Also, one really fun tradition you should definitely know about, when your youngest enters first grade is the "Schultüte". Its a large paper cone filled with lots of fun surprises, like candy and school supplies, that children bring along on their first day of school (or the ceremony beforehand). You will see "Schultüten" to buy in stores, but more often parents of kindergarteners will meet up to make, decorate and fill them individually for their children. You can also make small versions for the siblings or friends of the firstgrader.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife yea, it is beautyful...my Mum even gave us a very tiny "Schultüte" every year. Nur as big as in frist grade, but wirth a few Hanutas a littele goodie e.g.
Each class has elected 2 parent representatives... ask your class teacher who it is and their information or it would be on your class list with addresses and numbers of all the kids in class. They are the ones who send around information from the school that is for all parents...
In our family (and I have seen it in other homes too) the timetables were always hanging on the fridge. Add the times of each class and you will know exactly when school ends. It helps a lot to highlight the Sport/PE class, so you can check with one glance if the Turnbeutel is needed.
We did that too! And since the timetables change with every year my mother always knew when my younger sister and I were done with school on each day. :D
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife you were wondering where you could put the fridge magnets. Maybe you buy a "small" magnetic white board (50x30cm?), that you can hang on a wall just like a picture, but it contains a copy of the time tables of all kids and some other useful information. Maybe in the kitchen or maybe somewhere near the entrance? You could also buy some white board markers - not permanent markers but white board markers, but don't let the white board marker paint sit longer than a few months on it, because then even the white board marker paint becomes hard to remove from the white board.
Thank ypu guys! ❤❤❤ Your reports are the best about Germany I found! I'm German, former int. Management consultant, i lived nearly half of my life in other countries like Icory Coast, Spain, Switzerland. And I know many countries in the world. 😂😂😂😂 Have fun!!!! I myself have 4 kids, 6 grand children and I'm married 2.time with a Camerounaise. Today we live in summer in Germany and in winter in other countries. Have fun! ❤❤❤❤
- Mittelschule(which is actually quite different in Bavaria) and Realschule are more practically oriented while Gymnasium is much more theoretically oriented (languages i.e. english, french, latin as well as natural and social sciences). It's hard to make a judgement of course, but your eldest seems to be quite smart (not to mention genetics) and also seems to have an interest in linguistics if I'm not mistaken. Frankly, I'd strongly recommend trying to get him into Gymnasium ASAP, as, the longer you wait, the harder a time he'll have catching up. Also, he might very likely get bored in Mittelschule, once he has enough German. 5th and 6th grade at Gymnasium is also called "Orientierungsstufe" (orientation phase) because it'll give you an idea whether you chose correctly. I means that, during that phase, they basically cut you some slack. Going to Gymnasium also gives you advantages in addition to a general qualification for college such as for example a "Latinum" if you had Latin from 5th through at least 11th grade (Latinum is a qualification you need when studying things like medicine, history etc at university). And yes, I'd say the last 30 years or so the pressures of gettting your kid into Gymnasium has increased. It's not that it has gotten harder, it's just that an increasing "fear" of your kid missing out on the best education has become a global phenomenon. - Getting a tutor was definitely the right idea. - A "Sporttasche" (sports bag) is a common convenience thing. You put your sports shirt, shorts and indoor sports sneakers in there (plus additional stuff for outdoor sports in summer) and then you just take it with you on the days you have phys.ed. Good luck teaching those boys to regularly bring the contents of said bag to mum after use on a regular basis lol. And yes "Sorry, I forgot to bring my sports bag" is a common occurence. :D - The whole communication fiasco with the teacher sending messages through this or that channel is NOT a cultural thing: Before Covid Germans schools were woefully behind in the digitalization process. So at the moment everyone is trying to catch up and things can get very chaotic. You guys are NOT alone - welcome to the club. Try not to worry about it overly much. - Individual school schedules. Yep, that's what goes on the fridge (or any similar visible spot): every kid's individual schedule, so you know when to expect them home or pick them up (if you so chose) and when to remind them to take their sports bag along. ;) Schedules are usually given out on the first day, although with digitalization some schools that have an individual login ID might now have the option to download your schedule in advance. Frankly, I'd just let them come home by themselves and not pick them up at all - it's all part of that sense of independance. - Religion in school. Ah yes, the weird contradiction: The US has the separation of church and state which Germany doesn't have nominally (the churches are even part of the tax system) ... but the effect is the opposite of what you would think: In Germany religion has very little influence in public life or in politics - it couldn't be more different from the US, where religious groups exert strong pressure and no candidate for higher political office could get elected without professing their faith. Germany has a very secular society only probably surpassed by the scandinavian countries (I guess Kevin probably has some experiences with that from his time in Sweden). As for the actual subjects in school, as a general rule "catholic" often is more focused on the bible and the history of catholicism while "protestant" starts out that way and gets closer to ethics as the children get older. Don't be surprised when they come home in 8th or 9th grade having discussed abortion laws, multiculturalsim, social justice or similar things - that's quite normal. - In general, social groups in German high schools are much less monolithic than you'd probably expect in the US: there isn't really a lot of that "jocks", "nerds" etc. distinction. That doesn't mean kids might not get excluded on an individual basis (we're not better people after all), but for the most part there are less cliques.
I would also say that in protestant religion later on you also learn about Islam and buddhism and hinduism althought it might differ from region to region
@@noizW Kommt 1. auf den Kontext und 2. drauf an, ob du eher britisch oder amerikanisch orientiert bist. Amerikaner nutzen "quite" eher als "ziemlich" und Briten eher als "etwas", ist aber auch nicht in Stein gemeißelt.
I admire how optimistic, positive and with what a great sense of humour you can talk about these rather difficult, baffling and sometimes even annoying school experiences. 👍😂💚
I agree and don't get too intimidated by some of us Germans' brusque nature. We're just really passionate about doing our things the proper way, but when we can see that someone is really trying to learn our language and about our culture it makes us happy. I hope you have a great time here and all the best to your family!
This is not really about school, but do you know the "Sendung mit der Maus"?:) It is a TV program for children and almost every German child grew up watching it on Sunday half an hour. It includes little stories or cartoons and in the middle, there is like a little documentary about somethig, how something works or how something is produced or why is something how it is :) so they are teaching a little topic so children can understand easily. It is really nice and maybe you are interested in it :) for many children watching Sendung mit der Maus is like a little Sunday routine :)
I say to my husband, "There should be a Sendung mit der Maus about this (how something is produced)" and he says, "There is." Happy 50th anniversary, Maus!
Oh, and also sometimes there are fairytales in the program like the "Sonntagsmärchen" ("fairytales on sunday") which are also really nice, especially for kids to learn the language, but also for adults :) they are in the regular program and also in the ARD mediathek, if you are interested :)
I have heard of this show from comments of other viewers, but it was called something different. I looked up the show on UA-cam and it is an orange mouse? No talking?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I just found a whole show on UA-cam :) if you want to gain an impression of the show, maybe you should rather use this UA-cam link than the internet page, I feel like the internet page is a bit more complicated and I'm not sure if there is a whole show :) ua-cam.com/video/bcANUiRkasY/v-deo.html
I'm an Austrian living in the Netherlands (Austrian father, Dutch mother). Dutch is my native language. When I was little I learned German from German TV and books, starting with Die Sendung mit der Maus and Mickey Maus / Donald Duck comics. By the time I went to secondary school my German was already pretty good.
When you go to a Gymnasium, you don't necessarily have to go to University, however that's what most people are doing. I went to a Gymnasium and most people went to Uni after but some didn't. Gymnasium is from grade 5 to grade 13 so you graduate at around 19 years old. Realschule typically ends after grade 10 so you graduate at about 16 years old. After Realschule, you can either start working (for example as an apprentice) or you can go to a Gymnasium for the last three years to get your University qualification. That's what I did! Hope that helps :) Also, fountain pens are mandatory at most schools for most children, I hold onto my first one for many years haha! Also I think the kids German is going to improve so fast. I spent an exchange year in Norway and it was similar for me, I got "thrown" into a Norwegian school not knowing a single word of Norwegian. However I was pretty fluent after a few months although I was already 16!
Oh interesting. It's quite similar here in Berlin but there are some differences. Grundschule here is grade 1-6 or if you want to you can allready leave from grade 4 and go to gymnasium. If you go to gymnasium after grade 4 you probably in a,, Profilklasse" means these classes are focus on music or science or math etc. The regular gymnasium starts at grade 7 and goes up to grade 12. But there are also,, (Integrierte-) Sekundarschulen" for people who are usually not that good in school (I really don't know how to describe that without offending someone sry). The ISS (Integrierte Sekundarschule) is from grade 7 to 10 but some schools also offer you the possibility to attend ,, Abitur" but it's usually 3 years in contrast to the Gymnasium where it is only 2 years.
@@grandmak. I think what was my advantage was that I was still a teenager and not an adult, and also the fact that my first language is German. Plus, I lived in a norwegian host family and they helped me a lot!
Clara's advice is good in general, but perhaps a bit too generic. There are relatively large differences between the German states, and the school system in Bavaria is the most old-fashioned. This has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that generally speaking, Gymnasium is a fantastic preparation for university. Historically, Gymnasiums evolved out of private colleges, which often had a few dozen adult students who were taught subjects like Latin, Greek and advanced mathematics primarily by the owner. These schools often included boarding. Nowadays they are generally public and free, start much earlier in year 5 (or in certain other states in year 7) and end in year 13 (or occasionally in year 12). In most states the material that is taught in years 5-6 is almost identical between the different school forms to facilitate early switching between the tracks. In this case the main difference is probably in the teachers' approach. Generally speaking, the non-Gymnasium tracks are probably much more similar to American high schools. In most states these are the tracks for the small percentage of students who didn't make it into Gymnasium, and this is where the teachers go who never for a minute considered becoming a researcher (or engineer or similar) instead, but nearly became a social worker. Based on your report it may be fair to think of your eldest son's teacher as a committed social worker type, which is of course really good news for you right now. In the long run, you are facing a hard decision, though, because of how things are different in Bavaria. The good news is that non-Gymnasium tracks are more normal in Bavaria; the parents of a few children may even have an academic background. The bad news is that in this state you need to think of switching between tracks as similarly hard as the switch from the US to Germany, except that now you will also face bureaucratic hurdles. Why would you want to switch tracks to Gymnasium? Because it's the right school form for the more intellectually inclined children. More and more jobs nowadays require Abitur. Bavaria is extremely conservative, so this development is a bit slower, and a relatively large percentage of farmers provides a steady trickle of children who for practical reasons don't go to Gymnasium even though they could. But not having Abitur severely restricts one's options in the German-speaking world later on. With Abitur, your children will be able to study almost any subject practically for free at any German or Austrian university. Only a few super popular fields such as medicine have additional hurdles; almost all fields are unrestricted. Otherwise, any German Abitur or Austrian Matura allows everybody to just enroll for any subject at any German or Austrian university. If one day, one of your children gets bored at age 80 after a life of hoarding university degrees or not doing any learning at all, then (based on current rules, which haven't changed in ages), they can still enroll at a moment's notice for a degree course in any unrestricted field. In the worst case, there may be fees up to a couple thousand euros per year if the university is in the wrong state, especially if you already hold a university degree. Without Abitur, your children won't get this exceptional freedom, and may not realize they want it before, say, getting into a mid-life crisis. Generally speaking, studying without Abitur is possible but very severely restricts the available universities and fields and often involves additional hurdles. Choosing the Gymnasium track now may involve a longer distance to school, often in the form of a really long bike ride or using public schools. For children who don't learn naturally and easily, Bavarian Gymnasium can also be tough. There are ways to obtain a regular Abitur after finishing Realschule, but options are severely limited, can be expensive, may involve remote courses or require presence in a far-away city, and may not have a capacity that matches demand. Coming from the US, it may be hard to guess where your children fit into the German school system. Based on everything I have seen I *guess* that Gymnasium would be best for your eldest son. You should ask his enthusiastic teacher about this. *If* a Realschule or Mittelschule teacher says Gymnasium might be better for a specific student, take it very seriously. It means the student is likely not making use of their full academic potential, i.e. is being trained to suppress their desire to learn. Complications from language troubles and from switching: When my daughter moved from Germany to England at the age of 4, she was fully fluent in perfect English after 9 months in an English nursery. That's also what you can expect in the other direction if your children don't start sticking to their siblings to avoid speaking German. In the long run, problems will primarily be on the level of orthography and fine points of grammar. This can impact superficially impact grades, especially at Gymnasium, but should not *directly* impact learning. (Only indirectly if a child is discouraged by poor grades or a teacher's resulting inappropriate attitude.) In German schools it is quite common to repeat a grade. Usually this is 'punishment' for very poor grades. (The official reason is that a student doesn't have acquired the required knowledge for the next grade.) Although adjusting to a new class can be tough, you may want to use this to make adjustments if you find a child is struggling in school, and especially in COVID times a setback by 1 grade may be a good option if switching tracks to Gymnasium. Don't worry about your children being too old when they leave school. It's not a big issue in Germany, and getting Abitur after Realschule normally means they will also lose at least 1 year.
There is another way you can go after the Realschule. At a Berufskolleg you can make a more easy Abitur in one specific direction. E.g. there are some for health and social studies or for economy.
There really is a hustle to get into Gymnasium in Germany for many familys. I felt pressured in the 4th grade and worked more than I needed to get into a Gymnasium. But actually, when you get into Realschule you can easily change the school track if you have the qualification and the motivation! My best friend started of at a mix of Mittelschule and Realschule, than she changed to Gymnasium and now she successfully studies medicine. So don't worry too much about it. I'm sure your kids will do great and your support will help them reach their potential no matter the school track.
I did Gymnasium till 9th grade then dropped down to Realschule and then did my Fachhochschulreife which is almost the same as Gymnasium but not quiet its more practical and less theoratical. Its a "college entrance qualification" mainly for Hochschulen but you can often study at Universities as well
this happens to how many percent. like almost nobody? your friends seemed to have been a smart kid in the wrong school. Also when the kids grow up, it is so much about motivation and effort. But if they are smart, the motivation can still be low and you get though gymnasium. but if motivation, effort and skill is high - you go study medicine.
Here is an advice for easier and fun german learning for your kids (and even you): many (most even?) german kids grow up with audio books and audio plays. It's really a big thing here. Every german kid knows these: TKKG, Benjamin Blümchen, BiBi Blocksberg, BiBi und Tina, Die drei Fragezeichen. Pretty sure your kids friends will know all or at least some of these so they will also have something to talk about. TKKG is about a detective friends group, Bibi Blocksberg is a friendly little witch, Benjamin Blümchen is a friendly little elefant (same universe as Bibi), Bibi und Tina is Bibi Blocksberg with her best friend Tina and its mostly about horses and adventures. Die drei Fragezeichen is also about a detective friends group. All of these are immensly popular and an important part of german identity really. Just know that especially the older ones, and here especially the detective ones, might have different ways of talking about racial or gender topics (the words that are used for example). Some of these are many decades old, so just make sure to pick the new ones or that you are able to talk about your kids about how the ways of handling language etc can change in cultures.
That is a good idea...there are also a couple of songs for children which a lot of parents use as educational tool, like the ones by Frederik Vale and above all Rolf und seine Freunde. I think there are few children in Germany which didn't grew up with his "Verkehrshitparade" (songs about how to behave in traffic correctly to avoid accidents), "Radio Lollipop" and his Christmas songs. And they should watch "Die Sendung mit der Maus".
Audiobooks / Hörspiele are a verry godd idea. Our 10 year old daughtet likes the "Ghostsitter". You can find them on Amazon. They are really funny. And now she finaly picked up the books too. But as others allready said, don't put to much presure on youre shulders. You are doing great.
I do respect your courage to move over to a foreign country with four kids, to restart from scratch somewhere in the south of Bavaria. This reminds me of the best what America can bring to the old continent. You will make it for sure!
Pro tip would be not to pressure your kids into Gymnasium if grades indicate they are not ready for it as in this case the additional learning requirements could very well have their childhood end right then and there. With a sufficient Mittelschule/Realschule GPA it's actually no problem to sign up for 11th grade and get the very same degree three years later.
It is harder though to get used to the standerts of a Gymnasium later. I remember only one of the 5/6 kids, who transfered from the Realschule to my Gymnasium in the 10th grade, made her Abitur in the end.
Guys, you are doing great. Even for families that have been in Germany for generations starting a school year with all the supplies, clothes, shoes, schedules that vary from day to day, year to year and school to school is a struggle for every parent. And you have four kids, so your struggle is multiplied. With corona again every school, every class and every teacher has a different system to cope and provide education. These systems seem to change on a bi-weekly basis and the schools expect us to keep up, search for new material and instructions each morning and we all feel quite inadequate at least once each week, bc we missed a memo. My advice: Make the school's secretary your best friend and ask her about anything. She's the central well of information of each school and 9 times out of 10 really kind and patient. Connect to other parents' in your kids classes. And get used to the "oh sorry, I didn't know' moment since this is a true German experience you'll have in common with all working parents in Germany. Welcome to the club!
I moved here before my children were born, but when they started Grundschule, I loved doing their schoolwork with them. I improved my German so much. As for school after 4th grade, every state does it slightly differently. But yes, it can be a stressful and emotional year for the family. I’m so glad that it is long passed now for us. You guys have got this! One step at a time.
As a private tutor and someone who changed schools myself I can only tell you to not worry too much. I teach kids that went to Hauptschule and now go on to get their degree from the Realschule. I've got kids that went from Gymnasium "down" to Realschule because the workload got too heavy and others that have their degree from the Realschule and now go on to get their degree from the Gymnasium (Abitur). And there are even ways to go to college without the Abitur if you have a degree from the Realschule and you've learned a trade afterwards. Plus adults going back to evening school to get whatever degree they want. It's confusing for sure but it also means that there are always ways to get the next "higher" degree no matter where you are at.....
Absolutely true! I for example attended Hauptschule (Mittelschule in the video). At 8th grade, my grades were good enough to attend extra classes for the so called "Werkrealschule", which is kind of half way between Hauptschule and Realschule, by having extra classes next to your normal classes in 8th grade and then in 9th grade you get separated for the 3 main classes (German, English and Math) to learn more stuff in the same time, the Hauptschule kids do. And then you attend 10th grade, which the Hauptschule doesn't have (it ends with 9th grade). After I finished Werkrealschule, I attended a "Berufskolleg", which is a 1 or 2 year extra school only available in some areas in Germany. With the degree I got from that school, I was allowed to go to a "Fachhochschule", which is translated as University of applied science. This describes pretty good, what it is - it is a University, with a hands-on approach, not a theoretical one... I finished that as best of my semester. Quite a journey, if you consider, that I started in the "lowest grade" of schools after the 4th grade, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I wasn't allowed to visit the Gymnasium after 4th grade, because my grades weren't good enough. So I ended up in a Hauptschule. I was best in my year from year 5 to year 9 and proceeded to Realschule. I was best in my year again until Grade 11 when I proceeded to Gymnasium. I studied physics in college and decided to stay in college for now to study journalism and major in it eventually. I'm gonna be done with my major in 5 years probably and after that I want to travel the world and work as a science journalist. So my point is anything is possible. I went from worst student to best. And now I'm working with amazing people from the journalism branche next to my regular studies.
I'm currently on my second apprenticeship at almost 29 because I became disabled so even if that happens to you or the kids there are still ways to proceed from there. Germany is really good at helping people succeed and go through the education system.
And for summer you need two pairs of sneakers for school. One pair for inside (the bottom of the shoe needs to be white or at least non marking) and then one pair for the P.E. lesson outside 😉
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I would say that is the rule almost everywhere in Germany. You are not allowed to wear shoes in PE class with a black or any other colored bottom except for white ones because all the colored ones can lead to dark stripes on the ground of the sports hall/gym. That's why you need an extra pair of shoes especially for PE class that has a very bright bottom. I wouldn't necessarily say that you need 2 pair of shoes in summer just for PE class because most of the time it takes place in the sports hall ( even in summer). I considered it as unnecessary to buy another pair of shoes just for 1-5 PE classes in the whole school year that might take place outside and not in the hall. So what I did was I just used my one pair of shoes for the PE class but of course I made sure that they are completely clean on the bottom for the next PE class in the hall.
@@FeeLikesChriZ I would say it depends on what they have to do outside. We would have to run around a lake on a sandy path a lot and sometimes it was quite muddy so I never wanted to use my good sport shoes
Elementary teacher here... The kids are supposed to have a sportsbag with sneakers and sports chlothes, so they don`t cover the gym in dirt with their normal street shoes and sports clothes, so they can change back in their normal clothes, when the sport clothes are covered in sweat after gym class. I would say, probably 85% of all confuses and problems you had with german school system here is because of covid. Every single school has other rules and solution for classes in this pandemic, because all the government did was telling the schools to find their own solutions on how classes could work with all the hygienic rules and that caused a huge mess in german school system because literally every single little village has their own rules for school now. Even as a teacher it is "Oh, hey, how did you organize this and that at your school?" with friends.
I teach in Canada and I’m soooo shocked that there’s streaming after grade 4! Our public system is completely de-streamed right up to grade 10 (ie: one class for everyone based on age and not skill level). In my opinion it’s not serving our kids well. Talk about a cultural difference! I enjoyed your video. Your sense of adventure, humour and positive attitudes are a true delight. All the best.
You can allways go higher and higher with education. For example i went to Realschule and because my grades were good enough i went to gymnasium after and then to uni. So just because you start in a school in 5th grade it does not mean you can’t go to gymnasium which is the hardest school at the end. But it is easier in generell if you allready start at gymnasium.
Streaming afte grade 4 is pretty rough. It's not as bad as it sounds thou. If you are willing to learn and improve yourself you can find your way from mittelschule to college. You can eighter continue school when you finish Mittelschule or you can work your way throu a trade, goinh through multiple steps of technical qualification and get your entrance to free college that way.
i have "only" a haupschul degree, but in germany there is any time a way to educate your self. even without a high school diploma (abitur) you have good chances to succeed. germany has one of the best apprenticeship systems in the world, to become specialized craftsman or other business. you can also get your high school degree after a apprenticeship and go to university after some years in the working world.
I went to a German school as an American without knowing a word if German starting with grade 6. It only took a year to fit in and learn the language. After 4 years, at grade 9, I got a “3” which is like a C in German on my German report card. There are many classes I didn’t need German for at all! Gym, Math, Wood shop... and I was required to take English!
Most of the German kids are walking to school and back alone, so maybe they could do that when they're more used to the way. Probably, it would be less stressful for you:)
Thank you for keeping such a positive attitude to our German matter of fact and sometimes stubborn ways. Your positive and value free approach is rather refreshing.
Fam of six with cat yes 🤣😍 I have the feeling that you are putting a lot of pressure on yourselves. Take your time, you've only been here a few weeks. In Germany we also say: "We only learn by making mistakes! Almost no one will hold that against you. A 4 yo child learns 7 new words every day, no matter what language!
11:55 "Sportbeutel" is simply the bag with their gym clothes and shoes inside. That word is commonly used as a short hand for saying "bring your training clothes and training gear with you".
Don't be worry with the school system, your kids can always change the school. ;) Wait a year or a half year when they have no problems with the language anymore, then you can make your decisions. Learning the language is the most important thing at the moment, the rest will come easy. ;)
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife cannot agree more. What school they are actually in is less of importance right now. Let them integrate and settle first. The most important thing is that they find friends and get accepted. The language will then come automatically. Whatever degree they will take at the end is secondary. This will however be the greatest expierience of their young lifes and they will profit from forever. Keep in mind that it is you that give them this fantastic opportunity and never feel pain or gulty. Be proud of yourselves instead. Your kids will thank you for their whole lifes. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife And there are many secondary schools in the social, technical or economic fields that are more highly regarded in their sector, for example, business schools and business grammar schools. So that even a Hauptschule pupil can study later. With a secondary school leaving certificate, you can study at a university of applied sciences. Even an 80-year-old can study here almost for free. It is never too late. Many a well-educated worker in a factory or in a trade can earn more here than an academic. Don't worry so much.
@@arnodobler1096 Yes, they can study later but it takes a lot of extra years. One friend got started studies around 3 years later than people with gymnasium. 😕
I would disagree. I think language wise they will get it right incredibly fast. But the educational difference between Gymnasium and other school forms is hard to catch up later and it might also be hard to find friends in one school but than have to leave yet again for another school. So if it is not too much pressure for them I would rather suggest the Gymnasium whenever possible. Without Abitur it is also more difficult to get well paid jobs later.
About the three school tracks: the german system dates back to the 19th century. The Mittelschule (back then called Volksschule) was the school the majority of children went to, before they would learn a trade. The Gymnasium was the school of the elites. Only a tiny percentage of pupils used to attend the Gymnasium and it was geared towards university. Pupils would learn Latin and Koine Greek as their main foreign languages. The Realschule was the school in the middle, where children would be taught stuff they would need for a middle-class life, for example a foreign language that would actually be useful in a professional setting (either English or French, depending on the school). Which is the reason for its name, btw. It was the school you learned something "real", instead of that heady academic stuff that was seen as useless if you were supposed to take over your father's company one day. Of course, the system went through a lot of changes since then (many states have for example merged the Mittelschule and Realschule, while others have expanded primary school to include fifth and sith grade). Bavaria is the most conservative state when it comes to the school system, btw.
I think, after the Mittelschule he will first go to the Realschule, if he has the grades and then a year later and with the grades your oldest son can go to the Gymnasium.
A little fact about the "Abitur", our highest graduation degree: it is generally favored by parents and kids for the easy fact that it leaves all doors in life open. Kids go through their formative years in school and their interests might change constantly. At the end of school it is common that you might not even know what you wanna do with your life now. Even if you decide not to study and go to university (after going through 13 years of school) there might come a time where that changes. Maybe you found your dream career (after doing other jobs) and it is a university career path, or you completed your vocational training and decide after a few years to make yourself even more attractive with an additional complementary degree. Or even to upscale the degree you already have. That said, Abitur is certainly not a must-have - the most important thing is that you are happy in life - and there are ways you can do Abitur even after being out of school for some time, but it is nice to have options. Me as the stereotipically efficient German always appreciated that pure fact. ;D
Yes, but it should not be favored by parents in the very first place. This became a plague! And it is not the only way the German systems offer. We've got the so called 2nd way as well. Did you know over 40% of engineers did not have abitur at first? They came through the 2nd way. The dual system of our job education has so much more to offer than just pressing children early into the gymnasium.
There are also ways to obtain a Abitur if you originally went to a Realschule or even just got a Hauptschulabschluss but it takes longer. Fachabitur is one way to get into a Fachhochschule which is kind of like a university but also not, kind of hard to explain but they are more specialized and then you can also take classes either full-time or in the evenings to still get your abitur later in life and then go to whatever university you want to go. So really even if a child is in one school right now it's not the end.
Another great Video :) Don't be afraid of the diffrent shool types. Today Kids can make a ''Ralschulabschluss'' and go to the Gymnasium for the last 3 years. I did it that way and went to Collage after. Have a good sunday.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I think back then it was also possible to get admitted to Gymnasium test-wise even if your grades were not that great. I assume your kids could cope with Gymnasium after 1 year in Germany. But if they have a strong hands-on mentality, Realschule could also be nice. Gymnasium tends to be very academic and theoretical.. in higher grades its almost style of a university. Best thing is just ask them where they would like to go to....
I agree with @Samira here. The typical way things go is: The kids go to elementary school and at the end of the first half of fourth grade the parents get a recommendation where to send their kids based on the grades and their overall development. You can follow it or choose a different type of school, nonetheless you need to be admitted, which may become an issue if you did not follow the recommendation and they think your kids might be struggeling to do well. Still after graduating Realschule for example if your grades are good and you fulfil certain criteria you can move on to a Gymnasium for the last three years and graduate there (Abitur) and then go to a university.
3 Kids at a new School in Germany during covid with all that chaotic homeschooling... we just have One Kid and its exhausting and we miss notes and deadlines too
oh gosh guys, you are doing a greeeeeat job. My daughter is born in German, grew up here but we stayed one year in Canada, where she started her elementary school. It was not a problem there. But then, when we came back to Germany.... wow... The chaos started. All the things that you mentioned, school supplies and small details.. I missed them a lot, too. Also even she could speak German perfectly, there were so much more things kids have to do by THEMSELVES. Like, kids were treated as babies in Canada, kids are treated like an adult in Germany. They should be as organized as grown ups, have to write down their own homework, not forget bringing back questionnaire and so on. We were OVERWHELMED. I am so relieved to see you are dealing with it relaxed. cuz I couldn't. I was so frustrated and knew not quite right what to do. After about half a year she got on the track and got better and better. I guess it was even harder for you because of COVID. Keep me updated with your life and school, I am very curious! I hope you enjoy German life. :)
And ist really remarkable how much effort you make to integrate yourself into teh German culture and way of life and I wish you that you will feel really at home very soon!
It gets better every week! And I am not so scared anymore to make a phone call in German. I have been putting off making an appointment for the eye doctor for my son...
@@kevinmcfall5285 Yes, I can relate to that, formal talks in another language are really challenging but you shouldn't worry, nobody expects from you to speak perfect German, the people appreciate it greatly if you even make the effort to speak German. And if you need any help don't hesitate to aks someone. The so called German "coldness" is so misunderstood. Germans are not so outgoing and morre reserved and not so into smalltalk because becoming too personal too quickly is considered impolite inGerman. Its not that they don't like you but they just try to respect your privacy and personal space. But as soon as you ask for help most of the peopel ar emore than willing to help you further. I am always a bit ennoyed when foregners say that Germany are cold or impolite, thats a very superficial judgement. And in addition, Germans love teh American people! So feel welcomed!
The school system is often in favour of the kids. I got a ‚eingeschränkte Gymnasialempfehlung‘ which means I almost completely qualified for being sucessful in a gymnasium. Went to a realschule, and now I visit a ‚berufliches gymnasium‘ where I get my college qualification. It‘s pretty neat, you can always get uni qualifications no matter where you start.
But your have to work your way up. It easier to start and finish at the gymnasium. I did it the same way you did. And its good to have that choice. But overall its better to do gymnasium from start.
As a german I love to hear about that. I hope the kids will continue to get along. Please make a language update on how the kids are progressing with german
It's incredible that you moved your family to Germany!!! We lived there for three years when I was a kid and it was phenomenal in every way. We had an incredible time. It was a very, very special time in our lives for many reasons, including living in the land where my family's ancestors came from. I wouldn't be who I am without that time in Germany. You are doing right by your children by giving this incredible gift to them.
I’m living in Germany for 5 years and had the same experiences! I think it's important that you take things with good humor, learn and can immerse in the new culture !! Cool!! 😃
I soo much enjoyed your narrative about how your kids are doing in school. Many years ago (1964) I was a young boy being transferred from my "Gymnasium" in Fulda Germany to a public American High School in Covington Louisiana. Only my father and my older brother spoke English, while my mother and I did not. It was a challenge but it was such a rich learning experience for me. I am thankful to this day, that my parents made the move. Your children are very fortunate and one day will be very thankful for this. I applaud you :-).
Try not to worry too much, your kids are all smart and they will do fine on a Gymnasium. When I was in school, we had one girl from Belgium who joined us in 10th grade and one boy from Guinea who came in 11th grade. They chose to repeat 11th grade before entering the last 2 years, to achieve better grades in their Abitur, but they both did well. It helped that my Gymnasium offered a bilingual branch from 5th grade with subjects like geography and history in French. There are other Gynasiums that are "bilingual" with English, at least here in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
@@cassandra8620 But some bavarians think that they are speaking german but I (as a german from the west of Germany) have quite a hard time understanding anything. 😬😅
In Bavaria the main hindrance for getting "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" (= universal university qualification) if you didn't go to Gymnasium is the second foreign language. Typically when you finish Gymnasium (9 years) you had English/French or English/Spanish or English/Latin (English 9 years, 2nd foreign at least 5 years). If you didn't go to Gymnasium you typically only had English as a foreign language and for many catching up on the 2nd one is very hard. But if you don't want to study something radically different from your school specialization "Fachgebundene Hochschulreife" (= subject limited university qualification) is good enough. However a few university courses like medicine and law require the 2nd foreign language. Also university is absolutely no requirement for a good job. Getting an apprenticeship and subsequent courses (either in-house with the employer or at specialized schools) can lead to very well respected and well paid jobs. E.g. becoming a "Staatlich geprüfter Techniker" (= state examined technician). This last one btw includes "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" so after this you could study law without the 2nd foreign language.
I have now watched several of your videos, and I really appreciate that Kevin keeps reminding us in the beginning that the cat is a member of your family 😂❤
It's a difficult adjustment at the beginning, but you will be suprised how fast kids can learn a new language. Our acquaintances from Syria live here just for a few years, because of the war in their native country, and the daughter is the best in her German class now. When the c-bug is over and the kids have more interaction with their class mates or friends, it will become more easier with more practice. Also a fun way watch German TV or comics/books. Mittelschule and Realschule is preparing you for an apprenticenship (vocational school + learning by the job), but pupils can switch to other school tracks after their graduation. Also it's quite common for pupils to travel 10-30km per bus or train for school every morning. Fun fact: In the 90s was a kind of "brand war" in elementary school if you had a pen from Pelican or Lamy, the two most important suppliers, because the ink cartridges are different :D
You´re such a lovely family. Don´t stress about the school system. You´re kids can visit the Realschule til 10th grade and then switch to gymnasium, or finishing Realschule do an 3 years apprenticeship and after that doing their abitur (Gymnasium degree). There are so many different ways to university, they can even do their gymnasium degree during their apprenticeship. The only thing i would try to avoid is Hauptschule.
The school system here can be terribly confusing even for natives! But the most important thing is that there are always options and alternatives. From a German that went to school in Bavaria as well: In Bavaria there has been a focus in recent years to allow students who completed 10th grade at a Realschule and students who completed 9th grade + another year (M-Zweig) at Mittelschule to attend the last two years of Gymnasium and receive the Abitur. The concept is called Einführungsklasse (introductory class). Students take part in a special one-year introductory program at a Gymnasium (usually only one school in a Landkreis offers it, it's still rather rare unfortunately) and can then join regular Gymnasium students for grades 11 to 12. This option requires a good work ethic but since it's still a few years to go so until then it might be a good option! Of course there's also the option of attending a special practical school after Mittelschule/Realschule, the FOS/BOS, that also leads to a Abitur/Fachabitur. So there are plenty of paths to the Abitur that don't require switching school types in the early years of your stay here. Your kids can take all the time they need to settle in :)
As a german, I think it´s großartig (fantastic) how you talk about your failures. It will make things better in the future. Please keep on, you make a great mirror to us. thank you.
Hey guys, I hope you still read this. Check if your Mittelschule has a "Beratungslehrer" (school counselor). He/She knows ALL the options your kids have and should have experience with similar cases (if not personally he has a network of all Bavarian counselors he can rely on). The reason this is so important is that while you can switch from Mittelschule to Realschule or Gymnasium, the timing decides about the difficulty! If (generally speaking) the Gymnasium would be a good fit for your oldest, you should consider moving him there for next year. At the Gymnasium you start your second foreign language in 6th grade. There is no second foreign language at the Mittelschule and at Realschule it starts in 7th grade. This means that "upgrading" might be more difficult later.The counselor should also know if the Gymnasium closest to you offers a support program for non native speaker etc. (you could also get this information from the counselor at the Gymnasium). Especially for cases like you, the school has the option of taking your kids "auf Probe" (for a trial period) for a certain time (I think up to a year). What that basically means is that grades don't count and the teachers decide whether or not the child has passed the trial period. The advantage is that there is a lot less pressure on the kids to get everything in the lessons and focus on language acquisition while already being in their future class and learning with them as much as they can understand (again the coundelor knows all the details). At my school (Bavarian Gymnasium) we had several similar cases of people from Italy, Poland, Croatia, Canada etc. and have had very few problems so far with the kids that joined us before 9th grade (for older ones language acquisition is a massive race against the time until Abitur grades start). As a teacher and father of an elementary school kid: relax, take a deep breath, you're doing great! It's utter chaos currently, mistakes are being made on all sides, survival is the key, right now. Minor details: Religious Education is not teaching religion, it is teaching ABOUT religion. Proselytizing is strictly forbidden (where one ends and the other start is the big question, ofc), think of the traditional differences of school types like this: Mittelschule -> (physical) trades like carpenter, Realschule -> trades like bank clerk, Gymnasium -> academia
Love watching your videos! Amazing how you integrated into Germany by now already. Props to you!:) There is only one thing I keep hearing in your videos that you mix up (or mixed up back in the day): So the tracks after the Grundschule are the following: 1. Gymnasium -> leads to “Abitur” qualification 2. Realschule OR Mittelschule (it’s a synonym, called different in the different Bundesländer) -> leads to „Realschul-/Mittelschulabschluss“ (also called „Mittlere Reife“) qualification (they both are equal) 3. Hauptschule -> leads to „Hauptschulabschluss“ qualification You can only go to a university with a Abitur (or Fachabitur, but then only the „Fach“ (subject) that you got qualified in). With a Realschulabschluss as well as with a Hauptschulabschluss you can get a apprenticeship. Here the difference is that certain, more academically study-intensive apprenticeships are only possible if you have a Realschulabschluss. EDIT: I just did some research and found out that Bavaria passed a law back in the days, that since 2011/2012 „Hauptschulen“ can call themselves „Mittelschule“ if they fulfill 3 criteria (you can read it on Wikipedia, search for „Mittelschule (Bayern)“. What a confusion, after all! :D
There are several ways to get advice regarding school: - Other parents with school children - Klassenlehrer (this is the teacher that has the most contact and classes with your children and is the main teacher responsible for your children - Vertrauenslehrer/Sozialarbeiter/Schulpsychologe Those are either special teachers or psychologists or social workers that can help should your children have trouble with classes, bullies or even difficult other teachers or to help with orientation regarding the different school tracks
I wouldn't worry too much about the tracks, I'd say the most important thing is to make sure your kids get comfotable in their new schools and with speaking German. I'm sure it'll be fine once everyone's really settled in. The tracks have already been explained pretty well in other comments, I would like to add though that kids usually get 'sorted' into one of the tracks not only by grades but also by what their strengths are. Mittelschule/ Hauptschule is usually way more practical than the other two which is why it often leads to the pupils proceeding to apprenticeships in more hands-on fields like plumbing, carpenting and so on or creative jobs after they graduate because that's what fits their strengths most. Realschule is for students who deal better with abstract concepts, maths, foreign languages and so on and 'traditionally' leads to apprenticeships in trading or banking, working as assistents for lawyers and in courts, tourism and similar fields after graduation. Gymnasium is a lot about very abstract concepts, critical thinking and transfering your knowledge to solve difficult problems you've never learned about, which is why those students are the ones that usually would do well in the academic world. However, the track a child took doesn't really predict what field they will go into later in life. Someone who graduated from Gymnasium might really want to become a baker and someone who was initially put into Mittelschule might just be a late bloomer and proceed to become a doctor. And you can change tracks at any point (if you do well in school) or go on to graduate in a higher track right after graduation or go to special schools at any point later in life to then be able to go to university afterwards. Also people who did an apprenticeship and worked in that field for a few years can go to university because they get the qualification just through their work experience even if they've never attended a Gymnasium and have no Abitur. Nothing is set in stone, if someone develops strengths or interests they didn't have as young children they can easily change their paths.
Hearing you talk about your four year old made me think about the time I was volunteering as a subsidiary teacher in Nicaragua Central America in a pre- & primary school. There was a four year old boy, Axel whose parents had moved to Nicaragua from the US about the same time as I did. He was very timid and shy in the beginning because he did not know any Spanish, me not a native Spanish speaker as well (as I am from Germany) spoke Spanish most of the time with him but occasionally I would take him to the side and teach him some colours and shapes in Spanish and English simultaneously. I realised that this did not only help him in terms of the language barrier with the other kids but also in terms of security and confidence because he knew in an urgent situation he could come to me asking for help in English (since the other teacher barely spoke English). I don't know about the resources your Kindergarten has but it might be an idea to try to suggest to them, most Germans are fluent enough in English to communicate about the very basic things and maybe it would help Ella (that was her name right?) Regarding the three tracks, I see how that can be confusing and intimidating! So basically the idea is to separate kids at the age of 10 by learning pace and abilities (Germans do not fall short in criticising the system for categorizing children so early on, just to preface). For the first four years (in Berlin it is actually for the first six years) all children go to the same school and get the same basic education, then at the end of fourth grade teachers give a recommendation where the child will perform best, the Gymnasium, Realschule or Mittel/Hauptschule. Gymnasium goes from 5th to 12th grade and preps your child for university. At the end students are awarded the "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" which is a required degree in order to study at a German university. It is the most challenging school and there can be a lot of pressure on fourth graders to make it to the Gymnasium because parents fear that otherwise there will be no chance in terms of career opportunities if they don't make it (spoiler alert, the permeability of the system is better than many people think so don't freak out). The Realschule goes from grade 5 to 10 and at the end you hold the so called "mittlere Reife" which enables you to start vocational training but does not enable you to go to university directly but you can transition to a Gymnasium by repeating year 10 at the Gymnasium (there are a lot of students doing this) and thereby simply entering into the most crucial three years of the Gymnasium. Hauptschule/Mittelschule is supposed to be the least challenging among the three and goes from grade 5 to 9. You finish school holding a qualification that does enable you to start vocational training or you could go on to the Realschule for year 10, and from there go on to the Gymnasium. However the earlier a child is set on the fitting track the better, because switching and transitioning, especially upwards can be challenging. There is also an additional way to earn a enabling degree for university by doing a so called Fachabitur, but as I am myself not really knowledgeable about this I will leave it at this (maybe someone else may fill you in on it). Transitioning from one school to another even within Germany may be quite difficult and considering the cultural differences and the language barrier and Covid you and your kids really deserve an award for powering through. Wishing you the best of luck!
Your older kids should be able to go on their own to and from school. When I got into 5th grade I had to get up at 5:30 in the morning because I had to be at the school bus stop at 6:10 o clock. The bus did a round tour through several villages and reached the school at around 7 o clock. School lessons started at 7:30. My latest class ended at 13:15 and I had to walk a kilometer to the regular bus stop. The bus left at 13:45 and I normally was home at 14:30. My village just had a Hauptschule and I went to Realschule. If I had to go to Gymnasium I would have had to take the regular train (26 km) to the next bigger City. The Realschule was only 8 kilometers away and when the weather was good I took my bicycle. I got to sleep longer and left home at 7:00 and got home earlier.
Hi! Ich habe von Antoinettes Kanal zu euch gefunden durch die Kommentare. Da habe ich euch alles Gute gewünscht. Jetzt sehe ich hier auf eurem Kanal, dass ihr tatsächlich in D angekommen seid. 😄🤗 Wie schön. Herzlich Willkommen und viel Spaß!
The 3 tracks are (used to be) Hauptschule - Strong focus on a job in "manual labor" later Realschule - Strong focus on office jobs later Gymnasium - Strong focus on going to the university later You can always move "up"- once you finished the current track Hauptschule -> Realschule -> Gymnasium ( I think this is the reason why some people believe Hauptschule ist the worst kind of education)
Well, it is a soft way down and a thorny way up, so it is understandable to think that way. But frankly, for long term success it doesn't really matter all that much, because in Germany vocational training counts just as much as university.
regarding the "Sportbeutel": You keep sneakers a t-shirt and shorts in there. Elementary school kids keep them at school because otherwise, they'll forget it at home half of the time. The kids only swap the clothes out once in a while to wash them. In secondary school you usually bring the Sportbeutel only on the days you have gym class (or keep them there if you have a locker)
Definitely try to send them to the Gymnasium as soon as your children feel confident enough. Even though migration between the different branches is possible, you might want to consider that adjustment will have to happen either way, and even though Gymnasium is more challenging, you kids seem strong and intelligent and they will handle it after maybe some initial hick-ups. Even if they have to run an "extra round" that is no big deal, and whatever is best for the kid, usually everyone will support.
Exactly. My experience in another German state is that it is far more complicated and harder to go from one type of school to another. Let‘s face it. The whole system is not really just, as it is stated again and again by the OECD. A kid from a so called academic background is far more likely to go to Gymnasium than a kid from a non-academic or migrational background. There are statistics that around 20% of kids from lower type of schools could intellectually actually go to Gymnasium. Don‘t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about the other types of schools. But going to Gymnasium gives your kids a whole more choices in later years. Even when they want to do a Ausbildung,they have higher chances to get the job than a kid from another type of school. My cousin who lives in Bavaria got her Mittelschule degree. She is a smart kid, now in her 40s and she won‘ t get promoted anymore as she just has this diploma. Said that, I love your videos and wish you all the best😊
Sadly I have to agree. That being said, nothing is lost if they don't end up going to it or even have to re-do a year. The German educational system has become REALLY flexible when it comes to degrees in the last decade or two, although Bavaria - as with quite a few other things - is kind of it's own beast when it comes to stuff like that. So: It mostly depends on how they take the adjustment I would say. But if you have the choice to have them go to the Gymnasium they probably should - unless they really don't want to, in which case it's probably better to trust their judgement...
I came with my parents from Africa to Germany aged almost 6 which is whe you're supposed to be be in the primary school. I went right away for a short time to the Kindergarten. Even though I literally nothing but the German educational system is so great that it went from the primary school only upwards. German became my favourite subject ever since and I still believe it's a well-thought and beautiful language. Der, die and das matters lol... It's all about being and staying curious/open, so all the best for your kids, they appear more then ready🍀
That experience you make with the schools we made as well here in the US! The catch up needs a while! It would be so great if there would be a teacher or parent from the school who would be by your side to help you, because it is overwhelming! If we will go back to Germany I definitely would jump in and help parents and kids coming from another country to be faster integrated! There is definitely a need in Germany as it is here in the US! So, I can imagine that you would help parents from other countries when you go back to the US as well!
I love to hear how positive you are responding to the mess you are experiencing with school communication. I can assure you that most German parents also lose track what do to how with whom. The difference is, that German parents will not apologise to the teachers who are unable to create a consistent scheme. The regular reaction is to push back and insist of them using a single channel of communication.
Interesting video! It made me aware that there are so many differences in the school system in the US. Maybe it would be helpful for your German viewers if you could explain in a little more detail how the US system works? One thing I found funny when I stayed with a family in the US as a teenager was that basically each teacher had his own classroom and that the students had to change the room after each class (that was in high school), whereas in Germany it's the other way around (at least till 11th grade).
I'm studying to become a teacher at Gymnasium in Bavaria: It was a really great of you to get a tutor early! Getting help only when you already struggle a lot is far too late. Also I would advise you to keep in mind that in Bavaria it's much easier to switch from Gymnasium to Realschule and from Realschule to Mittelschule than the other way around! If you are unsure whether or not your child will be able to manage a specific school type, let them try it! You can always switch to an "easier" type later on
I know the 3 tracks as Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium. You can do Realschule until 10th grade and then go to Gymnasium to do the Abitur. You need that to go directly to university. But in the last years, there is then option to go to school until 10th grade. Then learn a profession (Lehre), do the master title in your profession (Meister) and then go to university. There are also some other options, like Fachabitur. There is a difference to the US. AFAIK, if you don't go to college there, you will be limited to jobs, that are not that well paid etc. Over here, you can start your own company with a Meister without ever attending university.
Okay yes so we are finding that in Bayern, Hauptschule ist Mitteschule. But anyway, what you're describing about the different ways to go to university is so interesting! Much different than in America. www.km.bayern.de/education-in-bavaria.html
You don't say "Hauptschule" but it is a stigma anyway. Attending a "Hauptschule" often means that your background is rather uneducated and your career options are limited. In bigger cities, these schools are rather "hotspots" for socially weak "classes" and for children, who are not interested in visiting school at all (problem cases) - as this kind of school is the fallback. That's the stereotype and I don't think it is completely wrong. But might be different somewhere in the countryside. I would prefer my children attending the Realschule or Gymnasium, though.
Oh don't worry. I didn't now about Hausschuhe at school. I am a german almost in my 60's: we used to wear our normal shoes with which we came to school. Must be something new.
I work at an elementary school and love how welcoming kids are when there's new kids from other countries! You already mentioned it, but we're used to it, mostly because of the refugees in the past years but there's always some immigration happening here in Germany and kids are usually raised to be accepting of others, regardless of the differences. And I'd say don't worry too much about the three tracks after elementary school. If a kid wants to go to university later, they'll always find a way, regardless of the school the attended before. Hauptschule/Mittelschule are putting the focus on slower learning and more practical learning and Realschule really is the compromise between Mittelschule and Gymnasium and you can switch in any grade or after graduation in 10th grade which is what most people do. It's not an ideal system but it's more focused on the child's needs and just as those needs can change, you can change the school they attend - whether that's in 6th grade or at a later point :)
I can imagine that the school system can be very intimidating for people who are not familiar with it. (I am from Austria but the school system is quite similar to the Bavarian one). Even many local parents often put themselves under unnecessary pressure, unfortunately. But try to take it as easy as possible. :) There are often debates here in politics and society too as to whether a common uniform type of school would be better. Personally, being a teacher myself, I think the school differentiation is good, as long as its aim is to focus on the personal development of the child. Unfortunately, there are often parents who pay more attention to their own interests and ideas than to the needs of their children. This is the bad side when there are several types of schools to choose from. Of course, parents always want the best for their children. Unfortunately, the ideas of what is really best may vary, as parents sometimes look ahead too far in the future, and forget the here and now. The aim of the different school tracks should be to adapt to the child's personal abilities and learning pace. And just because a child attends a certain type of school doesn't mean that their fate is sealed or that your child will have to follow a certain career path later on. I know many people who had learning difficulties when they were young and therefore went to a Mittelschule, but worked really hard to switch to a Gymnasium. And now they are successful engineers and physicians. On the other side there are also people who attended a Gymnasium and later realized that studying is not for them and that they want to start a craft apprenticeship instead. The motto of the German school system is rather: Everything is possible, nothing is set in stone. The school type that you've chosen ist not defining what you have to become. But it can help you to become aware of your own abilities and interests. :-) Moreover, it seems like apprenticeships have a different status in the USA than in Germany or Europe in general. From what I've heard, in the US many people strive to get into a good college after high school. Of course, there are many people who also want to attend university here. However, apprenticeships also have a high status in German (or European) society. It is often more a matter of the expectations of the parents who want to put their children in a Gymnasium at all costs, just because they themselves think that this would be important for their child's career. And that only puts unnecessary pressure on the child. However, that is exactly the opposite of what the differentiation of school types is supposed to achieve: to take pressure OFF the children and give them the best education they need at that moment of life. Since you just moved to a foreign country and need to learn a second language first, I think a Mittelschule ist the best place for your kids right now (although I believe that once your children have a good command of the German language they will switch to a Realschule or Gymnasium). Gymnasien can often be very challenging, for both, students and parents (even for native speakers). All in all, I am convinced that your children and you as a family will master everything brilliantly. You radiate such calmness and harmony, and I think that is the best thing you can do for your family! :-)
I know the choice can be intimidating. But just to put your mind at ease, you won't be ruining your children's futures by choosing a "too-low" type of school. All parents at my time wanted to get their kids into Gymnasium by all means, but I did Realschule through 10th grade, Technisches Gymnasium 11th-13th, and then did a college degree in computer science. That is all possible. So don't get too nervous about it, choose a school, that caters the way your child can learn best.
Oh yes, 4th grade is terrible... Most of the times it is the parents who cause the stress. 😉 I think the way YOU do it is exactly right. 👍You give your kids the time they need - perfect! It is true that you can switch between the different tracks at school. If you keep in touch with the teachers they will answer your questions, I am sure. All the best for you! 🍀🍀
We moved to Germany in 2008 from Portland Or. two of our kids completed GYM and now is college. our last is now finish her last tests, doing well. We had many experiences like you. Wished we documented them like you. Wish you well.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yes, near RGB. Note. I hope you have started the Driver Licensing effort... FYI.The test is in English but British English and we know some word are really different in meaning. I missed a few time just because I did not know 'alight, dazzle, pavement, (I just presumed to know. Wrong!).' It was crazy.
We recently switched to American public school from homeschooling and so much of this sounds familiar for us, too! We dream of moving to Germany, though. Thanks for your candid videos :)
My sister attended Hauptschule. Then did an apprenticeship as a chef. After that she attandet for one year Realschule and than attandet one year Fachhochschule. With this degree you can also study. Not at universities but at colleges. So there is allways a way. So don't stress if your children do not attand Gymnasium, there is always a way if they decide they want to study later.
From what I can see: you are doing fine. :) It's the somewhat narrow timeline that is intimidating now, because your eldest is almost at that crossroad of our 3 school systems, but you are doing the best to educate yourself, and I have seen many amazingly helpful comments here. Jep, switching the systems is easy. So don't fret too much about expectations or labels assigned to the paths. Even with rocky starts your kids will get there. The main problem is really the language, because it is the prequisite to everything. Even geniuses can't answer question in a language they don't understand. And of course the language barrier makes it even more difficult to judge knowledge and aptitude for subjects. If your kids know enough German everything will fall into place. With the language as a difficulty out of the way it will be much easier to see in what type of path they will be most comfortable with. Of course own ambitions (if already there) can play a huge part in it as well. :) Getting your kids those language skills fast is really the best thing you as parents can do right now - especially when you see that it might already frustrate them (which is a thing of course nobody wants). Everything would be easier if school was open and they had more German contact but if your kids are willing and you have the funds tutors really seem a great idea right now.
Okay thanks so much! Yes the tutor has continued to be a huge help and we so agree with you - our number one job right now is to help them learn German.
Some information on German school types: Mittelschule is primarily vocationally oriented with little emphasis on science or the arts. Kids going there usually become carpenters, electricians, construction workers, cooks, office helpers, etc, i.e. they usually do an apprenticeship after 9 or 10 years of school. It is often also the type of school where children with learning disabilities or social problems end up, hence their reputation isn't always very good, and many parents feverishly try to get their children to other school types. However, this is not so much the case in rural Bavaria. So if your kids can reach it without extensive commuting, it's a very good choice for the beginning until they have mastered the German language. In the long run, it might not be the best choice for them though, and they might have scholastic deficits if you decide to return to the states. Realschule is the next school type with more general emphasis on science and several strands to choose from, focussing on languages, natural sciences, or economics. Kids going there might become bank clerks, lab technicians, public servants, etc, also doing apprenticeships after 10 years of school. Sometimes, Mittelschule offers a program that comprises of the Realschule curriculum as well, allowing kids to also get a Realschule degree (known as Mittlere Reife). I would not recommend a separate Realschule for your children, if it were to require extensive commuting. Gymnasium is the type of school that is college preparatory, though kids can of course also choose to do an apprenticeship afterwards instead. It puts a lot of emphasis on science and, most importantly, requires AT LEAST 2 foreign languages. English is mandatory, the others are usually French and/or Latin. The second foreign language used to start in 7th grade (don't know if it still does today or if it starts earlier nowadays). The Gymnasium degree is called Abitur and is obtained after 12 or 13 years of school, depending on the federal state (and sometimes even the school). To put it in perspective: when I became a senior at a US high school, I had already learned the most difficult part of the curriculum in the first half of 11th grade at a German Gymnasium. There do exist some alternative paths to university as well, but I would not recommend them for your family, unless you are determined to stay in Germany until all your kids have finished school. By the way, all school teachers beyond Kindergarten have Abitur and have therefore learned English for at least five years at school, most of them even for nine years. Don't let them get away with only talking to you in German if you have trouble understanding some complicated explanations. One great advantage of the German school system is that German schools can be found in most major cities of the world, which allows for international mobility. These schools are usually bilingual in the local language and German and usually allow for dual degrees, i.e. Abitur as well as the local degree. Attending a German school in the US, for example, would also give students a high school diploma. Whatever your choices for your kids are, always take their friendships into account. The older they get, the harder it is for them to leave their friends behind, when they are changing schools, and their friends are not. I therefore always recommend talking to other parents to find out what their kids are going to do. And by the way, we used to walk to school and back by ourselves (in groups though) as of second grade (and go by bike as of third grade). If your kids know the way and traffic is not too dangerous, that's perfectly normal here. I wish you all the best on your adventure!
Germany has four different school tracks: Hauptschule(Mittelschule), Realschule, Gymnasium, and Gesamtschule, which unites all three. It means your child can make/get different degrees in different school subjects.
@@peterfischer7084 True. You can find them only in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen, Thüringen, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saarland. But we are talking here about Germany not only about Bavaria.
I wanted to add this too -- that the Gesamtschule is really the closest equivalent to what's offered at a high school in the US. Too bad there aren't integrative Gesamtschulen in Bavaria for this family. In a US high school you can take some subjects on a general level, and in other subjects you can take advanced level or "AP" or "IBS" classes, which, when you take the comprehensive exams at the end, earn you credits for university. The thing I like about US schools is that you can just be average in some subjects but really advanced in other subjects... you don't have to be incredibly good in every subject. I know of several German teenagers for whom mathematics in Gymnasium has been their "downfall". It seems incredibly unfair, especially if they want to go on and study social work or Germanistik or whatever else outside of the field of mathematics. Most go on to be successful after switching to Realschule and then doing Fachabitur. But only after many heartaches and tears under the pressure in Gymnasium to be good at everything.
@@a.m.forssman2425 To a large extent I think the problem is that many parents push kids who aren't motivated (yet at age 11) into Gymnasium. That can mess up a school career (and possibly more thab just that) by spoiling the learning experience.
On the topic of Hausschuhe: Consider investing in a pair of Birkenstocks for everyone. A basic model like the "Arizona" shoe lasts about 10 years, and they are A LOT cheaper in Germany than in the States. They take about a month to be propperly worn in but after that you'll never want to go without again. Your youngest keep getting the old hand-me-downs but (speaking as a youngest sibling) such is life.
And even the Christian part is more education than indoctrination. Personally I think religion classes should be abolished, but it's not as bad as it sounds at first glance. They don't force people to believe anything. America doesn't have mandatory religious education obviously, but there are plenty of horror stories about schools or specific teachers forcing religion on students in ways you'd never see in Germany.
I think in elementary school there is lots of bible-related stuff, which by itself is not bad as it is part of our culture - but in higher grades it can become an interesting matter, if it's a good teacher. In the 1970s we discussed about social topics in the Protestant religion class. - Special sidenote for Kevin: I explained to my religion teacher what a microprocessor is and how it may influence our life in future ;)
Not necessary in the Grundschule and especially not in Bavaria. But at the Religion classes at the Gymnasium we mostly talked about other religions and ethics (I was not good at ethics which was the reason why it was my worst subject at 12th and 13th grade).
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife later on they will even discuss cults and how they work. I really enjoyed religion in school and learning about other religion as it gives a better understanding of other cultures
Willkommen in Deutschland! I have been following your videos and I think you are doing great. I wanted to share my experience of arriving in Germany with no prior knowledge of the German language. When I came to Bavaria - what a coincidence - I was in the same age like your second oldest son and didn't know a word of German. However, the elementary school that took me in had set up a special class where children with no knowledge of German spent 2 - 4 school hours a day just learning German. In spite of this special support, it took me almost 1.5 years to reach a level where I could successfully pass the Gymnasium. Above all, my mentor - thankfully this was my German teacher who continued to teach me in private - was an incredible help. Is there perhaps a comparable offer on the part of the school? This is now more than 30 years ago, but maybe this is new information for you. Really you are such great parents!
So interesting to hear about your experiences. I really like seeing Germany through your eyes. I’m a teacher for grade 1-4 and if you have any questions regarding school work etc. let me know 🙂 would love to help 😉
Just watched your video and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your experiences. I think you’ve been dealing with your hardships with stellar attitudes! Wishing you the best!
You could ask the "Schulberatungsstelle" of your local "Schulamt" to have your schooling options explained to you. I´m German but my kids were schooled abroad for many years and returned to Germany as teenagers. I found their info helpful at the time. Upon return to Germany my daughter went to Mittelschule (the lowest tier), graduated from there and then went to the "Einführungsklasse" of the Gymnasium. That´s an introductory class in grade 10 that helps kids from lower tier schools who want to switch to Gymnasium to get the "Abitur" (the certificate that entitles you to apply for university) to fill the gaps they have when compared to all the other kids who had been at Gymnasium from the start. It obviously doesn´t cover everything (e.g. you won´t make up for 6 years of Latin or French in one year) but it was good enough to be able to succeed in the higher classes of Gymnasium (you obviously shouldn´t pick those subjects you never had been tought before though). She enjoyed that year. So it may take you that extra year of the "Einführungsklasse" (it´s not mandatory) but going to Mittelschule doesn´t mean you can´t eventually go to University. I´d only send my child to Gynasium after grade 4 if they are really well motivated. If they aren´t it will be torture and they´ll hate school (and possibly Germany). You can always change track later, should you wish so. Or you could change track after grade 5 only (that´s what my parents had decided for me more than 50 years ago).
It is actually quite easy to pass between the 3 tracks. The teachers will recommend a track change, have a get together with all the teachers that teach the child and recommend a change. Then you just call a school from another track and enroll your child.
I am sure your 4th grader has a higher work load since they are trying to asses for school type for next year and since it is still everyone he is in the highest school for now so to speak. Your 5th grader being in the easiest track for now his load will ramp up again when he is moved up I am sure. ALso that is an awesome plan to work on German first. the academic part will be fine to move up once he knows enough German. Love this you guys are doing great.
So i went after the "Grundschule" to the "Realschule" and after the 10th class, i could have begun an "Ausbildung" or training, but if you got good grades on your final school report, you can switch to the "Gymnasium". Which i did. The only thing you have to do, when you're coming from the Realschule to the Gymnasium is, that you have to repeat the 10th class there, so that you can keep up with the learning material and be on an even level with your classmates. And now i'm studying :). "Realschule" is a little bit different than "Gymnasium", because they teach you way earlier how to apply to jobs and how to present yourself in a job interview, because most of the pupils will start their "Ausbildung" after school.
Theres some pressure on kids to get into Gymnasium, because the Abitur has a high value. It's the standard degree needed for university, although there are some ways to get into university or Fachhochschule in other ways. But its not that all students from a Gymnasium end up studying. They often do a 'Ausbildung' aswell.
Gymnasium being strictly for university is what happened traditionally. Then you had Hauptschule for workers and Realschule for mid-level jobs that require some more advanced knowledge. But there has been a shift over the years where now Realschule is the norm and some people attend a Gymnasium without going to university later. That unfortunately leaves the Hauptschule for people who aren't good enough for higher schools (including often immigrants who lack language skills and kids who have social/behaviorial issues) and they may have difficulties finding good jobs. It's one reason why some states started to move towards comprehensive schools with less strict divisions. You also automatically get a Realschule-equivalent degree after 10th grade Gymnasium. Realschule does not allow you to go to university in of itself. It ends after 10th grade. But with good enough grades someone can attend further schools like a Fachoberschule (FOS) for a few years to qualify for university. With very good grades (avg. 1.5 from what I can tell) it's possible to go more or less directly from 10th grade Realschule to 11th grade Gymnasium. It's also possible to do an apprenticeship like normally to learn a job and then attend a Berufsoberschule (BOS) and then university. There are also universities of applied science that are a bit more practical than purely theoretical and don't require 13th grade. And there are ways to switch tracks even before graduation under certain circumstances, but the rules for that vary between states. It's very complicated, but the tracks aren't as rigid as sometimes assumed. I think the idea behind the fountain pen is that it teaches better handwriting than a ball pen. You just have to pay more attention to what you do. Then later on they can use ball pens.
Kids get sorted for their performance after 4 and again after 6 grade . But there is often pressure to reach highset standard but Germany has no Dead ends for going to school and improve your school endings. after ending one school there are very many ways to go further ! Ask they will tell you
In the 70s, after the first 4 years we had kind of an orientation phase for two years, after which teachers discussed with kids and parents if their kids should go to either - Hauptschule (years 7 + 8) - Realschule (Mittelschule is a synonym) (years 7 - 10) - degree "Mittlere Reife" - Gymnasium (years 7 - 13) - degree "Abitur" In case the select branch seems to be too easy, it's always possible to transition to another branch with a new start of the school year.
Yeah the German school system can be confusing compared to the American school system ! 11 years ago I was an Au-pair in Ohio in the older boy was in Middle school and the younger one in kindergarten and it was completely different from the school system that I knew ! I arrived in America a few weeks before summer vacation started and L was just graduating pre-k and J a few weeks later elementary school and I had to study workbooks with them , and to study math or other subjects with a fifth almost 6th grader was not easy at all but it helped me grasp the language even better because I had to study their books at night to be able to teach them ! Yes 4th grade is a crucial school year here in Germany because you’re split up into 3 different school systems ! But if you’re eager and you want to graduate from the Gymnasium you’ll be able to do so no matter which school you visit , but you have to keep working to do so ! If you enter the Mittelschule you can graduate with a Realschule diploma when you are in the E-Kurs and when your grades are good enough and you can even get a qualification to go to the Gymnasium after 10th grade it’s not easy but doable! When you enter the Realschule you’ll also be able to further your studies after graduation and go to the Gymnasium to make your Abitur or you make a Fachabitur !
I commend you on your choice to move to Germany for a different life and to travel! We (wife, myself and our 3 kids) made the same decision to move to Germany from Australia in 2015 and arrived in May 2016. We also live in a small country town. Our youngest started in Kindergarten, middle went to year 1 and eldest year 4. I have to say, stick with it! Both youngest kids speak German and English now fluently and my eldest daughter is achieving great marks in year 8 in German. Better than a lot of natives. One thing we have done for our eldest is get a private tutor (eine Nachhilfe). We approached the German teacher in school and asked him to find out if any year 11 or year 12 students were interested. We paid them in cash and it really helped. I hope you enjoy this beautiful country and travel a lot!
I actually started in a gymnasium, but then got bored of school and spent my time not going there, drinking and smoking. i fell into realschule , and all the way down to hauptschule. after becoming more mature i realized how important school is. and went all the way back to the realschule and from there to a gymnasium. after that i studied computer science.:) you can swap between those schoolsystems relatively easily. in my case all types of school shared a single school (gesamtschule) . so i didnt even had to change schools. just the schooltype , while staying in the same building :)!
Switching from Mittelschule directly to Gymnasium while skipping the step Realschule might be difficult (not doubting your child but German administration here).
Your kids will be fine. My cousins with their parents back in 1984 moved to Sweden From Asia, the youngest was 2 y. o. And they did well in school. Kids easily adopt to their new environment. Btw. I enjoy watching your vlogs, interesting to see your perspective on how life is in Germany and Europe. I really like Sarah's infectious laughter . Greetings from 🇩🇰.
Yes, it is hard right now in the first months but I know the kids will really adjust fast. I think they are already seeing a lot of the upsides here. Glad to give them an experience with more than one culture.
"I'm an engineer, I spent my whole life doing math." That really made me laugh. I was at a Gymnasium, and you can decide there in 11th grade which main subjects you want to take for the 2 final years, and I chose Math and English. You can make a German Abitur with sports and religion, but that would have been too easy. As 3rd and 4th main subject, I chose geography and biology. I'd never had guessed that I could use my knowledge of genetics to explain to other people how a virus works, but then along came Covid. edit: Now that you're mentioning ethics, I can highly recommend that. We were taught a lot about philosophy, from the ancient Greeks to the German ones, and what you really can learn there is the culture of debate. I had Latin classes, so I was a bit familiar with the ancient Romans and what they wrote, but to get an overview about philosophy, Latin isn't enough.
great vlog.cool to hear that you want to be integrated in germany and you and especially the kids are learning german as fast as possible.very authentic.I also think public schools are the right decission to educate the kids.I think it wont be easy any time, but what they learn there, they learn for life.also your decission to live in a small village is even agood one.to see how your kids grow up in a fantastic nature is gorcious.you´re good parents and I guess you will manage the school stress with the kids and stay calm.Keep it up and stay safe.
In my opinion when I was at 4th grade it was really stressful for the parents and the kids. Everyone wanted to be able to go to Gymnasium as this supposedly means you are smart(er). I was attending Realschule. I could have gone to the Gymnasium but I figured it might be too stressful for me. I know some classmates in 4th grade that had to work so hard because the parents wanted them to definately go to Gymnasium. They had to learn all the time and at the end their grades were not good so they switched to the Realschule. I finished the Realschule and went to a Gymnasium afterwards for 3 additional years to have Abitur. There I also had classmates that went to the Mittelschule beforehand and they also passed their Abitur so you can achieve anything if you want to.🙂 Anyways I never ended up going to College/University anyways...🙃
that's why Schleswig-Holstein abandoned Hauptschule and Realschule. Gemeinschaftsschule is supposed to make it easier to change tracks during your school career. It's a matter of opinion if it works better though.
@@kisoschu ich war zuerst in Bayern und habe dann in Baden-Württemberg mein Abitur an einem beruflichen Gymnasium nachgemacht. Ich wohne nahe an der Grenze der beiden Bundesländer. Ich persönlich fand es gar nicht so früh. Das Problem war nur dass in meinem Jahrgang eingeführt wurde dass die Grundschule zwar eine Empfehlung ausstellen kann welche weiterführende Schule geeignet ist, aber schlussendlich die Eltern entscheiden können. Und dadurch werden viele Kinder dazu gedrängt auf das Gymnasium zu gehen, tun sich da schwer, müssen eventuell sogar eine Klasse wiederholen oder dann doch in die Realschule wechseln.
My mum was of the opinion that kids who have to study in elementary school, do not deserve to go to Gymnasium. While that may sound harsh and not studying isn't a sentiment she should have taught me, as I'm still struggeling with it at university, I think in essence she was right. Gymnasium is catering to kids who do well in school early on. It's nothing you should fight to get in. That's just making your life unnecessarily hard. Nothing is lost if you don't go there.
To the sportbag. In Germany if you get your backpack there is usually a bag in it that we call Turnbeutel. This bag is usually just filled with clothes and sneakers for sport classes and in most schools we just leave them at the school
Hi there ;) since you asked how the division into Hauptschule / Mittelschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium works, I thought I'd like to help a bit. 👍 So yes, there are these three types. In grade 4, the last year of primary school, the child's grades and the teacher decide which one is best for the child to go to afterwards. 1. The Mittelschule offers success through practice, which means that they guarantee pupils a wide range of pedagogical elements in their educational offer, either individually or in school alliances, throughout the country. The Mittelschule comprises Klassen/grades 5 to 9 and teaching is strongly focused on vocational content. That's why mostly kids with lower grades go to Mittelschule. 2. When it comes to the Realschule. their educational offer is aimed at young people who are interested in theoretical issues and at the same time have practical skills and inclinations. It provides general and pre-vocational education from Klasse 5 to 10. 3. For the kids would learn super fast and would be underchallenged in these two paths, there's the Gymnasium. The Gymnasium leads to the general higher education entrance qualification and provides a broad, in-depth general education. It thus prepares students through grades 9 to 12 both for university studies and for demanding vocational training. Btw., this is the only type of school where you can study at university directly afterwards. The only other option is the Realschule, but this requires two more years of schooling at another school, the FOS or BOS.
One should add that after graduating from the Realschule, you can attend the Gymnasium and do your Abitur there. FOS or BOS are also great options. For example when you pick FOS Gesundheit and graduate there, you can study to become a doctor without learning a second language.
Just wanted to stop by and say that I love your Germany videos. You seem like a wholesome family. Your kids are beautiful, look healthy and happy and seem to be very intelligent. Warm greetz from a dude from Hannover, Niedersachsen.
Also, one really fun tradition you should definitely know about, when your youngest enters first grade is the "Schultüte". Its a large paper cone filled with lots of fun surprises, like candy and school supplies, that children bring along on their first day of school (or the ceremony beforehand). You will see "Schultüten" to buy in stores, but more often parents of kindergarteners will meet up to make, decorate and fill them individually for their children. You can also make small versions for the siblings or friends of the firstgrader.
I’ve heard of this! Such a fun tradition.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I CANNOT FIND PART 1!!!!!!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife yea, it is beautyful...my Mum even gave us a very tiny "Schultüte" every year. Nur as big as in frist grade, but wirth a few Hanutas a littele goodie e.g.
There is always a "Elternvertreter" or representative for the parents in each class. Perhaps you can message them for the special questions.
Oh! We haven't heard of this. I wonder if there is one at our school.
Not just in your school in each class of your sons are two of them
Each class has elected 2 parent representatives... ask your class teacher who it is and their information or it would be on your class list with addresses and numbers of all the kids in class. They are the ones who send around information from the school that is for all parents...
@@Alicia-wq7ud oh awesome! Okay we can do that. Thank you!
My daughters class has a WhatsApp group for the parents to help each other and ask questions and of course Elternvertreter.
In our family (and I have seen it in other homes too) the timetables were always hanging on the fridge. Add the times of each class and you will know exactly when school ends. It helps a lot to highlight the Sport/PE class, so you can check with one glance if the Turnbeutel is needed.
Great idea, thank you!
We did that too! And since the timetables change with every year my mother always knew when my younger sister and I were done with school on each day. :D
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife you were wondering where you could put the fridge magnets. Maybe you buy a "small" magnetic white board (50x30cm?), that you can hang on a wall just like a picture, but it contains a copy of the time tables of all kids and some other useful information.
Maybe in the kitchen or maybe somewhere near the entrance?
You could also buy some white board markers - not permanent markers but white board markers, but don't let the white board marker paint sit longer than a few months on it, because then even the white board marker paint becomes hard to remove from the white board.
Thank ypu guys! ❤❤❤
Your reports are the best about Germany I found!
I'm German, former int. Management consultant, i lived nearly half of my life in other countries like Icory Coast, Spain, Switzerland. And I know many countries in the world. 😂😂😂😂
Have fun!!!! I myself have 4 kids, 6 grand children and I'm married 2.time with a Camerounaise.
Today we live in summer in Germany and in winter in other countries.
Have fun! ❤❤❤❤
- Mittelschule(which is actually quite different in Bavaria) and Realschule are more practically oriented while Gymnasium is much more theoretically oriented (languages i.e. english, french, latin as well as natural and social sciences).
It's hard to make a judgement of course, but your eldest seems to be quite smart (not to mention genetics) and also seems to have an interest in linguistics if I'm not mistaken. Frankly, I'd strongly recommend trying to get him into Gymnasium ASAP, as, the longer you wait, the harder a time he'll have catching up. Also, he might very likely get bored in Mittelschule, once he has enough German. 5th and 6th grade at Gymnasium is also called "Orientierungsstufe" (orientation phase) because it'll give you an idea whether you chose correctly. I means that, during that phase, they basically cut you some slack.
Going to Gymnasium also gives you advantages in addition to a general qualification for college such as for example a "Latinum" if you had Latin from 5th through at least 11th grade (Latinum is a qualification you need when studying things like medicine, history etc at university).
And yes, I'd say the last 30 years or so the pressures of gettting your kid into Gymnasium has increased. It's not that it has gotten harder, it's just that an increasing "fear" of your kid missing out on the best education has become a global phenomenon.
- Getting a tutor was definitely the right idea.
- A "Sporttasche" (sports bag) is a common convenience thing. You put your sports shirt, shorts and indoor sports sneakers in there (plus additional stuff for outdoor sports in summer) and then you just take it with you on the days you have phys.ed. Good luck teaching those boys to regularly bring the contents of said bag to mum after use on a regular basis lol. And yes "Sorry, I forgot to bring my sports bag" is a common occurence. :D
- The whole communication fiasco with the teacher sending messages through this or that channel is NOT a cultural thing: Before Covid Germans schools were woefully behind in the digitalization process. So at the moment everyone is trying to catch up and things can get very chaotic. You guys are NOT alone - welcome to the club. Try not to worry about it overly much.
- Individual school schedules. Yep, that's what goes on the fridge (or any similar visible spot): every kid's individual schedule, so you know when to expect them home or pick them up (if you so chose) and when to remind them to take their sports bag along. ;) Schedules are usually given out on the first day, although with digitalization some schools that have an individual login ID might now have the option to download your schedule in advance. Frankly, I'd just let them come home by themselves and not pick them up at all - it's all part of that sense of independance.
- Religion in school. Ah yes, the weird contradiction: The US has the separation of church and state which Germany doesn't have nominally (the churches are even part of the tax system) ... but the effect is the opposite of what you would think: In Germany religion has very little influence in public life or in politics - it couldn't be more different from the US, where religious groups exert strong pressure and no candidate for higher political office could get elected without professing their faith. Germany has a very secular society only probably surpassed by the scandinavian countries (I guess Kevin probably has some experiences with that from his time in Sweden). As for the actual subjects in school, as a general rule "catholic" often is more focused on the bible and the history of catholicism while "protestant" starts out that way and gets closer to ethics as the children get older. Don't be surprised when they come home in 8th or 9th grade having discussed abortion laws, multiculturalsim, social justice or similar things - that's quite normal.
- In general, social groups in German high schools are much less monolithic than you'd probably expect in the US: there isn't really a lot of that "jocks", "nerds" etc. distinction. That doesn't mean kids might not get excluded on an individual basis (we're not better people after all), but for the most part there are less cliques.
Well spoken.
@@danahoze9716 Würde ich nicht meinen. "Quite smart" heißt nicht übersetzt "ziemlich gscheit" sondern "so naja, etwas - intelligent" :)
I would also say that in protestant religion later on you also learn about Islam and buddhism and hinduism althought it might differ from region to region
@@noizW Kommt 1. auf den Kontext und 2. drauf an, ob du eher britisch oder amerikanisch orientiert bist. Amerikaner nutzen "quite" eher als "ziemlich" und Briten eher als "etwas", ist aber auch nicht in Stein gemeißelt.
@@ThoraEightySix True dat.
I admire how optimistic, positive and with what a great sense of humour you can talk about these rather difficult, baffling and sometimes even annoying school experiences. 👍😂💚
Awe thank you!
I agree and don't get too intimidated by some of us Germans' brusque nature. We're just really passionate about doing our things the proper way, but when we can see that someone is really trying to learn our language and about our culture it makes us happy. I hope you have a great time here and all the best to your family!
This is not really about school, but do you know the "Sendung mit der Maus"?:) It is a TV program for children and almost every German child grew up watching it on Sunday half an hour. It includes little stories or cartoons and in the middle, there is like a little documentary about somethig, how something works or how something is produced or why is something how it is :) so they are teaching a little topic so children can understand easily. It is really nice and maybe you are interested in it :) for many children watching Sendung mit der Maus is like a little Sunday routine :)
I say to my husband, "There should be a Sendung mit der Maus about this (how something is produced)" and he says, "There is." Happy 50th anniversary, Maus!
Oh, and also sometimes there are fairytales in the program like the "Sonntagsmärchen" ("fairytales on sunday") which are also really nice, especially for kids to learn the language, but also for adults :) they are in the regular program and also in the ARD mediathek, if you are interested :)
I have heard of this show from comments of other viewers, but it was called something different. I looked up the show on UA-cam and it is an orange mouse? No talking?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I just found a whole show on UA-cam :) if you want to gain an impression of the show, maybe you should rather use this UA-cam link than the internet page, I feel like the internet page is a bit more complicated and I'm not sure if there is a whole show :)
ua-cam.com/video/bcANUiRkasY/v-deo.html
I'm an Austrian living in the Netherlands (Austrian father, Dutch mother). Dutch is my native language. When I was little I learned German from German TV and books, starting with Die Sendung mit der Maus and Mickey Maus / Donald Duck comics. By the time I went to secondary school my German was already pretty good.
When you go to a Gymnasium, you don't necessarily have to go to University, however that's what most people are doing. I went to a Gymnasium and most people went to Uni after but some didn't.
Gymnasium is from grade 5 to grade 13 so you graduate at around 19 years old. Realschule typically ends after grade 10 so you graduate at about 16 years old. After Realschule, you can either start working (for example as an apprentice) or you can go to a Gymnasium for the last three years to get your University qualification. That's what I did! Hope that helps :) Also, fountain pens are mandatory at most schools for most children, I hold onto my first one for many years haha!
Also I think the kids German is going to improve so fast. I spent an exchange year in Norway and it was similar for me, I got "thrown" into a Norwegian school not knowing a single word of Norwegian. However I was pretty fluent after a few months although I was already 16!
great ! I'm still struggling with my Norwegian .
Oh interesting. It's quite similar here in Berlin but there are some differences. Grundschule here is grade 1-6 or if you want to you can allready leave from grade 4 and go to gymnasium. If you go to gymnasium after grade 4 you probably in a,, Profilklasse" means these classes are focus on music or science or math etc. The regular gymnasium starts at grade 7 and goes up to grade 12. But there are also,, (Integrierte-) Sekundarschulen" for people who are usually not that good in school (I really don't know how to describe that without offending someone sry). The ISS (Integrierte Sekundarschule) is from grade 7 to 10 but some schools also offer you the possibility to attend ,, Abitur" but it's usually 3 years in contrast to the Gymnasium where it is only 2 years.
@@grandmak. I think what was my advantage was that I was still a teenager and not an adult, and also the fact that my first language is German. Plus, I lived in a norwegian host family and they helped me a lot!
Clara's advice is good in general, but perhaps a bit too generic. There are relatively large differences between the German states, and the school system in Bavaria is the most old-fashioned. This has advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantage is that generally speaking, Gymnasium is a fantastic preparation for university. Historically, Gymnasiums evolved out of private colleges, which often had a few dozen adult students who were taught subjects like Latin, Greek and advanced mathematics primarily by the owner. These schools often included boarding. Nowadays they are generally public and free, start much earlier in year 5 (or in certain other states in year 7) and end in year 13 (or occasionally in year 12). In most states the material that is taught in years 5-6 is almost identical between the different school forms to facilitate early switching between the tracks. In this case the main difference is probably in the teachers' approach. Generally speaking, the non-Gymnasium tracks are probably much more similar to American high schools. In most states these are the tracks for the small percentage of students who didn't make it into Gymnasium, and this is where the teachers go who never for a minute considered becoming a researcher (or engineer or similar) instead, but nearly became a social worker. Based on your report it may be fair to think of your eldest son's teacher as a committed social worker type, which is of course really good news for you right now.
In the long run, you are facing a hard decision, though, because of how things are different in Bavaria. The good news is that non-Gymnasium tracks are more normal in Bavaria; the parents of a few children may even have an academic background. The bad news is that in this state you need to think of switching between tracks as similarly hard as the switch from the US to Germany, except that now you will also face bureaucratic hurdles.
Why would you want to switch tracks to Gymnasium? Because it's the right school form for the more intellectually inclined children. More and more jobs nowadays require Abitur. Bavaria is extremely conservative, so this development is a bit slower, and a relatively large percentage of farmers provides a steady trickle of children who for practical reasons don't go to Gymnasium even though they could. But not having Abitur severely restricts one's options in the German-speaking world later on.
With Abitur, your children will be able to study almost any subject practically for free at any German or Austrian university. Only a few super popular fields such as medicine have additional hurdles; almost all fields are unrestricted. Otherwise, any German Abitur or Austrian Matura allows everybody to just enroll for any subject at any German or Austrian university. If one day, one of your children gets bored at age 80 after a life of hoarding university degrees or not doing any learning at all, then (based on current rules, which haven't changed in ages), they can still enroll at a moment's notice for a degree course in any unrestricted field. In the worst case, there may be fees up to a couple thousand euros per year if the university is in the wrong state, especially if you already hold a university degree.
Without Abitur, your children won't get this exceptional freedom, and may not realize they want it before, say, getting into a mid-life crisis. Generally speaking, studying without Abitur is possible but very severely restricts the available universities and fields and often involves additional hurdles.
Choosing the Gymnasium track now may involve a longer distance to school, often in the form of a really long bike ride or using public schools. For children who don't learn naturally and easily, Bavarian Gymnasium can also be tough. There are ways to obtain a regular Abitur after finishing Realschule, but options are severely limited, can be expensive, may involve remote courses or require presence in a far-away city, and may not have a capacity that matches demand.
Coming from the US, it may be hard to guess where your children fit into the German school system. Based on everything I have seen I *guess* that Gymnasium would be best for your eldest son. You should ask his enthusiastic teacher about this. *If* a Realschule or Mittelschule teacher says Gymnasium might be better for a specific student, take it very seriously. It means the student is likely not making use of their full academic potential, i.e. is being trained to suppress their desire to learn.
Complications from language troubles and from switching:
When my daughter moved from Germany to England at the age of 4, she was fully fluent in perfect English after 9 months in an English nursery. That's also what you can expect in the other direction if your children don't start sticking to their siblings to avoid speaking German. In the long run, problems will primarily be on the level of orthography and fine points of grammar. This can impact superficially impact grades, especially at Gymnasium, but should not *directly* impact learning. (Only indirectly if a child is discouraged by poor grades or a teacher's resulting inappropriate attitude.)
In German schools it is quite common to repeat a grade. Usually this is 'punishment' for very poor grades. (The official reason is that a student doesn't have acquired the required knowledge for the next grade.) Although adjusting to a new class can be tough, you may want to use this to make adjustments if you find a child is struggling in school, and especially in COVID times a setback by 1 grade may be a good option if switching tracks to Gymnasium. Don't worry about your children being too old when they leave school. It's not a big issue in Germany, and getting Abitur after Realschule normally means they will also lose at least 1 year.
There is another way you can go after the Realschule. At a Berufskolleg you can make a more easy Abitur in one specific direction. E.g. there are some for health and social studies or for economy.
There really is a hustle to get into Gymnasium in Germany for many familys. I felt pressured in the 4th grade and worked more than I needed to get into a Gymnasium. But actually, when you get into Realschule you can easily change the school track if you have the qualification and the motivation! My best friend started of at a mix of Mittelschule and Realschule, than she changed to Gymnasium and now she successfully studies medicine. So don't worry too much about it. I'm sure your kids will do great and your support will help them reach their potential no matter the school track.
I did Gymnasium till 9th grade then dropped down to Realschule and then did my Fachhochschulreife which is almost the same as Gymnasium but not quiet its more practical and less theoratical. Its a "college entrance qualification" mainly for Hochschulen but you can often study at Universities as well
this happens to how many percent. like almost nobody? your friends seemed to have been a smart kid in the wrong school. Also when the kids grow up, it is so much about motivation and effort. But if they are smart, the motivation can still be low and you get though gymnasium. but if motivation, effort and skill is high - you go study medicine.
Here is an advice for easier and fun german learning for your kids (and even you): many (most even?) german kids grow up with audio books and audio plays. It's really a big thing here. Every german kid knows these: TKKG, Benjamin Blümchen, BiBi Blocksberg, BiBi und Tina, Die drei Fragezeichen. Pretty sure your kids friends will know all or at least some of these so they will also have something to talk about.
TKKG is about a detective friends group, Bibi Blocksberg is a friendly little witch, Benjamin Blümchen is a friendly little elefant (same universe as Bibi), Bibi und Tina is Bibi Blocksberg with her best friend Tina and its mostly about horses and adventures. Die drei Fragezeichen is also about a detective friends group. All of these are immensly popular and an important part of german identity really. Just know that especially the older ones, and here especially the detective ones, might have different ways of talking about racial or gender topics (the words that are used for example). Some of these are many decades old, so just make sure to pick the new ones or that you are able to talk about your kids about how the ways of handling language etc can change in cultures.
That is a good idea...there are also a couple of songs for children which a lot of parents use as educational tool, like the ones by Frederik Vale and above all Rolf und seine Freunde. I think there are few children in Germany which didn't grew up with his "Verkehrshitparade" (songs about how to behave in traffic correctly to avoid accidents), "Radio Lollipop" and his Christmas songs.
And they should watch "Die Sendung mit der Maus".
Audiobooks / Hörspiele are a verry godd idea. Our 10 year old daughtet likes the "Ghostsitter". You can find them on Amazon. They are really funny. And now she finaly picked up the books too.
But as others allready said, don't put to much presure on youre shulders. You are doing great.
@@swanpride yes Rolf Zuckowski is a great idea! Every Kid knows at least some of his Songs (in der Weihnachtsbäckerei for example)
@@d.7416 Und die Jahreszeiten lernt auch jedes zweite Kind mit Rolf Zuckowski 😀
Don't forget the "Sendung mit der Maus" - even as adults you learn so much :)
I do respect your courage to move over to a foreign country with four kids, to restart from scratch somewhere in the south of Bavaria. This reminds me of the best what America can bring to the old continent. You will make it for sure!
Thanks so much! Even if it is hard, we do really love it. And looking forward to post COVID days when we can do even more.
Pro tip would be not to pressure your kids into Gymnasium if grades indicate they are not ready for it as in this case the additional learning requirements could very well have their childhood end right then and there. With a sufficient Mittelschule/Realschule GPA it's actually no problem to sign up for 11th grade and get the very same degree three years later.
perfekt beschrieben
totally ignorant of bavarian realtity!
It is harder though to get used to the standerts of a Gymnasium later. I remember only one of the 5/6 kids, who transfered from the Realschule to my Gymnasium in the 10th grade, made her Abitur in the end.
Guys, you are doing great. Even for families that have been in Germany for generations starting a school year with all the supplies, clothes, shoes, schedules that vary from day to day, year to year and school to school is a struggle for every parent. And you have four kids, so your struggle is multiplied. With corona again every school, every class and every teacher has a different system to cope and provide education. These systems seem to change on a bi-weekly basis and the schools expect us to keep up, search for new material and instructions each morning and we all feel quite inadequate at least once each week, bc we missed a memo.
My advice: Make the school's secretary your best friend and ask her about anything. She's the central well of information of each school and 9 times out of 10 really kind and patient. Connect to other parents' in your kids classes. And get used to the "oh sorry, I didn't know' moment since this is a true German experience you'll have in common with all working parents in Germany. Welcome to the club!
I moved here before my children were born, but when they started Grundschule, I loved doing their schoolwork with them. I improved my German so much.
As for school after 4th grade, every state does it slightly differently. But yes, it can be a stressful and emotional year for the family. I’m so glad that it is long passed now for us.
You guys have got this! One step at a time.
As a private tutor and someone who changed schools myself I can only tell you to not worry too much. I teach kids that went to Hauptschule and now go on to get their degree from the Realschule. I've got kids that went from Gymnasium "down" to Realschule because the workload got too heavy and others that have their degree from the Realschule and now go on to get their degree from the Gymnasium (Abitur).
And there are even ways to go to college without the Abitur if you have a degree from the Realschule and you've learned a trade afterwards. Plus adults going back to evening school to get whatever degree they want.
It's confusing for sure but it also means that there are always ways to get the next "higher" degree no matter where you are at.....
Absolutely true!
I for example attended Hauptschule (Mittelschule in the video). At 8th grade, my grades were good enough to attend extra classes for the so called "Werkrealschule", which is kind of half way between Hauptschule and Realschule, by having extra classes next to your normal classes in 8th grade and then in 9th grade you get separated for the 3 main classes (German, English and Math) to learn more stuff in the same time, the Hauptschule kids do. And then you attend 10th grade, which the Hauptschule doesn't have (it ends with 9th grade).
After I finished Werkrealschule, I attended a "Berufskolleg", which is a 1 or 2 year extra school only available in some areas in Germany.
With the degree I got from that school, I was allowed to go to a "Fachhochschule", which is translated as University of applied science. This describes pretty good, what it is - it is a University, with a hands-on approach, not a theoretical one... I finished that as best of my semester.
Quite a journey, if you consider, that I started in the "lowest grade" of schools after the 4th grade, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I wasn't allowed to visit the Gymnasium after 4th grade, because my grades weren't good enough. So I ended up in a Hauptschule. I was best in my year from year 5 to year 9 and proceeded to Realschule. I was best in my year again until Grade 11 when I proceeded to Gymnasium. I studied physics in college and decided to stay in college for now to study journalism and major in it eventually.
I'm gonna be done with my major in 5 years probably and after that I want to travel the world and work as a science journalist.
So my point is anything is possible. I went from worst student to best. And now I'm working with amazing people from the journalism branche next to my regular studies.
@@lici5209 High five to the late bloomers :D
I'm currently on my second apprenticeship at almost 29 because I became disabled so even if that happens to you or the kids there are still ways to proceed from there.
Germany is really good at helping people succeed and go through the education system.
And for summer you need two pairs of sneakers for school. One pair for inside (the bottom of the shoe needs to be white or at least non marking) and then one pair for the P.E. lesson outside 😉
Oh wow, good to know!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I would say that is the rule almost everywhere in Germany. You are not allowed to wear shoes in PE class with a black or any other colored bottom except for white ones because all the colored ones can lead to dark stripes on the ground of the sports hall/gym. That's why you need an extra pair of shoes especially for PE class that has a very bright bottom. I wouldn't necessarily say that you need 2 pair of shoes in summer just for PE class because most of the time it takes place in the sports hall ( even in summer). I considered it as unnecessary to buy another pair of shoes just for 1-5 PE classes in the whole school year that might take place outside and not in the hall. So what I did was I just used my one pair of shoes for the PE class but of course I made sure that they are completely clean on the bottom for the next PE class in the hall.
@@FeeLikesChriZ I would say it depends on what they have to do outside. We would have to run around a lake on a sandy path a lot and sometimes it was quite muddy so I never wanted to use my good sport shoes
totally right!
What is considered a house shoe for school?
Elementary teacher here... The kids are supposed to have a sportsbag with sneakers and sports chlothes, so they don`t cover the gym in dirt with their normal street shoes and sports clothes, so they can change back in their normal clothes, when the sport clothes are covered in sweat after gym class.
I would say, probably 85% of all confuses and problems you had with german school system here is because of covid. Every single school has other rules and solution for classes in this pandemic, because all the government did was telling the schools to find their own solutions on how classes could work with all the hygienic rules and that caused a huge mess in german school system because literally every single little village has their own rules for school now. Even as a teacher it is "Oh, hey, how did you organize this and that at your school?" with friends.
I teach in Canada and I’m soooo shocked that there’s streaming after grade 4! Our public system is completely de-streamed right up to grade 10 (ie: one class for everyone based on age and not skill level). In my opinion it’s not serving our kids well. Talk about a cultural difference!
I enjoyed your video. Your sense of adventure, humour and positive attitudes are a true delight. All the best.
You can allways go higher and higher with education. For example i went to Realschule and because my grades were good enough i went to gymnasium after and then to uni. So just because you start in a school in 5th grade it does not mean you can’t go to gymnasium which is the hardest school at the end. But it is easier in generell if you allready start at gymnasium.
Streaming afte grade 4 is pretty rough. It's not as bad as it sounds thou. If you are willing to learn and improve yourself you can find your way from mittelschule to college. You can eighter continue school when you finish Mittelschule or you can work your way throu a trade, goinh through multiple steps of technical qualification and get your entrance to free college that way.
i have "only" a haupschul degree, but in germany there is any time a way to educate your self. even without a high school diploma (abitur) you have good chances to succeed. germany has one of the best apprenticeship systems in the world, to become specialized craftsman or other business. you can also get your high school degree after a apprenticeship and go to university after some years in the working world.
Yes! The apprenticeship system is really cool. Have always admired that.
I went to a German school as an American without knowing a word if German starting with grade 6. It only took a year to fit in and learn the language. After 4 years, at grade 9, I got a “3” which is like a C in German on my German report card.
There are many classes I didn’t need German for at all! Gym, Math, Wood shop... and I was required to take English!
That's awesome!
Most of the German kids are walking to school and back alone, so maybe they could do that when they're more used to the way. Probably, it would be less stressful for you:)
Mama, ich will nicht dass Du mich zur Schule bringst. Wie sieht das denn aus?
Thank you for keeping such a positive attitude to our German matter of fact and sometimes stubborn ways. Your positive and value free approach is rather refreshing.
Das ist sehr nett, Danke. 🙏🏻
Fam of six with cat yes 🤣😍
I have the feeling that you are putting a lot of pressure on yourselves. Take your time, you've only been here a few weeks. In Germany we also say: "We only learn by making mistakes! Almost no one will hold that against you. A 4 yo child learns 7 new words every day, no matter what language!
Thanks, Arno!
11:55 "Sportbeutel" is simply the bag with their gym clothes and shoes inside.
That word is commonly used as a short hand for saying "bring your training clothes and training gear with you".
Don't be worry with the school system, your kids can always change the school. ;)
Wait a year or a half year when they have no problems with the language anymore, then you can make your decisions.
Learning the language is the most important thing at the moment, the rest will come easy. ;)
Great advice, we so agree. Most important thing is to learn German!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife cannot agree more. What school they are actually in is less of importance right now. Let them integrate and settle first. The most important thing is that they find friends and get accepted. The language will then come automatically. Whatever degree they will take at the end is secondary. This will however be the greatest expierience of their young lifes and they will profit from forever. Keep in mind that it is you that give them this fantastic opportunity and never feel pain or gulty. Be proud of yourselves instead. Your kids will thank you for their whole lifes. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife And there are many secondary schools in the social, technical or economic fields that are more highly regarded in their sector, for example, business schools and business grammar schools. So that even a Hauptschule pupil can study later. With a secondary school leaving certificate, you can study at a university of applied sciences. Even an 80-year-old can study here almost for free. It is never too late.
Many a well-educated worker in a factory or in a trade can earn more here than an academic. Don't worry so much.
@@arnodobler1096 Yes, they can study later but it takes a lot of extra years. One friend got started studies around 3 years later than people with gymnasium. 😕
I would disagree. I think language wise they will get it right incredibly fast. But the educational difference between Gymnasium and other school forms is hard to catch up later and it might also be hard to find friends in one school but than have to leave yet again for another school. So if it is not too much pressure for them I would rather suggest the Gymnasium whenever possible. Without Abitur it is also more difficult to get well paid jobs later.
About the three school tracks: the german system dates back to the 19th century. The Mittelschule (back then called Volksschule) was the school the majority of children went to, before they would learn a trade. The Gymnasium was the school of the elites. Only a tiny percentage of pupils used to attend the Gymnasium and it was geared towards university. Pupils would learn Latin and Koine Greek as their main foreign languages. The Realschule was the school in the middle, where children would be taught stuff they would need for a middle-class life, for example a foreign language that would actually be useful in a professional setting (either English or French, depending on the school). Which is the reason for its name, btw. It was the school you learned something "real", instead of that heady academic stuff that was seen as useless if you were supposed to take over your father's company one day.
Of course, the system went through a lot of changes since then (many states have for example merged the Mittelschule and Realschule, while others have expanded primary school to include fifth and sith grade).
Bavaria is the most conservative state when it comes to the school system, btw.
I think, after the Mittelschule he will first go to the Realschule, if he has the grades and then a year later and with the grades your oldest son can go to the Gymnasium.
@@littlepoetx But in 6th the second language starts. So it might be hard to catch up that year of language lessons.
@@lilas.988 Yeah, thats true, but i think between Mittelschule and Realschule aren't that big differences...
A little fact about the "Abitur", our highest graduation degree: it is generally favored by parents and kids for the easy fact that it leaves all doors in life open. Kids go through their formative years in school and their interests might change constantly. At the end of school it is common that you might not even know what you wanna do with your life now. Even if you decide not to study and go to university (after going through 13 years of school) there might come a time where that changes. Maybe you found your dream career (after doing other jobs) and it is a university career path, or you completed your vocational training and decide after a few years to make yourself even more attractive with an additional complementary degree. Or even to upscale the degree you already have.
That said, Abitur is certainly not a must-have - the most important thing is that you are happy in life - and there are ways you can do Abitur even after being out of school for some time, but it is nice to have options. Me as the stereotipically efficient German always appreciated that pure fact. ;D
Yes, but it should not be favored by parents in the very first place. This became a plague! And it is not the only way the German systems offer. We've got the so called 2nd way as well. Did you know over 40% of engineers did not have abitur at first? They came through the 2nd way. The dual system of our job education has so much more to offer than just pressing children early into the gymnasium.
There are also ways to obtain a Abitur if you originally went to a Realschule or even just got a Hauptschulabschluss but it takes longer. Fachabitur is one way to get into a Fachhochschule which is kind of like a university but also not, kind of hard to explain but they are more specialized and then you can also take classes either full-time or in the evenings to still get your abitur later in life and then go to whatever university you want to go.
So really even if a child is in one school right now it's not the end.
Another great Video :)
Don't be afraid of the diffrent shool types. Today Kids can make a ''Ralschulabschluss'' and go to the Gymnasium for the last 3 years. I did it that way and went to Collage after.
Have a good sunday.
Oh that's good to know!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I think back then it was also possible to get admitted to Gymnasium test-wise even if your grades were not that great. I assume your kids could cope with Gymnasium after 1 year in Germany. But if they have a strong hands-on mentality, Realschule could also be nice. Gymnasium tends to be very academic and theoretical.. in higher grades its almost style of a university. Best thing is just ask them where they would like to go to....
I agree with @Samira here.
The typical way things go is: The kids go to elementary school and at the end of the first half of fourth grade the parents get a recommendation where to send their kids based on the grades and their overall development.
You can follow it or choose a different type of school, nonetheless you need to be admitted, which may become an issue if you did not follow the recommendation and they think your kids might be struggeling to do well.
Still after graduating Realschule for example if your grades are good and you fulfil certain criteria you can move on to a Gymnasium for the last three years and graduate there (Abitur) and then go to a university.
3 Kids at a new School in Germany during covid with all that chaotic homeschooling... we just have One Kid and its exhausting and we miss notes and deadlines too
Yeah it has been QUITE the crazy ride!
oh gosh guys, you are doing a greeeeeat job. My daughter is born in German, grew up here but we stayed one year in Canada, where she started her elementary school. It was not a problem there. But then, when we came back to Germany.... wow... The chaos started. All the things that you mentioned, school supplies and small details.. I missed them a lot, too. Also even she could speak German perfectly, there were so much more things kids have to do by THEMSELVES. Like, kids were treated as babies in Canada, kids are treated like an adult in Germany. They should be as organized as grown ups, have to write down their own homework, not forget bringing back questionnaire and so on. We were OVERWHELMED. I am so relieved to see you are dealing with it relaxed. cuz I couldn't. I was so frustrated and knew not quite right what to do. After about half a year she got on the track and got better and better. I guess it was even harder for you because of COVID. Keep me updated with your life and school, I am very curious! I hope you enjoy German life. :)
And ist really remarkable how much effort you make to integrate yourself into teh German culture and way of life and I wish you that you will feel really at home very soon!
It gets better every week! And I am not so scared anymore to make a phone call in German. I have been putting off making an appointment for the eye doctor for my son...
@@kevinmcfall5285 Yes, I can relate to that, formal talks in another language are really challenging but you shouldn't worry, nobody expects from you to speak perfect German, the people appreciate it greatly if you even make the effort to speak German. And if you need any help don't hesitate to aks someone. The so called German "coldness" is so misunderstood. Germans are not so outgoing and morre reserved and not so into smalltalk because becoming too personal too quickly is considered impolite inGerman. Its not that they don't like you but they just try to respect your privacy and personal space. But as soon as you ask for help most of the peopel ar emore than willing to help you further. I am always a bit ennoyed when foregners say that Germany are cold or impolite, thats a very superficial judgement. And in addition, Germans love teh American people! So feel welcomed!
The school system is often in favour of the kids. I got a ‚eingeschränkte Gymnasialempfehlung‘ which means I almost completely qualified for being sucessful in a gymnasium. Went to a realschule, and now I visit a ‚berufliches gymnasium‘ where I get my college qualification. It‘s pretty neat, you can always get uni qualifications no matter where you start.
So good to know! Thank you!
But your have to work your way up. It easier to start and finish at the gymnasium. I did it the same way you did. And its good to have that choice. But overall its better to do gymnasium from start.
As a german I love to hear about that. I hope the kids will continue to get along. Please make a language update on how the kids are progressing with german
It's incredible that you moved your family to Germany!!! We lived there for three years when I was a kid and it was phenomenal in every way. We had an incredible time. It was a very, very special time in our lives for many reasons, including living in the land where my family's ancestors came from. I wouldn't be who I am without that time in Germany. You are doing right by your children by giving this incredible gift to them.
That’s so awesome you also got this experience!! Kevin’s descendants are from Germany also.
I’m living in Germany for 5 years and had the same experiences! I think it's important that you take things with good humor, learn and can immerse in the new culture !! Cool!! 😃
I soo much enjoyed your narrative about how your kids are doing in school. Many years ago (1964) I was a young boy being transferred from my "Gymnasium" in Fulda Germany to a public American High School in Covington Louisiana. Only my father and my older brother spoke English, while my mother and I did not. It was a challenge but it was such a rich learning experience for me. I am thankful to this day, that my parents made the move. Your children are very fortunate and one day will be very thankful for this. I applaud you :-).
Thanks for the support! We definitely think it will be a great experience for all of us.
Try not to worry too much, your kids are all smart and they will do fine on a Gymnasium.
When I was in school, we had one girl from Belgium who joined us in 10th grade and one boy from Guinea who came in 11th grade. They chose to repeat 11th grade before entering the last 2 years, to achieve better grades in their Abitur, but they both did well. It helped that my Gymnasium offered a bilingual branch from 5th grade with subjects like geography and history in French. There are other Gynasiums that are "bilingual" with English, at least here in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
From what I read NRW system is much better than in Bayern. Not so much pressure and more modern.
Learning German is difficult I guess. Especially because Bavarian people told you, they are talking German 😂
We are talking German at schools. Not allowed to speak dialect. Like in any other part of Germany❤️
@@cassandra8620 But some bavarians think that they are speaking german but I (as a german from the west of Germany) have quite a hard time understanding anything. 😬😅
@@matome3050 Ich weiß, wenn ich Hochdeutsch spreche weiß jeder, daß ich aus Bayern komme. Aber verstehen tut mich schon jeder👍😂👍
@@cassandra8620 I've never met anybody who was forbidden to speak dialect in school O.o I always talked bavarian everywhere...
@@yas_lana We had to speak high German at school, but than, I am 65❤️
In Bavaria the main hindrance for getting "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" (= universal university qualification) if you didn't go to Gymnasium is the second foreign language. Typically when you finish Gymnasium (9 years) you had English/French or English/Spanish or English/Latin (English 9 years, 2nd foreign at least 5 years).
If you didn't go to Gymnasium you typically only had English as a foreign language and for many catching up on the 2nd one is very hard. But if you don't want to study something radically different from your school specialization "Fachgebundene Hochschulreife" (= subject limited university qualification) is good enough. However a few university courses like medicine and law require the 2nd foreign language.
Also university is absolutely no requirement for a good job. Getting an apprenticeship and subsequent courses (either in-house with the employer or at specialized schools) can lead to very well respected and well paid jobs. E.g. becoming a "Staatlich geprüfter Techniker" (= state examined technician). This last one btw includes "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" so after this you could study law without the 2nd foreign language.
I have now watched several of your videos, and I really appreciate that Kevin keeps reminding us in the beginning that the cat is a member of your family 😂❤
🐱🐱🐱 yes he and the kids LOVE the cat! Haha, me, not so much.
It's a difficult adjustment at the beginning, but you will be suprised how fast kids can learn a new language. Our acquaintances from Syria live here just for a few years, because of the war in their native country, and the daughter is the best in her German class now. When the c-bug is over and the kids have more interaction with their class mates or friends, it will become more easier with more practice. Also a fun way watch German TV or comics/books. Mittelschule and Realschule is preparing you for an apprenticenship (vocational school + learning by the job), but pupils can switch to other school tracks after their graduation. Also it's quite common for pupils to travel 10-30km per bus or train for school every morning. Fun fact: In the 90s was a kind of "brand war" in elementary school if you had a pen from Pelican or Lamy, the two most important suppliers, because the ink cartridges are different :D
You´re such a lovely family. Don´t stress about the school system. You´re kids can visit the Realschule til 10th grade and then switch to gymnasium, or finishing Realschule do an 3 years apprenticeship and after that doing their abitur (Gymnasium degree). There are so many different ways to university, they can even do their gymnasium degree during their apprenticeship. The only thing i would try to avoid is Hauptschule.
The school system here can be terribly confusing even for natives! But the most important thing is that there are always options and alternatives.
From a German that went to school in Bavaria as well: In Bavaria there has been a focus in recent years to allow students who completed 10th grade at a Realschule and students who completed 9th grade + another year (M-Zweig) at Mittelschule to attend the last two years of Gymnasium and receive the Abitur. The concept is called Einführungsklasse (introductory class). Students take part in a special one-year introductory program at a Gymnasium (usually only one school in a Landkreis offers it, it's still rather rare unfortunately) and can then join regular Gymnasium students for grades 11 to 12. This option requires a good work ethic but since it's still a few years to go so until then it might be a good option!
Of course there's also the option of attending a special practical school after Mittelschule/Realschule, the FOS/BOS, that also leads to a Abitur/Fachabitur.
So there are plenty of paths to the Abitur that don't require switching school types in the early years of your stay here. Your kids can take all the time they need to settle in :)
As a german, I think it´s großartig (fantastic) how you talk about your failures. It will make things better in the future. Please keep on, you make a great mirror to us. thank you.
Hey guys, I hope you still read this.
Check if your Mittelschule has a "Beratungslehrer" (school counselor). He/She knows ALL the options your kids have and should have experience with similar cases (if not personally he has a network of all Bavarian counselors he can rely on). The reason this is so important is that while you can switch from Mittelschule to Realschule or Gymnasium, the timing decides about the difficulty! If (generally speaking) the Gymnasium would be a good fit for your oldest, you should consider moving him there for next year. At the Gymnasium you start your second foreign language in 6th grade. There is no second foreign language at the Mittelschule and at Realschule it starts in 7th grade. This means that "upgrading" might be more difficult later.The counselor should also know if the Gymnasium closest to you offers a support program for non native speaker etc. (you could also get this information from the counselor at the Gymnasium).
Especially for cases like you, the school has the option of taking your kids "auf Probe" (for a trial period) for a certain time (I think up to a year). What that basically means is that grades don't count and the teachers decide whether or not the child has passed the trial period. The advantage is that there is a lot less pressure on the kids to get everything in the lessons and focus on language acquisition while already being in their future class and learning with them as much as they can understand (again the coundelor knows all the details). At my school (Bavarian Gymnasium) we had several similar cases of people from Italy, Poland, Croatia, Canada etc. and have had very few problems so far with the kids that joined us before 9th grade (for older ones language acquisition is a massive race against the time until Abitur grades start).
As a teacher and father of an elementary school kid: relax, take a deep breath, you're doing great! It's utter chaos currently, mistakes are being made on all sides, survival is the key, right now.
Minor details: Religious Education is not teaching religion, it is teaching ABOUT religion. Proselytizing is strictly forbidden (where one ends and the other start is the big question, ofc), think of the traditional differences of school types like this: Mittelschule -> (physical) trades like carpenter, Realschule -> trades like bank clerk, Gymnasium -> academia
This is so helpful Peter! Thank you.
Love watching your videos! Amazing how you integrated into Germany by now already. Props to you!:)
There is only one thing I keep hearing in your videos that you mix up (or mixed up back in the day):
So the tracks after the Grundschule are the following:
1. Gymnasium -> leads to “Abitur” qualification
2. Realschule OR Mittelschule (it’s a synonym, called different in the different Bundesländer) -> leads to „Realschul-/Mittelschulabschluss“ (also called „Mittlere Reife“) qualification (they both are equal)
3. Hauptschule -> leads to „Hauptschulabschluss“ qualification
You can only go to a university with a Abitur (or Fachabitur, but then only the „Fach“ (subject) that you got qualified in).
With a Realschulabschluss as well as with a Hauptschulabschluss you can get a apprenticeship. Here the difference is that certain, more academically study-intensive apprenticeships are only possible if you have a Realschulabschluss.
EDIT: I just did some research and found out that Bavaria passed a law back in the days, that since 2011/2012 „Hauptschulen“ can call themselves „Mittelschule“ if they fulfill 3 criteria (you can read it on Wikipedia, search for „Mittelschule (Bayern)“.
What a confusion, after all! :D
There are several ways to get advice regarding school:
- Other parents with school children
- Klassenlehrer (this is the teacher that has the most contact and classes with your children and is the main teacher responsible for your children
- Vertrauenslehrer/Sozialarbeiter/Schulpsychologe
Those are either special teachers or psychologists or social workers that can help should your children have trouble with classes, bullies or even difficult other teachers or to help with orientation regarding the different school tracks
Conversations with or among three-year-olds can be VERY meaningful!
I wouldn't worry too much about the tracks, I'd say the most important thing is to make sure your kids get comfotable in their new schools and with speaking German. I'm sure it'll be fine once everyone's really settled in.
The tracks have already been explained pretty well in other comments, I would like to add though that kids usually get 'sorted' into one of the tracks not only by grades but also by what their strengths are. Mittelschule/ Hauptschule is usually way more practical than the other two which is why it often leads to the pupils proceeding to apprenticeships in more hands-on fields like plumbing, carpenting and so on or creative jobs after they graduate because that's what fits their strengths most. Realschule is for students who deal better with abstract concepts, maths, foreign languages and so on and 'traditionally' leads to apprenticeships in trading or banking, working as assistents for lawyers and in courts, tourism and similar fields after graduation. Gymnasium is a lot about very abstract concepts, critical thinking and transfering your knowledge to solve difficult problems you've never learned about, which is why those students are the ones that usually would do well in the academic world.
However, the track a child took doesn't really predict what field they will go into later in life. Someone who graduated from Gymnasium might really want to become a baker and someone who was initially put into Mittelschule might just be a late bloomer and proceed to become a doctor. And you can change tracks at any point (if you do well in school) or go on to graduate in a higher track right after graduation or go to special schools at any point later in life to then be able to go to university afterwards. Also people who did an apprenticeship and worked in that field for a few years can go to university because they get the qualification just through their work experience even if they've never attended a Gymnasium and have no Abitur. Nothing is set in stone, if someone develops strengths or interests they didn't have as young children they can easily change their paths.
Hearing you talk about your four year old made me think about the time I was volunteering as a subsidiary teacher in Nicaragua Central America in a pre- & primary school. There was a four year old boy, Axel whose parents had moved to Nicaragua from the US about the same time as I did. He was very timid and shy in the beginning because he did not know any Spanish, me not a native Spanish speaker as well (as I am from Germany) spoke Spanish most of the time with him but occasionally I would take him to the side and teach him some colours and shapes in Spanish and English simultaneously. I realised that this did not only help him in terms of the language barrier with the other kids but also in terms of security and confidence because he knew in an urgent situation he could come to me asking for help in English (since the other teacher barely spoke English). I don't know about the resources your Kindergarten has but it might be an idea to try to suggest to them, most Germans are fluent enough in English to communicate about the very basic things and maybe it would help Ella (that was her name right?)
Regarding the three tracks, I see how that can be confusing and intimidating! So basically the idea is to separate kids at the age of 10 by learning pace and abilities (Germans do not fall short in criticising the system for categorizing children so early on, just to preface). For the first four years (in Berlin it is actually for the first six years) all children go to the same school and get the same basic education, then at the end of fourth grade teachers give a recommendation where the child will perform best, the Gymnasium, Realschule or Mittel/Hauptschule. Gymnasium goes from 5th to 12th grade and preps your child for university. At the end students are awarded the "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" which is a required degree in order to study at a German university. It is the most challenging school and there can be a lot of pressure on fourth graders to make it to the Gymnasium because parents fear that otherwise there will be no chance in terms of career opportunities if they don't make it (spoiler alert, the permeability of the system is better than many people think so don't freak out). The Realschule goes from grade 5 to 10 and at the end you hold the so called "mittlere Reife" which enables you to start vocational training but does not enable you to go to university directly but you can transition to a Gymnasium by repeating year 10 at the Gymnasium (there are a lot of students doing this) and thereby simply entering into the most crucial three years of the Gymnasium. Hauptschule/Mittelschule is supposed to be the least challenging among the three and goes from grade 5 to 9. You finish school holding a qualification that does enable you to start vocational training or you could go on to the Realschule for year 10, and from there go on to the Gymnasium. However the earlier a child is set on the fitting track the better, because switching and transitioning, especially upwards can be challenging. There is also an additional way to earn a enabling degree for university by doing a so called Fachabitur, but as I am myself not really knowledgeable about this I will leave it at this (maybe someone else may fill you in on it).
Transitioning from one school to another even within Germany may be quite difficult and considering the cultural differences and the language barrier and Covid you and your kids really deserve an award for powering through. Wishing you the best of luck!
Your older kids should be able to go on their own to and from school. When I got into 5th grade I had to get up at 5:30 in the morning because I had to be at the school bus stop at 6:10 o clock. The bus did a round tour through several villages and reached the school at around 7 o clock. School lessons started at 7:30. My latest class ended at 13:15 and I had to walk a kilometer to the regular bus stop. The bus left at 13:45 and I normally was home at 14:30. My village just had a Hauptschule and I went to Realschule. If I had to go to Gymnasium I would have had to take the regular train (26 km) to the next bigger City. The Realschule was only 8 kilometers away and when the weather was good I took my bicycle. I got to sleep longer and left home at 7:00 and got home earlier.
Hi! Ich habe von Antoinettes Kanal zu euch gefunden durch die Kommentare. Da habe ich euch alles Gute gewünscht. Jetzt sehe ich hier auf eurem Kanal, dass ihr tatsächlich in D angekommen seid. 😄🤗 Wie schön. Herzlich Willkommen und viel Spaß!
The 3 tracks are (used to be)
Hauptschule - Strong focus on a job in "manual labor" later
Realschule - Strong focus on office jobs later
Gymnasium - Strong focus on going to the university later
You can always move "up"- once you finished the current track
Hauptschule -> Realschule -> Gymnasium
( I think this is the reason why some people believe Hauptschule ist the worst kind of education)
Well, it is a soft way down and a thorny way up, so it is understandable to think that way. But frankly, for long term success it doesn't really matter all that much, because in Germany vocational training counts just as much as university.
regarding the "Sportbeutel": You keep sneakers a t-shirt and shorts in there. Elementary school kids keep them at school because otherwise, they'll forget it at home half of the time. The kids only swap the clothes out once in a while to wash them. In secondary school you usually bring the Sportbeutel only on the days you have gym class (or keep them there if you have a locker)
Definitely try to send them to the Gymnasium as soon as your children feel confident enough. Even though migration between the different branches is possible, you might want to consider that adjustment will have to happen either way, and even though Gymnasium is more challenging, you kids seem strong and intelligent and they will handle it after maybe some initial hick-ups. Even if they have to run an "extra round" that is no big deal, and whatever is best for the kid, usually everyone will support.
Exactly. My experience in another German state is that it is far more complicated and harder to go from one type of school to another. Let‘s face it. The whole system is not really just, as it is stated again and again by the OECD. A kid from a so called academic background is far more likely to go to Gymnasium than a kid from a non-academic or migrational background. There are statistics that around 20% of kids from lower type of schools could intellectually actually go to Gymnasium. Don‘t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about the other types of schools. But going to Gymnasium gives your kids a whole more choices in later years. Even when they want to do a Ausbildung,they have higher chances to get the job than a kid from another type of school. My cousin who lives in Bavaria got her Mittelschule degree. She is a smart kid, now in her 40s and she won‘ t get promoted anymore as she just has this diploma. Said that, I love your videos and wish you all the best😊
@@rikehagemann3448 Yep! Exactly ...
Sadly I have to agree. That being said, nothing is lost if they don't end up going to it or even have to re-do a year. The German educational system has become REALLY flexible when it comes to degrees in the last decade or two, although Bavaria - as with quite a few other things - is kind of it's own beast when it comes to stuff like that.
So: It mostly depends on how they take the adjustment I would say. But if you have the choice to have them go to the Gymnasium they probably should - unless they really don't want to, in which case it's probably better to trust their judgement...
I came with my parents from Africa to Germany aged almost 6 which is whe you're supposed to be be in the primary school. I went right away for a short time to the Kindergarten. Even though I literally nothing but the German educational system is so great that it went from the primary school only upwards. German became my favourite subject ever since and I still believe it's a well-thought and beautiful language. Der, die and das matters lol... It's all about being and staying curious/open, so all the best for your kids, they appear more then ready🍀
Love your comment! So cool you can here as an immigrant also.
That experience you make with the schools we made as well here in the US! The catch up needs a while! It would be so great if there would be a teacher or parent from the school who would be by your side to help you, because it is overwhelming! If we will go back to Germany I definitely would jump in and help parents and kids coming from another country to be faster integrated! There is definitely a need in Germany as it is here in the US! So, I can imagine that you would help parents from other countries when you go back to the US as well!
I love to hear how positive you are responding to the mess you are experiencing with school communication. I can assure you that most German parents also lose track what do to how with whom. The difference is, that German parents will not apologise to the teachers who are unable to create a consistent scheme. The regular reaction is to push back and insist of them using a single channel of communication.
Okay good to know German parents are struggling with that, too!
Interesting video! It made me aware that there are so many differences in the school system in the US. Maybe it would be helpful for your German viewers if you could explain in a little more detail how the US system works? One thing I found funny when I stayed with a family in the US as a teenager was that basically each teacher had his own classroom and that the students had to change the room after each class (that was in high school), whereas in Germany it's the other way around (at least till 11th grade).
I'm studying to become a teacher at Gymnasium in Bavaria:
It was a really great of you to get a tutor early! Getting help only when you already struggle a lot is far too late.
Also I would advise you to keep in mind that in Bavaria it's much easier to switch from Gymnasium to Realschule and from Realschule to Mittelschule than the other way around! If you are unsure whether or not your child will be able to manage a specific school type, let them try it! You can always switch to an "easier" type later on
Okay thanks so much for your help!
I know the 3 tracks as Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium. You can do Realschule until 10th grade and then go to Gymnasium to do the Abitur. You need that to go directly to university. But in the last years, there is then option to go to school until 10th grade. Then learn a profession (Lehre), do the master title in your profession (Meister) and then go to university. There are also some other options, like Fachabitur.
There is a difference to the US. AFAIK, if you don't go to college there, you will be limited to jobs, that are not that well paid etc. Over here, you can start your own company with a Meister without ever attending university.
You don't say Hauptschule any more because of the stigma connected with it
Okay yes so we are finding that in Bayern, Hauptschule ist Mitteschule. But anyway, what you're describing about the different ways to go to university is so interesting! Much different than in America. www.km.bayern.de/education-in-bavaria.html
You don't say "Hauptschule" but it is a stigma anyway. Attending a "Hauptschule" often means that your background is rather uneducated and your career options are limited. In bigger cities, these schools are rather "hotspots" for socially weak "classes" and for children, who are not interested in visiting school at all (problem cases) - as this kind of school is the fallback. That's the stereotype and I don't think it is completely wrong. But might be different somewhere in the countryside. I would prefer my children attending the Realschule or Gymnasium, though.
Hauptschule and Realschule don't exist in Schleswig.Holstein any more.
@@grandmak. But Gesamtschule/Stadtteilschule doesn’t exist in Bavaria.
I'm from Germany and it's really interesting to listen to you 😂
Oh don't worry. I didn't now about Hausschuhe at school. I am a german almost in my 60's: we used to wear our normal shoes with which we came to school. Must be something new.
Its not a german thing . Likley just a school specific thing.
I work at an elementary school and love how welcoming kids are when there's new kids from other countries! You already mentioned it, but we're used to it, mostly because of the refugees in the past years but there's always some immigration happening here in Germany and kids are usually raised to be accepting of others, regardless of the differences. And I'd say don't worry too much about the three tracks after elementary school. If a kid wants to go to university later, they'll always find a way, regardless of the school the attended before. Hauptschule/Mittelschule are putting the focus on slower learning and more practical learning and Realschule really is the compromise between Mittelschule and Gymnasium and you can switch in any grade or after graduation in 10th grade which is what most people do. It's not an ideal system but it's more focused on the child's needs and just as those needs can change, you can change the school they attend - whether that's in 6th grade or at a later point :)
I can imagine that the school system can be very intimidating for people who are not familiar with it. (I am from Austria but the school system is quite similar to the Bavarian one). Even many local parents often put themselves under unnecessary pressure, unfortunately. But try to take it as easy as possible. :)
There are often debates here in politics and society too as to whether a common uniform type of school would be better. Personally, being a teacher myself, I think the school differentiation is good, as long as its aim is to focus on the personal development of the child. Unfortunately, there are often parents who pay more attention to their own interests and ideas than to the needs of their children. This is the bad side when there are several types of schools to choose from. Of course, parents always want the best for their children. Unfortunately, the ideas of what is really best may vary, as parents sometimes look ahead too far in the future, and forget the here and now.
The aim of the different school tracks should be to adapt to the child's personal abilities and learning pace. And just because a child attends a certain type of school doesn't mean that their fate is sealed or that your child will have to follow a certain career path later on.
I know many people who had learning difficulties when they were young and therefore went to a Mittelschule, but worked really hard to switch to a Gymnasium. And now they are successful engineers and physicians. On the other side there are also people who attended a Gymnasium and later realized that studying is not for them and that they want to start a craft apprenticeship instead.
The motto of the German school system is rather: Everything is possible, nothing is set in stone. The school type that you've chosen ist not defining what you have to become. But it can help you to become aware of your own abilities and interests. :-)
Moreover, it seems like apprenticeships have a different status in the USA than in Germany or Europe in general. From what I've heard, in the US many people strive to get into a good college after high school. Of course, there are many people who also want to attend university here. However, apprenticeships also have a high status in German (or European) society.
It is often more a matter of the expectations of the parents who want to put their children in a Gymnasium at all costs, just because they themselves think that this would be important for their child's career. And that only puts unnecessary pressure on the child. However, that is exactly the opposite of what the differentiation of school types is supposed to achieve: to take pressure OFF the children and give them the best education they need at that moment of life.
Since you just moved to a foreign country and need to learn a second language first, I think a Mittelschule ist the best place for your kids right now (although I believe that once your children have a good command of the German language they will switch to a Realschule or Gymnasium). Gymnasien can often be very challenging, for both, students and parents (even for native speakers).
All in all, I am convinced that your children and you as a family will master everything brilliantly. You radiate such calmness and harmony, and I think that is the best thing you can do for your family! :-)
I know the choice can be intimidating. But just to put your mind at ease, you won't be ruining your children's futures by choosing a "too-low" type of school. All parents at my time wanted to get their kids into Gymnasium by all means, but I did Realschule through 10th grade, Technisches Gymnasium 11th-13th, and then did a college degree in computer science. That is all possible. So don't get too nervous about it, choose a school, that caters the way your child can learn best.
Oh yes, 4th grade is terrible... Most of the times it is the parents who cause the stress. 😉 I think the way YOU do it is exactly right. 👍You give your kids the time they need - perfect! It is true that you can switch between the different tracks at school. If you keep in touch with the teachers they will answer your questions, I am sure. All the best for you! 🍀🍀
So true, we parents can stress about things that aren't necessary.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yeah! 😄 But you did not get me wrong, did you? I didn't mean YOU!! 😊
We moved to Germany in 2008 from Portland Or. two of our kids completed GYM and now is college. our last is now finish her last tests, doing well. We had many experiences like you. Wished we documented them like you. Wish you well.
Oh wow, cool! So good to know it worked out for you guys. Are you still living in Germany?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yes, near RGB. Note. I hope you have started the Driver Licensing effort... FYI.The test is in English but British English and we know some word are really different in meaning. I missed a few time just because I did not know 'alight, dazzle, pavement, (I just presumed to know. Wrong!).' It was crazy.
if you have questions to education still we might be able to set up a Q&A off youtube.
German, in particular Bavarian schools are actually REALLY good (but therefore also quite difficult), so you don't need a private school! ;)
We recently switched to American public school from homeschooling and so much of this sounds familiar for us, too! We dream of moving to Germany, though. Thanks for your candid videos :)
My sister attended Hauptschule. Then did an apprenticeship as a chef. After that she attandet for one year Realschule and than attandet one year Fachhochschule. With this degree you can also study. Not at universities but at colleges. So there is allways a way. So don't stress if your children do not attand Gymnasium, there is always a way if they decide they want to study later.
Nach Realschule kommt erst die Fachoberschule und danach kann man an einer Fachhochschule studieren 😉
@@coscawer9916ja stimmt aber Autokorrektur wollte lieber gleich einen Schritt weiter 😅
Der Abschluss heißt wenigstens Fachhochschulreife 😁
From what I can see: you are doing fine. :) It's the somewhat narrow timeline that is intimidating now, because your eldest is almost at that crossroad of our 3 school systems, but you are doing the best to educate yourself, and I have seen many amazingly helpful comments here. Jep, switching the systems is easy. So don't fret too much about expectations or labels assigned to the paths. Even with rocky starts your kids will get there. The main problem is really the language, because it is the prequisite to everything. Even geniuses can't answer question in a language they don't understand. And of course the language barrier makes it even more difficult to judge knowledge and aptitude for subjects. If your kids know enough German everything will fall into place. With the language as a difficulty out of the way it will be much easier to see in what type of path they will be most comfortable with. Of course own ambitions (if already there) can play a huge part in it as well. :) Getting your kids those language skills fast is really the best thing you as parents can do right now - especially when you see that it might already frustrate them (which is a thing of course nobody wants). Everything would be easier if school was open and they had more German contact but if your kids are willing and you have the funds tutors really seem a great idea right now.
Okay thanks so much! Yes the tutor has continued to be a huge help and we so agree with you - our number one job right now is to help them learn German.
Some information on German school types:
Mittelschule is primarily vocationally oriented with little emphasis on science or the arts. Kids going there usually become carpenters, electricians, construction workers, cooks, office helpers, etc, i.e. they usually do an apprenticeship after
9 or 10 years of school. It is often also the type of school where children with learning disabilities or social problems end up, hence their reputation isn't always very good, and many parents feverishly try to get their children to other school types. However, this is not so much the case in rural Bavaria. So if your kids can reach it without extensive commuting, it's a very good choice for the beginning until they have mastered the German language. In the long run, it might not be the best choice for them though, and they might have scholastic deficits if you decide to return to the states.
Realschule is the next school type with more general emphasis on science and several strands to choose from, focussing on languages, natural sciences, or economics. Kids going there might become bank clerks, lab technicians, public servants, etc, also doing apprenticeships after 10 years of school. Sometimes, Mittelschule offers a program that comprises of the Realschule curriculum as well, allowing kids to also get a Realschule degree (known as Mittlere Reife). I would not recommend a separate Realschule for your children, if it were to require extensive commuting.
Gymnasium is the type of school that is college preparatory, though kids can of course also choose to do an apprenticeship afterwards instead. It puts a lot of emphasis on science and, most importantly, requires AT LEAST 2 foreign languages. English is mandatory, the others are usually French and/or Latin. The second foreign language used to start in 7th grade (don't know if it still does today or if it starts earlier nowadays). The Gymnasium degree is called Abitur and is obtained after 12 or 13 years of school, depending on the federal state (and sometimes even the school). To put it in perspective: when I became a senior at a US high school, I had already learned the most difficult part of the curriculum in the first half of 11th grade at a German Gymnasium. There do exist some alternative paths to university as well, but I would not recommend them for your family, unless you are determined to stay in Germany until all your kids have finished school. By the way, all school teachers beyond Kindergarten have Abitur and have therefore learned English for at least five years at school, most of them even for nine years. Don't let them get away with only talking to you in German if you have trouble understanding some complicated explanations.
One great advantage of the German school system is that German schools can be found in most major cities of the world, which allows for international mobility. These schools are usually bilingual in the local language and German and usually allow for dual degrees, i.e. Abitur as well as the local degree. Attending a German school in the US, for example, would also give students a high school diploma.
Whatever your choices for your kids are, always take their friendships into account. The older they get, the harder it is for them to leave their friends behind, when they are changing schools, and their friends are not. I therefore always recommend talking to other parents to find out what their kids are going to do.
And by the way, we used to walk to school and back by ourselves (in groups though) as of second grade (and go by bike as of third grade). If your kids know the way and traffic is not too dangerous, that's perfectly normal here.
I wish you all the best on your adventure!
It's so interesting to see the things that surprised you as a German who grew up here!
Germany has four different school tracks: Hauptschule(Mittelschule), Realschule, Gymnasium, and Gesamtschule, which unites all three. It means your child can make/get different degrees in different school subjects.
I doubt there are Gesamtschulen in Bavaria.
@@peterfischer7084 True. You can find them only in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen, Thüringen, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saarland. But we are talking here about Germany not only about Bavaria.
@@AnnaK. And in BaWü there are Gemeinschaftsschule.... same thing, if I'm not mistaken.
I wanted to add this too -- that the Gesamtschule is really the closest equivalent to what's offered at a high school in the US. Too bad there aren't integrative Gesamtschulen in Bavaria for this family. In a US high school you can take some subjects on a general level, and in other subjects you can take advanced level or "AP" or "IBS" classes, which, when you take the comprehensive exams at the end, earn you credits for university. The thing I like about US schools is that you can just be average in some subjects but really advanced in other subjects... you don't have to be incredibly good in every subject. I know of several German teenagers for whom mathematics in Gymnasium has been their "downfall". It seems incredibly unfair, especially if they want to go on and study social work or Germanistik or whatever else outside of the field of mathematics. Most go on to be successful after switching to Realschule and then doing Fachabitur. But only after many heartaches and tears under the pressure in Gymnasium to be good at everything.
@@a.m.forssman2425 To a large extent I think the problem is that many parents push kids who aren't motivated (yet at age 11) into Gymnasium. That can mess up a school career (and possibly more thab just that) by spoiling the learning experience.
On the topic of Hausschuhe: Consider investing in a pair of Birkenstocks for everyone. A basic model like the "Arizona" shoe lasts about 10 years, and they are A LOT cheaper in Germany than in the States. They take about a month to be propperly worn in but after that you'll never want to go without again. Your youngest keep getting the old hand-me-downs but (speaking as a youngest sibling) such is life.
Even in the religion class, you learn about other religions and their culure and traditions.
Oh good to know! So far our kids' haven't learned other religions, but they also don't understand all that's going on!
And even the Christian part is more education than indoctrination. Personally I think religion classes should be abolished, but it's not as bad as it sounds at first glance. They don't force people to believe anything.
America doesn't have mandatory religious education obviously, but there are plenty of horror stories about schools or specific teachers forcing religion on students in ways you'd never see in Germany.
I think in elementary school there is lots of bible-related stuff, which by itself is not bad as it is part of our culture - but in higher grades it can become an interesting matter, if it's a good teacher. In the 1970s we discussed about social topics in the Protestant religion class. - Special sidenote for Kevin: I explained to my religion teacher what a microprocessor is and how it may influence our life in future ;)
Not necessary in the Grundschule and especially not in Bavaria. But at the Religion classes at the Gymnasium we mostly talked about other religions and ethics (I was not good at ethics which was the reason why it was my worst subject at 12th and 13th grade).
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife later on they will even discuss cults and how they work. I really enjoyed religion in school and learning about other religion as it gives a better understanding of other cultures
Willkommen in Deutschland!
I have been following your videos and I think you are doing great. I wanted to share my experience of arriving in Germany with no prior knowledge of the German language. When I came to Bavaria - what a coincidence - I was in the same age like your second oldest son and didn't know a word of German. However, the elementary school that took me in had set up a special class where children with no knowledge of German spent 2 - 4 school hours a day just learning German. In spite of this special support, it took me almost 1.5 years to reach a level where I could successfully pass the Gymnasium. Above all, my mentor - thankfully this was my German teacher who continued to teach me in private - was an incredible help. Is there perhaps a comparable offer on the part of the school?
This is now more than 30 years ago, but maybe this is new information for you.
Really you are such great parents!
So interesting to hear about your experiences. I really like seeing Germany through your eyes. I’m a teacher for grade 1-4 and if you have any questions regarding school work etc. let me know 🙂 would love to help 😉
So sweet to offer your help! I think we have finally gotten a rhythm. Just takes a bit to get adjusted.
Just watched your video and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your experiences. I think you’ve been dealing with your hardships with stellar attitudes! Wishing you the best!
Thanks for the support!
You could ask the "Schulberatungsstelle" of your local "Schulamt" to have your schooling options explained to you. I´m German but my kids were schooled abroad for many years and returned to Germany as teenagers. I found their info helpful at the time.
Upon return to Germany my daughter went to Mittelschule (the lowest tier), graduated from there and then went to the "Einführungsklasse" of the Gymnasium. That´s an introductory class in grade 10 that helps kids from lower tier schools who want to switch to Gymnasium to get the "Abitur" (the certificate that entitles you to apply for university) to fill the gaps they have when compared to all the other kids who had been at Gymnasium from the start. It obviously doesn´t cover everything (e.g. you won´t make up for 6 years of Latin or French in one year) but it was good enough to be able to succeed in the higher classes of Gymnasium (you obviously shouldn´t pick those subjects you never had been tought before though). She enjoyed that year. So it may take you that extra year of the "Einführungsklasse" (it´s not mandatory) but going to Mittelschule doesn´t mean you can´t eventually go to University.
I´d only send my child to Gynasium after grade 4 if they are really well motivated. If they aren´t it will be torture and they´ll hate school (and possibly Germany). You can always change track later, should you wish so. Or you could change track after grade 5 only (that´s what my parents had decided for me more than 50 years ago).
It is actually quite easy to pass between the 3 tracks. The teachers will recommend a track change, have a get together with all the teachers that teach the child and recommend a change. Then you just call a school from another track and enroll your child.
I am sure your 4th grader has a higher work load since they are trying to asses for school type for next year and since it is still everyone he is in the highest school for now so to speak. Your 5th grader being in the easiest track for now his load will ramp up again when he is moved up I am sure. ALso that is an awesome plan to work on German first. the academic part will be fine to move up once he knows enough German. Love this you guys are doing great.
So i went after the "Grundschule" to the "Realschule" and after the 10th class, i could have begun an "Ausbildung" or training, but if you got good grades on your final school report, you can switch to the "Gymnasium". Which i did. The only thing you have to do, when you're coming from the Realschule to the Gymnasium is, that you have to repeat the 10th class there, so that you can keep up with the learning material and be on an even level with your classmates. And now i'm studying :). "Realschule" is a little bit different than "Gymnasium", because they teach you way earlier how to apply to jobs and how to present yourself in a job interview, because most of the pupils will start their "Ausbildung" after school.
Theres some pressure on kids to get into Gymnasium, because the Abitur has a high value. It's the standard degree needed for university, although there are some ways to get into university or Fachhochschule in other ways. But its not that all students from a Gymnasium end up studying. They often do a 'Ausbildung' aswell.
Gymnasium being strictly for university is what happened traditionally. Then you had Hauptschule for workers and Realschule for mid-level jobs that require some more advanced knowledge. But there has been a shift over the years where now Realschule is the norm and some people attend a Gymnasium without going to university later. That unfortunately leaves the Hauptschule for people who aren't good enough for higher schools (including often immigrants who lack language skills and kids who have social/behaviorial issues) and they may have difficulties finding good jobs. It's one reason why some states started to move towards comprehensive schools with less strict divisions.
You also automatically get a Realschule-equivalent degree after 10th grade Gymnasium.
Realschule does not allow you to go to university in of itself. It ends after 10th grade. But with good enough grades someone can attend further schools like a Fachoberschule (FOS) for a few years to qualify for university. With very good grades (avg. 1.5 from what I can tell) it's possible to go more or less directly from 10th grade Realschule to 11th grade Gymnasium.
It's also possible to do an apprenticeship like normally to learn a job and then attend a Berufsoberschule (BOS) and then university. There are also universities of applied science that are a bit more practical than purely theoretical and don't require 13th grade.
And there are ways to switch tracks even before graduation under certain circumstances, but the rules for that vary between states. It's very complicated, but the tracks aren't as rigid as sometimes assumed.
I think the idea behind the fountain pen is that it teaches better handwriting than a ball pen. You just have to pay more attention to what you do. Then later on they can use ball pens.
Kids get sorted for their performance after 4 and again after 6 grade . But there is often pressure to reach highset standard but Germany has no Dead ends for going to school and improve your school endings. after ending one school there are very many ways to go further ! Ask they will tell you
In the 70s, after the first 4 years we had kind of an orientation phase for two years, after which teachers discussed with kids and parents if their kids should go to either
- Hauptschule (years 7 + 8)
- Realschule (Mittelschule is a synonym) (years 7 - 10) - degree "Mittlere Reife"
- Gymnasium (years 7 - 13) - degree "Abitur"
In case the select branch seems to be too easy, it's always possible to transition to another branch with a new start of the school year.
Yeah the German school system can be confusing compared to the American school system ! 11 years ago I was an Au-pair in Ohio in the older boy was in Middle school and the younger one in kindergarten and it was completely different from the school system that I knew ! I arrived in America a few weeks before summer vacation started and L was just graduating pre-k and J a few weeks later elementary school and I had to study workbooks with them , and to study math or other subjects with a fifth almost 6th grader was not easy at all but it helped me grasp the language even better because I had to study their books at night to be able to teach them !
Yes 4th grade is a crucial school year here in Germany because you’re split up into 3 different school systems ! But if you’re eager and you want to graduate from the Gymnasium you’ll be able to do so no matter which school you visit , but you have to keep working to do so ! If you enter the Mittelschule you can graduate with a Realschule diploma when you are in the E-Kurs and when your grades are good enough and you can even get a qualification to go to the Gymnasium after 10th grade it’s not easy but doable! When you enter the Realschule you’ll also be able to further your studies after graduation and go to the Gymnasium to make your Abitur or you make a Fachabitur !
I commend you on your choice to move to Germany for a different life and to travel! We (wife, myself and our 3 kids) made the same decision to move to Germany from Australia in 2015 and arrived in May 2016. We also live in a small country town. Our youngest started in Kindergarten, middle went to year 1 and eldest year 4. I have to say, stick with it! Both youngest kids speak German and English now fluently and my eldest daughter is achieving great marks in year 8 in German. Better than a lot of natives. One thing we have done for our eldest is get a private tutor (eine Nachhilfe). We approached the German teacher in school and asked him to find out if any year 11 or year 12 students were interested. We paid them in cash and it really helped. I hope you enjoy this beautiful country and travel a lot!
I actually started in a gymnasium, but then got bored of school and spent my time not going there, drinking and smoking. i fell into realschule , and all the way down to hauptschule.
after becoming more mature i realized how important school is. and went all the way back to the realschule and from there to a gymnasium. after that i studied computer science.:)
you can swap between those schoolsystems relatively easily. in my case all types of school shared a single school (gesamtschule) . so i didnt even had to change schools. just the schooltype , while staying in the same building :)!
Good advice for many German states, but unfortunately bad advice for Bavaria.
My husband and I love your videos. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. PS. Please show more of the cat!!
🤣🤣🐱🐱 I was actually trying to get some footage of her today but she saw me filming her and started acted all weird!
Switching from Mittelschule directly to Gymnasium while skipping the step Realschule might be difficult (not doubting your child but German administration here).
Your kids will be fine. My cousins with their parents back in 1984 moved to Sweden From Asia, the youngest was 2 y. o. And they did well in school. Kids easily adopt to their new environment. Btw. I enjoy watching your vlogs, interesting to see your perspective on how life is in Germany and Europe. I really like Sarah's infectious laughter . Greetings from 🇩🇰.
Yes, it is hard right now in the first months but I know the kids will really adjust fast. I think they are already seeing a lot of the upsides here. Glad to give them an experience with more than one culture.
"I'm an engineer, I spent my whole life doing math."
That really made me laugh. I was at a Gymnasium, and you can decide there in 11th grade which main subjects you want to take for the 2 final years, and I chose Math and English. You can make a German Abitur with sports and religion, but that would have been too easy. As 3rd and 4th main subject, I chose geography and biology. I'd never had guessed that I could use my knowledge of genetics to explain to other people how a virus works, but then along came Covid.
edit: Now that you're mentioning ethics, I can highly recommend that. We were taught a lot about philosophy, from the ancient Greeks to the German ones, and what you really can learn there is the culture of debate. I had Latin classes, so I was a bit familiar with the ancient Romans and what they wrote, but to get an overview about philosophy, Latin isn't enough.
great vlog.cool to hear that you want to be integrated in germany and you and especially the kids
are learning german as fast as possible.very authentic.I also think public schools are the right decission to educate
the kids.I think it wont be easy any time, but what they learn there, they learn for life.also your decission to live in a small
village is even agood one.to see how your kids grow up in a fantastic nature is gorcious.you´re good parents and I guess
you will manage the school stress with the kids and stay calm.Keep it up and stay safe.
In my opinion when I was at 4th grade it was really stressful for the parents and the kids. Everyone wanted to be able to go to Gymnasium as this supposedly means you are smart(er). I was attending Realschule. I could have gone to the Gymnasium but I figured it might be too stressful for me. I know some classmates in 4th grade that had to work so hard because the parents wanted them to definately go to Gymnasium. They had to learn all the time and at the end their grades were not good so they switched to the Realschule. I finished the Realschule and went to a Gymnasium afterwards for 3 additional years to have Abitur. There I also had classmates that went to the Mittelschule beforehand and they also passed their Abitur so you can achieve anything if you want to.🙂
Anyways I never ended up going to College/University anyways...🙃
that's why Schleswig-Holstein abandoned Hauptschule and Realschule. Gemeinschaftsschule is supposed to make it easier to change tracks during your school career. It's a matter of opinion if it works better though.
Warum müsst ihr schon nach der 4. auf die Oberschule? Oha das is halt echt krass früh. Aus welchem Bundesland kommst du?
@@kisoschu ich war zuerst in Bayern und habe dann in Baden-Württemberg mein Abitur an einem beruflichen Gymnasium nachgemacht. Ich wohne nahe an der Grenze der beiden Bundesländer. Ich persönlich fand es gar nicht so früh. Das Problem war nur dass in meinem Jahrgang eingeführt wurde dass die Grundschule zwar eine Empfehlung ausstellen kann welche weiterführende Schule geeignet ist, aber schlussendlich die Eltern entscheiden können. Und dadurch werden viele Kinder dazu gedrängt auf das Gymnasium zu gehen, tun sich da schwer, müssen eventuell sogar eine Klasse wiederholen oder dann doch in die Realschule wechseln.
@@kisoschu In jedem Bundesland außer Berlin und Brandenburg endet die Grundschule nach der 4.Klasse
My mum was of the opinion that kids who have to study in elementary school, do not deserve to go to Gymnasium. While that may sound harsh and not studying isn't a sentiment she should have taught me, as I'm still struggeling with it at university, I think in essence she was right. Gymnasium is catering to kids who do well in school early on. It's nothing you should fight to get in. That's just making your life unnecessarily hard. Nothing is lost if you don't go there.
To the sportbag. In Germany if you get your backpack there is usually a bag in it that we call Turnbeutel. This bag is usually just filled with clothes and sneakers for sport classes and in most schools we just leave them at the school
Hi there ;)
since you asked how the division into Hauptschule / Mittelschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium works, I thought I'd like to help a bit. 👍
So yes, there are these three types. In grade 4, the last year of primary school, the child's grades and the teacher decide which one is best for the child to go to afterwards.
1. The Mittelschule offers success through practice, which means that they guarantee pupils a wide range of pedagogical elements in their educational offer, either individually or in school alliances, throughout the country. The Mittelschule comprises Klassen/grades 5 to 9 and teaching is strongly focused on vocational content. That's why mostly kids with lower grades go to Mittelschule.
2. When it comes to the Realschule. their educational offer is aimed at young people who are interested in theoretical issues and at the same time have practical skills and inclinations. It provides general and pre-vocational education from Klasse 5 to 10.
3. For the kids would learn super fast and would be underchallenged in these two paths, there's the Gymnasium. The Gymnasium leads to the general higher education entrance qualification and provides a broad, in-depth general education. It thus prepares students through grades 9 to 12 both for university studies and for demanding vocational training.
Btw., this is the only type of school where you can study at university directly afterwards.
The only other option is the Realschule, but this requires two more years of schooling at another school, the FOS or BOS.
This is so helpful! Thank you so much!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife you are welcome! 🤗 I hope you guys will have a great time here in Germany!
One should perhaps add that the distribution of kids on the school types is about 40:30:30 (Gynmasium/Realschule/Mittelschule).
One should add that after graduating from the Realschule, you can attend the Gymnasium and do your Abitur there. FOS or BOS are also great options. For example when you pick FOS Gesundheit and graduate there, you can study to become a doctor without learning a second language.
Just wanted to stop by and say that I love your Germany videos. You seem like a wholesome family. Your kids are beautiful, look healthy and happy and seem to be very intelligent. Warm greetz from a dude from Hannover, Niedersachsen.
Thank you! 😍