What career would you choose in tenth grade?
Now that I’ve explained a bit about how the educational system works in Germany, it’s time to start the school day! The first hour of the day starts at 8:15. Most students get to school by using public transportation, riding their bikes or walking. The younger students in Grundschule will be dropped off by their parents or guardians, but starting in fourth or fifth grade (ages 9-10), students are trusted to get to school by themselves.
Once students arrive at school, they will head to their homerooms. This is one of the biggest differences that I’ve noticed between German and American schools. Throughout the day, students will stay together with their class in the same room for all of their lessons. Instead of students switching to different classrooms for each subject, the teachers will switch rooms when it is time to teach another subject. For example, on Mondays I help teach English in Klasse (class) 7, then switch to a double hour of English for Klasse 8, and then back to Klasse 7 for English Conversation. Each Stunde (hour) is 40 minutes. Teachers will often meet in the Lehrzimmer (Teachers’ Room) throughout the day between class periods and breaks. Throughout the day, they will stay with their class for the majority of their lessons. At smaller schools, like the one at which I work, there is only one class per grade level. In bigger schools, there are as many as five or more class groups per grade level. Each day looks different for students in Germany depending on their schedule. The first hour of the day starts at 8:15, but sometimes students’ first class isn’t until the third or fourth hour of the day around 10:00.
