American schools.

5. Word Study. Read the following words and phrases that you will need while listening to the text.

secondary school (AE) = high school

junior high school

senior high school

elective subjects

class = grade (AE)

high school

higher education

student = pupil

social sciences

among = between

6. Listen to the text and find answers to the following questions.

1. What is the difference between Junior and Senior High School?

2. What are elective subjects?

AMERICAN SCHOOLS: SECONDARY OR HIGH SCHOOL

There are two kinds of secondary or high schools in the United States: Junior High schools are for children of 12 to 15 years old; Senior High schools are for students of 15 to 18. In all secondary schools the schoolchildren are called “students ’, not pupils.

Many American schoolchildren finish only Junior-High school because they must begin working to help their families.

In American High Schools there are two kinds of school subjects; subjects which are compulsory for all students. These subjects are English, physical education, and social science. But there are also elective subjects, which some students learn and others do not learn if they do not like them or think that they do not need them. Among electives are mathematics, physics, chemistry, history, and many others. Besides, boys and girls in the same class (in American English - grade) usually learn different subjects.

Higher education is given in colleges, technical institutes and universities.