Some notes about Hungarian school system

Some of you might be wondering what's up when I talk about 10a, 11b, etc. Here I'm going to explain what these numbers and letters mean.

There are mostly vocational high schools in Hungary. That means that when a student is learning regular high school subjects (history, math, biology, etc.) they're also learning some sort of vocational skill. Each school has a focus (i.e. computers, business, airplane industry) that the students major in. Gundel's focus is catering and tourism.

In a typical Hungarian school, students are put into groups their freshman year and stay with that group as long as they're at the school. At Gundel, and at most typical schools, the letter of the class tells what vocation the students are learning.

The "A" classes are the bi-lingual tour guides. These students are either studying in English or German. They alternate each year which language is started. For example, in the 2007-2008 school year 10a and 12a are the English groups, and 9a, 11a, and 13a are the German groups. Next year 11a will be 12a, etc. The "A" classes will go until the 13th grade. Their 9th grade year is ALL English...usually 18+ hours just to get them to a level of English that is fluent...at lease a pre-intermediate level by the end of 9th grade. At the end of 13th grade, they will take an advanced English exam, where other non-bilingual students will just take an intermediate exam.

Students don't typically move from class to class. When they start with their class, they will be with them all 4 or 5 years of school. All the students take all the same classes...there aren't many electives. Students stay together for every period of every day. All the students have the same schedule. The teachers go to the students' classroom to teach.

The "B" classes are also bi-lingual students, but they're learning confectionery (baking.) They will also take the advanced exam at the end of 13th grade. Their 9th grade year was all English too. Like the "A" classes, they alternate years with English and German.

There are other classes at Gundel c, d, e, f, etc. Each letter is a different vocational topic of study. Some are waiters, cooks, or basic high school with a little vocation (few classes a week.)

Also, there is not a daily schedule. Each day is different. For example, most of the English classes occur two times a week for 45 minutes. They'll be on different days and at different times (Monday, 1st period and Thursday 5th period.) So students rarely memorize their schedule because it's different every day. And sometimes it changes mid-year.

Students don't earn credits from their classes. They basically have to pass everything in order to move on to the next grade. If they fail one or two classes in a year, they'll usually have an opportunity just before the new school year starts to take an exam to "catch up."

Well, I hope this helps you understand a bit more about the Hungarian school system. As with many things in Hungary, it could be a completely different set up at another school...this is just my experience.

Thanks for checking in to the blog!

Ms. Barrett