings in our country look very similar, only their size differs depending on the number of pupils or students attending them. They are usually large buildings with a few floors, often with a sportsground attached. ln the basement or on the ground floor there are cloakrooms with students' lockers, a boiler room, a workshop, a school canteen, sometimes also a fitness centre, a snackbar, a caretaker’s flat or a gymnasium.

On the other floors there are usually long hallways with many doors leading to classrooms, teachers' offices, laboratories, a common room, the head's and deputy head's offices, the administrative office, a school library, a computer room and toilets. The hallways and staircases are decorated with pictures, flowers and there are also notice-boards, some cabinets and glasscases.

All classrooms in the Czech Republic are almost the same. There are large windows opposite the door, many of school desks and chairs with two aisles in between, a blackboard and a shelf with coloured and white chalk, a sponge and a cloth on the front wall, a teacher’s desk, a bookcase, a notice board, a few pictures and a portrait of the president, a wash-basin, a mirror, a thermometer and a waste-paper basket.

Subjects which need special equipment or aids are taught in special classrooms such as a chemistry, biology or physics laboratory, a music and an art room or a gymnasium. For teaching foreign languages a language lab is specially equipped with various audio-visual aids, such as maps, a tape or cassette recorder, a slide or overhead projector, a screen and a video. Some schools also have an assembly hall.

What is a lesson in a Czech school like? After the bell, when the teacher enters the room, the pupils or students stand up to greet him. He makes an entry in the class register, marks absent students and then he starts the lesson with revision of the previous lesson. He examines the pupils individually by asking them to come to the blackboard, they are asked to reckon, do an exercise, explain a problem, respond to teacher’s questions or sometimes the whole class takes a written test.

The performance of the students who excel is usually perfect, they are fluent and creative. Sometimes the performance is rather disappointing both for the teacher and the student alike. The reasons differ from not paying attention in class, not doing homework regularly and copying it in the break before the lesson, relying on one's pretty face, cutting classes and not working consistently and systematically to spoiling one's performance due to nervousness. The results range from excellent, very good, good, and satisfactory to failure.

After examination the teacher explains a new subject matter and practises it with exercises. Before the end of the lesson he sums up the topic and sets assignments for the next lesson. The teachers are supposed to follow the curriculum but they are free to choose textbooks for their students. Some students stay at school after school hours and take part in after-school activities such as singing in the choir, drama club, arts club, reciting club or games.)

VOCABULARY

TYPES OF SCHOOLS
school [sku:l]	škola
basic school [‘beisik ‘sku:l]	- základní škola
primary school [‘praimәri ‘sku:l]	- základní škola
secondary school [‘sekndri ‘sku:l]	- střední škola
secondary grammar school [...græmә ‘sku:l]	- gymnázium
secondary special school [... ‘spešl ‘sku:l]	- střední odborná škola
secondary nursing school [... ‘nә:siŋ ‘sku:l ]	- střední zdravotnická škola
secondary agricultural school	- střední zemědělská škola
secondary music and art school	- umělecká škola, konzervatoř
business academy [biznis ә‘kædәmi ]	- obchodní akademie
technical college [teknikl ‘kolidž]	- střední průmyslová škola
vocational school [vou’keišәnl ‘sku:l]	- učiliště
crèche [kreiš]	- jesle
nursery school [nә:sri ‘sku:l ]	- mateřská škola
kindergarten [‘kindә,ga:tn]	- mateřská škola
state school [steit ‘sku:l]	- státní škola
private school [‘praivit ‘sku:l]	- soukromá škola
church school [‘čә:č ‘sku:l]	- církevní škola
special school [‘spešl ‘sku:l)	- zvláštní škola
school for handicapped children [...hændikæpt...]	- škola pro postižené děti
coeducational school [‘kәu,edju’keišәnәl ‘sku:l ]	- smíšená škola
university [,ju:ni’vә:siti]	univerzita
college [‘kolidž]	technická vysoká škola
training course [treiniŋ ‘ko:s ]	nástavba, kurs

EDUCATION
education [,edju’keišn]	vzdělání, vzdělávání
general education [‘dženәrәl ,edjuikeišn]	všeobecné vzdělání
pre-school education [pri’sku:l ...]	předškolní vzdělávání
primary education [‘praimәri ...]	základní vzdělání
secondary education [‘sekndri ....]	střední vzdělání
tertiary education [‘tә:šәri ...]	vyšší, vysokoškolské vzdělání
qualification [ kwolifi’keišәn]	kvalifikace, vzdělání

PERSONS AT SCHOOL
caretaker [‘keә teikә]	školník
class, form, grade [kla:s, fo:m, greid]	třída - skupina žáků
form-master [‘fo:m’ma:stә]	třídní učitel
form-mistress [‘fo:m’mistris]	třídní učitelka
headmaster [‘hed’ma:stә]	ředitel školy
headmistress [‘hed’mistris]	ředitelka školy
deputy headmaster [‘depjuti ‘hed’ma:stә]	zástupce ředitele školy
janitor [džænitә]	školník (am.)
pupil [pju:pl]	žák, žákyně
principal [prinsәpl]	ředitel školy (am.)
schoolfellow [‘sku:l felәu]	spolužák
schoolmate [‘sku:lmeit]	spolužák
student [stju:dәnt]	student, studentka
graduate [grædjuit]	absolvent VŠ
undergraduate [,andә‘grædjuit]	posluchač VŠ
teacher [ti:čә]	učitel
tutor [tju:tә]	domácí učitel, vychovávatel

SCHOOL SUBJECTS
subject [sabdžikt]	školní předmět
compulsory [kәm’palsәri]	povinný
obligatory [o’bligәtәri]	povinný
vocational [vәu’keišәnl]	odborný
optional [opšәnl]	volitelný
elective [i’lektiv]	volitelný
architecture [a:kitekčә]	architektura
arithmetic [ә‘riӨmetik]	aritmetika
art, fine art [a:t, fain a:t]	výtvarná výchova
accounting [ә‘kauntiŋ]	účetnictví
biology [bai’olәdži]	biologie
civics [siviks]	občanská nauka
chemistry [kemistri]	chemie
computers [kәm’pju:tәz]	výpočetní technika
cookery [kukәri]	vaření
crafts {kra:fts]	pracovní vyučování
driving lessons [draiviŋ lesnz]	dopravní výchova
economics [,i:kә‘nomiks]	ekonomika
foreign languages [forin læŋgwidžiz]	cizí jazyky
- Czech [ček]	čeština
- English [iŋgliš]	angličtina
- French [frenč]	francouzština
- German [džә:mәn]	němčina
- Greek [gri:k]	řečtina
- Latin [‘lætin]	latina
- Russian [rašәn]	ruština
- Spanish [spæniš]	španělština
foreign trade [forin treid]	zahraniční obchod
geography [dži’ogrәfi]	zeměpis
health education [helӨ edju’keišәn]	zdravotní výchova
history [histәri]	dějepis
law [lo:]	právo
literature [litrečә]	literatura
mathematics [,mæӨi’mætiks]	matematika
metalwork [metlwә:k]	práce v kovodílně
music [‘mju:zik]	hudební výchova
needlework [ni:dlwә:k]	ruční práce
labs [læbz]	laboratorní práce
philosophy [fi’losofi]	filozofie
physical training [fizikl treiniŋ]	tělesná výchova
psychology [sai’kolәdži]	psychologie
physics [fiziks]	fyzika
reading [‘ri:diŋ]	čtení
shorthand [‘šo:thænd]	těsnopis
technical drawing [teknikl dro:viŋ]	technické kreslení
tractor driving [træktә draiviŋ]	řízení traktoru
typing [taipiŋ]	psaní strojem
writing [‘raitiŋ]	psaní

SCHOOL YEAR AND HOLIDAYS
school year [‘sku:l jә:]	školní rok
term [tә:m]	část školního roku, pololetí,
classes [kla:siz]	vyučování
lesson [lesn]	vyučovací hodina
lessons [lesnz]	vyučování
break [breik]	přestávka
lunch break [lanč breik]	přestávka na oběd
autumn holidays [o:tәm holәdiz]	podzimní prázdniny
Christmas holidays [krismәs holәdiz]	vánoční prázdniny
mid-year holidays [midjә: holәdiz]	pololetní prázdniny
spring holidays [spriŋ holәdiz]	jarní prázdniny
Easter holidays [i:stә holәdiz]	velkonoční prázdniny
summer holidays [samә holәdiz]	letní prázdniny

SCHOOL BUILDING
assembly hall [ә‘sembli ho:l]	aula
basement [‘beismәnt]	suterén
blackboard [blækbo:d]	tabule
boiler room [boilә ‘rum]	kotelna
chalk [čo:k]	křída
classroom [‘kla:sru:m]	třída (místnost)
classregister [‘kla:s redžistә]	třídní kniha
cloakroom [‘kloukru:m]	šatna
desk [desk]	lavice, psací stůl
dormitory, dorm [ do:mitri]	kolej, internát
gymnasium [džim’neizjәm]	tělocvična
hall of residence [ho:l әv rezidәns]	kolej
hallway [ho:lwei]	chodba
laboratory, lab [lә‘borәtәri, læb]	laboratoř
biology lab	laboratoř biologie
chemistry lab	chemická laboratoř
computer lab	učebna výpočetní techniky
physics lab	fyzikální laboratoř
typing lab	učebna psaní strojem
locker [lokә]	skříňka v šatně
map [mæp]	mapa
notice-board [‘noutisbo:d]	nástěnka, informační tabule
office [‘ofis]	kancelář
headmaster’s office	ředitelna
deputy headmaster’s office	kancelář zástupce ředitele
secretary’s office	sekretariát
teachers’ offices	kabinety učitelů
overhead projector [әuvәhed prә‘džektә]	zpětný projektor
picture [‘pikčә]	obraz
playground [‘pleigraund]	hřiště
screen [skri:n]	obrazovka, promítací plátno
school cantina [sku:l kænti:n]	školní jídelna
school farm [sku:l fa:m]	školní statek
school garden [sku:l ga:dәn]	školní zahrada
school library [sku:l ‘laibrәri]	školní knihovna
sponge [spandž]	houba
staff room [sta:f rum]	sborovna
stadium [‘stei’djәm]	stadión, hřiště
store room [‘sto: rum]	sklad
wall-chart [‘wol’ča:t]	plakát, obraz, tabule
workshop [‘wә:kšop]	dílna
teaching aids [‘ti:čiŋ eids]	učební pomůcky
timetable [‘taim teibl]	rozvrh hodin
training kitchen [‘treiniŋ kičin]	výuková kuchyně

OTHER IMPORTANT WORDS
school attendance [... ә‘tendәns]	školní docházka
school fee [‘sku:l fi:]	školné, poplatek
free of charge [,fri: әv ča:dž]	bezplatný
mark [ma:k]	známka ve škole
school report [sku:l ri’po:t]	vysvědčení
exam [ig’zæm]	zkouška
exam in three subjects	zkouška ze tří předmětů
an English exam	zkouška z AJ
entry exam [entri ig’zæm]	přijímací zkouška
essay [‘esei]	písemná práce
graduation exam [,grædju’eišәn ig’zæm]	závěrečná zkouška
graduation ceremony [,grædju’eišәn serimәni]	závěrečná slavnost, promoce
school-leaving exam [sku:l liviŋ ig’zæm]	maturitní zkouška
school-leaving certificate [sku:l liviŋ sә‘tifikit]	maturitní vysvědčení
after-school activities	mimoškolní činnost
club [klab]	klub, kroužek
group [gru:p]	skupina, kroužek
team [ti:m]	sportovní tým, oddíl
thesis [Өi:sis]	diplomová práce
topic [topik]	téma
curriculum [kә‘riklujәm]	osnovy, učivo
degree [di’gri:]	akademická hodnost
homework [hәumwә:k]	domácí úkol

VERBS
attend [ә‘tend]	navštěvovat školu
be at school	být ve škole
commute [kә‘mju:t]	dojíždět
educate [‘edjukeit]	vzdělávat, vychovávat
enter [entә]	nastoupit do školy
evaluate [i’væljueit]	hodnotit
fail an exam	propadnout u zkoušky
go to school	chodit/jít do školy
graduate from [grædžuet ....]	ukončit školu
last [la:st]	trvat
learn [lә:n]	učit se
pass an exam [pa:s]	skládat zkoušky, udělat zkoušku
sit for an entry exam	konat přijímací zkoušku
study [stadi]	studovat
take/sit an exam	dělat zkoušku
teach [ti:č]	učit, vyučovat

PICTURE DICTIONARY

PHRASES

Jaké máte vzdělání ?	What qualifications do you have?
- Vystudoval jsem střední školu.	I studied at secondary school.
- Vystudoval jsem gymnázium.	I studied at grammar school.
- Absolvoval jsem chemickou	I graduated from technical college
průmyslovku.	specializing in chemistry.
Na tuto školu jsem nastoupil v ….	I entered this school in …..
Studia jsem ukončil v roce …	I finished my studies in …
Promoval jsem v roce …	I graduated in ….
V létě promoval.	He graduated in the summer.
Hlásím se na češtinu.	I’m applying (for a place) to study Czech.
Dělám přijímačky.	I’m doing/taking my entrance exams.
Studuji právnickou fakultu.	I study at a faculty of law.
- lékařskou fakultu.	a faculty of medicine.
- pedagogickou fakultu.	a faculty of education.
- ekonomickou fakultu.	a faculty of economics.
- matematicko-fyzikální fakultu.	a faculty of mathematics and physics.
Studuji (na univerzitě) matematiku.	I am studying/reading maths.
Studuji chemii na vysoké škole.	I am doing a degree in chemistry.
Chodím na kurz nemčiny.	I‘m doing/taking a course in German.
Letos dělá zkoušky GCSE.	He’s doing his GCSEs this year.
Letos maturuji.	I’m doing/taking my school-leaving exams this year.
Školu dokončila loni.	She left school last year.
Do které třídy chodí váš syn?	What class is your son in?
Jak se učí váš syn?	How is your son doing at school?
Můj syn se učí dobře.	My son is doing well at school.
- učí se průměrně.	is average.
- neučí se moc dobře.	is not doing very well.
Je to studijní/tvořivý typ.	She is an academic/creative type.
Má talent na jazyky.	He’s got a talent for languages.
Jde/Nejde jí zeměpis.	She is good/bad at geography.
Z biologie dostává dobré známky.	He gets good marks for biology.
Dostává většinou jedničky a dvojky.	She gets mostly ones and twos.
Mladší dceru posílám do jeslí	I send my younger daughter to nursery school
a starší do školky.	and the older one goes to kindergarten.
Nejstarší syn chodí do základní školy.	My oldest son attends primary school.
Jak dlouhé jsou u vás letní prázdniny?	How long are your summer holidays?
U nás trvají dva měsíce.	Our last two month.
Platí se u vás za výuku?	Do you pay for education?

I studied at the secondary school.

She studies at the secondary grammar school.

Peter graduated from the business academy.

I finished my studies in 1995.

We study at secondary school.

He studies at a Faculty of Medicine.

My sister studies at a Faculty of Law.

Our son attends a basic school.

Mary goes to the secondary nursing school.

What class is John in? He is in the fourth class. He is in class four.

How is your son doing at school? He is doing well at school. He is average. He is not doing very well.

Do you pay for education? No, education is free of charge at our school. Yes, I have to pay some fee.