Stretching and growing
japra | Aug 13, 2009 | Comments 5
Somewhere in London.
Roxi took her 9th grade placement tests yesterday. All new students are required to take at least a math and English test. A lot of kids also took a modern language test. Roxi tested for French III.
She did very well in English–there’s just one class, so I am not sure why they needed to test for this. Surprisingly, the math teachers want Roxi to try Honours Algebra II/Trig. She really didn’t want to sign up for an honours math class because, even though she makes mostly A’s in math, Roxi doesn’t consider math to be one of her best subjects (she likes English and French). But the teachers have convinced her to go ahead and try it. If it’s too hard, she can switch to regular Algebra II/Trig. Interestingly, Mr. DJ says he didn’t have Trig until 11th grade.
We don’t know how Roxi did on the French exam yet. There was a 10th grader testing for Spanish III yesterday who was very disappointed because it turns out she’ll need to repeat Spanish II! She didn’t do poorly in her classes at her old school, it’s just this particular school is further along. If the language program at this school is similar to Roxi’s school in England, I guess I’m not surprised. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but one of Roxi’s friends who left England at the end of 7th grade (after two years), went back to the States, took her placement test for French, and placed out of ALL her high school French before she started 8th grade!
BTW, the requirement for graduation is three years of foreign language. Is that the same as in the States?
Today, Roxi is at a team building event at school for five hours. This is the first time I’ve been alone in this house for more than 30 minutes. It’s strange!
Filed Under: Blog • Expat Life • Featured • Parenting
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
When I was in school more than 20 years ago, we only had to do 2 years of foreign language.
American in Britain, I guess the international schools expect more. I have met so many people here in the Netherlands who speak at least three languages. Wish I did too!
It is so great that Roxy is trying out the harder math – we convinced my 6th grader to do the same thing in her classes (go into gifted) – I think it’s so very much better to have to try a little harder than to not try very much – I am sure Roxy will surprise herself – tell her that Algebra II is something that average 10th or 11th graders take here.
Kids still only have to take two years of a foreign language. I think IB requirements are different though. My son took HS Spanish I in middle school to get it out of the way – he’s really not interested although I wish he was. Roxy is going to have a huge advantage with her languages. I do hope she does okay in English – gee – maybe being a NATIVE SPEAKER isn’t enough!
I heard that here in Ontario, Canada the kids have to take French until end of Gr 9. L is going into gr 12 and just got her first real all in French dictionary! It’s huge.
You’ll soon adjust to your new routine! I find that the more free time I have, the more I want!
I didn’t have trig until TWELFTH grade, but that was back in the dark ages 8-).
I think Roxi probably would place out of most of high school if y’all went home now. Partly because of her innate brilliance, but mostly because US high schools don’t require/expect very much of students.