Interview

Question 1

What is the mission of the European Schools?

Answer 1

The mission of the European Schools is to provide a multilingual and multicultural education for nursery, primary and secondary level pupils.

Question 2

What are the 11 objectives of the European Schools?

Answer 2

1 CONFIDENCE IN CULTURAL IDENTITY: To give pupils confidence in their own cultural identity - the bedrock for their development as European citizens
2 EDUCATION: To provide a broad education of high quality
3 STANDARDS IN LANGUAGES: To develop high standards in the mother tongue and in foreign languages
4 MATHEMATICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SKILLS: To develop mathematical and scientific skills throughout the whole period of schooling
5 EUROPEAN AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: To encourage a European and global perspective overall and particularly in the study of the human sciences
6 CREATIVITY IN MUSIC AND THE PLASTIC ARTS: To encourage creativity in music and the plastic arts and an appreciation of all that is best in a common European artistic heritage
7 PHYSICAL SKILLS AND APPRECIATION OF HEALTHY LIVING: To develop physical skills and instil in pupils an appreciation of the need for healthy living through participation in sporting and recreational activities
8 PROFFESIONAL GUIDANCE: To offer pupils professional guidance on their choice of subjects and on career/university decisions in the later years of the secondary schools
9 TOLERANCE, CO-OPERATION, COMMUNICATION, CONCERN (TCCC): To foster tolerance, co-operation, communication and concern for others throughout the school community and beyond
10 CULTIVATE DEVELOPMENT: To cultivate pupils’ personal, social and academic development and to prepare them for the next stage of education
11 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: To provide Education for Sustainable Development with a cross curriculum approach in line with European and international documents

Question 3

What are the 4 educational principles of the European Schools?

Answer 3

1 Basic instruction is given in the official languages of the European Union. This principle allows the primacy of the pupil’s mother tongue (L1) to be safeguarded.
2 Each school comprises several language sections. The curricula and syllabuses are the same in all sections.
3 The conscience and convictions of individuals are respected. Religious education or education in non-confessional ethics is an integral part of the curriculum.
4 To foster the unity of the school and encourage genuine multi-cultural education, there is a strong emphasis on the learning, understanding and use of foreign languages. This is developed in a variety of ways.

Question 4

How many cycles does the European School system consist of, and which age do they imply?

Answer 4

The European School system consists of two years of early education (nursery cycle), five years of primary and seven years of secondary education.
THREE CYCLES: Early education (Nursery; Ages: 4 and 5), Primary (Ages 6-10), Secondary (Ages 11-18)

Question 5

Which cycles does the secondary cycle consist of, which classes and age do they imply?

Answer 5

The secondary cycle consists of the observation cycle(classes: 1-3; ages: 11-13), pre-orientation cycle(classes: 4-5; ages: 14-15) and orientation cycle(classes: 6-7; ages: 16-18).

Question 6

Describe what the focus is on in primary school.

Question 6

Describe what the focus is on in primary school.

Answer 6

In the primary school the focus is on mother tongue, mathematics and the first foreign language, but art, music, physical education, discovery of the world and religion/ethics are important - as are the “European Hours”, where mixed nationalities meet for a variety of activities.​

Question 7

How many hours a week is the mother tongue (SWALS Language 1 - L1) taught in years 1 and 2 of primary school?

Answer 7

The mother tongue (SWALS Language 1 - L1) is taught 8 hours a week in years 1 and 2 of primary school.

Question 8

How many hours a week is the mother tongue (SWALS Language 1 - L1) taught in years 3, 4 and 5 of primary school?

Answer 8

The mother tongue (SWALS Language 1 - L1) is taught 6 hours and 45 minutes a week in years 3,4 and 5 of primary school.

Question 9

How many hours a week is the Language 2 - L2 taught in years 1 and 2 of primary school?

Answer 9

Language 2 - L2 is taught 2 hours and 30 minutes a week in years 1 and 2 of primary school.

5 x30 minuta

Question 10

How many hours a week is the Language 2 - L2 taught in years 3, 4 and 5 of primary school?

Answer 10

Language 2 - L2 is taught 3 hours and 45 minutes a week in years 3,4, and 5 of primary school.
5x 45 minutes

Question 11

When do pupils start studying a second foreign language?

Answer 11

All pupils begin studying a second foreign language from secondary year 1 onwards.

Question 12

What happens in secondary year 3?

Answer 12

In secondary year 3, all pupils study human sciences and religion or ethics in their first foreign language (L2).

Question 13

Describe language teaching in the European Schools (which languages are taught, number of language sections, SWALS, L2, L3, L4, L5, Latin and Greek.)

Answer 13

All the national languages of the 28 EU countries are taught.
Schools have 3-16 langua​ge sections.
Students Without A Language Section (SWAL​S) follow a specific curriculum.
Pupils start studying a first foreign language (L2) in primary year 1. That language may be English, French or German.
Pupils start studying a second foreign language (L3) in secondary year 1.
Pupils may start studying a third foreign language (L4) in secondary year 4.
A fourth foreign language (L5) is a complementary course in secondary years 6 and 7.
L3, L4, L5 can, in principle, be any of the official EU languages (except Irish and Maltese).
Latin is taught from year 2 and Ancient Greek is taught from year 4.

Question 14

Which proficiency levels of L2, L3, L4 (advanced and basic), ONL are students expected to reach in different cycles (Early education, Primary, Secondary Year 3, Secondary Year 7)

Answer 14

L2(prvi strani): Early education (0), Primary (A2), Secondary Yr 3 (B1), Secondary Yr 7 (C1)
L3(drugi strani): Early education (0), Primary (0), Secondary Yr 3 (A1+), Secondary Yr 7 (B1+)
L4 Basic 2H: Early education (0), Primary (0), Secondary Yr 3 (0), Secondary Yr 7 (A2)
L4 Advanced 4H: Early education (0), Primary (0), Secondary Yr 3 (0), Secondary Yr 7 (A2+)
ONL: Early education (A1.1 oral), Primary (A1.2), Secondary Yr 3 (A2), Secondary Yr 7 (B2)

Question 15

Describe the 5 guidelines on the use of languages in the European Schools’ secondary program.

Answer 15

1 In primary years 3-5, the subject ‘European Hours’ is taught to mixed language groups, generally in the pupil’s L2 or in the language of the host country.
2 In secondary years 1-5, art, music, ICT and physical education are taught to mixed language groups in one of the three L2 (DE, EN, FR) or in the language of the host country. In secondary years 6-7, art, music (basic and option courses) and physical education are taught to mixed language groups in one of the three vehicular languages (DE, EN, FR) or in the language of the host country.
3 In secondary year 3, human sciences courses and the religion and non-confessional ethics courses are taught in L2 (DE, EN or FR). From secondary year 4, history, geography and economics courses are organised in L2 (DE, EN and FR). The teaching of religion and non-denominational ethics courses in Language 2 (DE, EN or FR) will gradually be introduced in secondary years 4 to 7 also, starting from the 2015-2016 school year.
4 In secondary years 6-7, if the 4-period option course in history and geography cannot be organised in the pupil’s vehicular language (DE, EN, FR), the pupil may follow it in another vehicular language provided that this is not the pupil’s L1, with the Director’s permission.
5 With the approval of the Administrative Board, the school may organise the teaching of certain subjects (e.g. ethics, religion etc.) in the L2 or the language of the host country.

Question 16

What does the abbreviation SWALS mean, and what are those?

Answer 16

SWALS is an abbreviation meaning Students Without A Language Section. SWALS are those categories I and II pupils whose mother tongue/dominant language is an official language of an EU Member State (with the exception of Irish and Maltese) but for whom no language section in their mother tongue/dominant language (L1) exists in their school. SWALS are normally enrolled in the English, French or German sections. The language of the section is the pupil’s L2. SWALS can also be enrolled in the language section of the host country on condition that no additional costs are incurred. Their L2 should be English, French or German.

Question 17

What are the 8 key competences of pupils?

Answer 17

1 Learning to learn
2 Digital Competence
3 Social and Civic competences
4 Communication in foreign languages
5 Communication in the mother tongue
6 Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology
7 Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship
8 Cultural awareness and expression

Question 18

What is the grading system like in the European Schools?

Answer 18

A (9.0-10) - Excellent
B (8.0-8.9) - Very good
C (7.0-7.9) - Good
D (6.0-6.9) - Satisfactory
E (5.0-5.9) - Sufficient
F (3.0-4.9) - Failed/Weak
FX (0-2.9) - Failed/Very Weak

Question 19

What is the criteria required for the excellent grade?

Answer 19

Excellent but not flawless performance entirely corresponding to the competences required by the subject

Question 20

What is the criteria required for the very good grade?

Answer 20

Very good performance almost entirely corresponding to the competences required by the subject

Question 21

What is the criteria required for the good grade?

Answer 21

Good performance corresponding overall to the competences required by the subject

Question 22

What is the criteria required for the satisfactory grade?

Answer 22

Satisfactory performance corresponding to the competences required by the subject

Question 23

What is the criteria required for the sufficient grade?

Answer 23

Performance corresponding to the minimum of the competences required by the subject

Question 24

What is the criteria required for the failed/weak grade?

Answer 24

Weak performance almost entirely failing to meet the competences required by the subject

Question 25

What is the criteria required for the failed/very weak grade?

Answer 25

Very weak performance entirely failing to meet the competences required by the subject

Question 26

What systems of grading are used in the European Schools’ secondary program?

Answer 26

S1-S3= Grades (A,B,C,D,E,F,FX)
S4-S6= Numerical (Half) marks(10, 9.0-9.5, 8.0-8.5, 7.0-7.5, 6.0-6.5, 5.0-5.5, 3.0-4.5, 0-2.5)
S7= Decimal Numerical marks (9.0-10, 8.0-8.9, 7.0-7.9, 6.0-6.9, 5.0-5.9, 3.0-4.9, 0-2.9)

Question 27

What are learning objectives and how does it help students?

Answer 27

The learning objectives and expected outcomes help pupils to form a picture of what they are supposed to know and to be able to do and on what still awaits them. Progression of learning from one level to the next is clearly outlined.

Besides the learning objectives, each syllabus contains attainment descriptors, which describe the level of attainment in respect of a given set of competences and which relate to the marking system. This will leave pupils with a better and more objective understanding of the method used for their assessment.

Question 28

How does planning in grading help teachers?

Answer 28

A forward plan enables the teacher to guarantee that all necessary objectives and competences will be covered in a certain year/cycle in a logical order.

Teachers select and construct assessment instruments, which include assessment criteria.

When deciding what, when and how to assess learning [The assessment must be based on the Assessment Policy of the European Schools (Ref.: 2011-01-D-61) and the agreements in force at school level], teachers have to select and construct assessment instruments (e.g. different tasks, projects, tests, assignments, etc.). An instrument should include assessment criteria: a set of quality indicators to facilitate the making of judgements in relation to the assessment task.

Final grades and/or marks must relate to the new marking system of the European Schools and the attainment descriptors in each syllabus. The grade/mark describes the extent to which the pupil has acquired the competences and at which learning objectives have been met.

Question 29

What is the European Baccalaureate?

Answer 29

The name ‘European Baccalaureate’ belongs solely to the European Schools, which, since their establishment, have had a monopoly over its use in all the official languages of the European Union. The European Baccalaureate cycle comprises the two last years of secondary education (s6 and s7) in the European Schools or in Schools Accredited by the Board of Governors.

The European Baccalaureate cycle consists of a comprehensive multilingual curriculum. Pupils must always follow a combination of language, humanities and scientific subjects with subjects taught through more than one language. The core curriculum consists of the following compulsory subjects, some of which can be taken at different levels of complexity.

Question 30

What does ONL mean?

Answer 30

ONL means Other National Language.