Personal experience of students: what is the difference between schools in the USA and in the post-Soviet space

Kazakhstanis spoke about studying in American schools: what advantages, disadvantages and features of education they noticed, reports WE.

Photo: IStock

Aelita Khusnutdinova, aged 18, graduated from a gymnasium in Almaty this year and traveled to the US in the 11th grade on the FLEX exchange program.

FLEX is an exchange program that sends high school students to study at an American high school for one year. She applied in the 10th grade, went through all the stages of selection and went to the USA. Studying abroad interested the girl in the possibility of working in international companies in the future.

On the features of education

“Americans don’t sit in the same class like we do. They choose the right subjects and go to different subjects with different people,” says Aelita.

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As the girl says, there are several types of physical education: dancing, yoga, rock climbing. Large selection of subjects: business, astronomy, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. Geography is not considered a compulsory subject in all schools.

“Studying American history is mandatory, world history is not. Because of this, some students have gaps in their knowledge,” she said.

Also at school, Aelita had more than 20 free clubs that take place after school. There are special buses that bring and pick up students. In American schools there is lunch - a certain period of time for students to eat. At her school there was one lesson for lunch.

School patriotism is actively spread, as the girl says. When sports teams compete with each other, there are many announcements, students get sick, come to support.

“Each school has its own colors, a symbol, and its own store where they sell clothes with the name of the school,” says Aelita. — In America, they focus not on textbooks, but on how students independently search for information and present it to the class. Lots of team projects.”

About plans

“I’m going to get an education in the field of international relations at a foreign or Kazakh university,” says the girl.

Adel Zhumanova graduated from two schools: 35 gymnasium in Almaty and a school in Kansas. She lived in America for an academic year.

“Education is an investment in the future. In America, they think differently about the stereotype that everyone needs a higher education,” she says.

Education abroad interested her in the seventh grade. She studied foreign universities, the admission system, how to apply, what exams to take. It was America that attracted her, she watched the people who study there, and dreamed of the same.

Education abroad is an opportunity to travel, learn new places and languages, meet people from different parts of the world, according to Adele.

On the features of education

In ninth grade, she learned about the FLEX exchange program, which has been running for 27 years. Got it the first time.

The selection consists of three rounds: an English language test, three essays, another essay, an interview and a psychological game to identify leadership qualities. Parents are also interviewed. You cannot choose the place of study, this decision is made by families. They look at the questionnaires that are posted on the websites of the host organizations. So Adele was chosen by a family that lives in Kansas.

The school was small: 200 or 300 people, which was different from life in Almaty, the girl recalls. “Over the course of a year, I met everyone, knew all the 12th grade students. In Kazakhstan, I knew my classmates, but not all of them,” she says.

The teaching method is different from Kazakhstan, says Adel. “ There was a lot of practice and little theory; we were not forced to learn anything. In high school, you can choose your own classes; you need to take a certain number of credits. Credits are hours that count for each year. Americans can choose subjects, but there are compulsory ones: English, mathematics, various sciences,” she says.

She had the same schedule: two English classes, math, journalism, graphic arts, history, and the US government. When the main school time ends, students are engaged in circles. Adele went to athletics.

The school has a relaxed atmosphere, as the girl says. “The teachers made cookies and hot chocolate and passed them out in the classroom. They do not put themselves above their students and can be the best interlocutors and friends. Americans are simple people, they can come to school in slippers and pajamas,” says Adele.

The main disadvantage of education in America, according to the girl, is ignorance of elementary things, such as geography or history.

“When I said that I was from Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, no one understood where it was, why I looked like an Asian and spoke Russian. This is radically different from Kazakh education,” she says. — Here we learn all the rules, theoretical descriptions, formulas. But we don't have enough practice. In the USA, schoolchildren are adjusted to life. By the age of 14-16, they drive a car, work, manage their budget, live a free life.”

The main advantage of education in Kazakhstan, according to Adel, is that the country is still developing, and therefore students strive to achieve great success, create their own business, and travel the world.

“We have ambitions and we make dreams come true. Most Americans go to the nearest college and don't have a big goal in life,” she says.

About plans

“At the moment I am on GAP-year. I want to spend time with my family, relax and prepare for exams, I recently took the SAT. Next year I’ll fly to America to university and completely immerse myself in my studies,” she says.

Daria Zhitnikova, 16, from Karaganda, lives in Houston, Texas, and is a high school student. She is a finalist for the FLEX program, which allows students to study for free in an American school. This is a cultural exchange program, and Daria came to America to learn more about the country's culture and traditions.

On the features of education

Each school has its own program, the government does not write certain standards for everyone, as the girl says.

“The teacher chooses textbooks and decides what he will teach. Students choose their own subjects and levels. They don’t have to study 15 subjects like we do, but choose what will be useful to them in the future,” says Daria. — Required subjects: English, American history or law, science and mathematics. At school you not only learn theory, but also apply it in practice, especially in science lessons.”

The school has two semesters, each with two rounds and one exam. At the end of each lap, a test is taken to determine the percentage mark.

“There is no school uniform, but there are dress rules, for example, you cannot wear ripped jeans. In some educational institutions classes start at 08:00 and until 16:00, in others from 06:30 to 13:00,” she says.

If in Kazakhstan children from grades 1 to 11 study in the same school, then in America children study in different institutions. Daria is in high school, where she studies from 9th to 12th grade. In the US, 12 years of education. There are no class teachers, classes, in every subject you sit with new people. At each lesson, teachers ask those present and absent and mark online. If someone skips a lesson, parents are informed that same evening. The next day, you need to come to school together, sign the absence form and explain the reason. Parents always know if the children were at the lessons.

“Lunch is given not 15 minutes, as in Kazakhstan, but 30 - 40. Everyone has a lesson during which you can do homework. Each student has his own photo ID, and we are required to wear them around our necks to prevent strangers from entering the school,” she says. — Various activities are held, for example, Spirit Week every autumn. Students are required to dress in a special theme, Monday is Hawaiian day, Tuesday is 70's. At the end of the week there is Homecoming, which consists of two parts: a football game and a dance.”

About plans

“After the school year, I plan to return to Kazakhstan and take exams at my school,” says the girl.

Rosa Sagindykova studies at the Suleyman Demirel University with a degree in management. In the 11th grade, she left for the USA, studied there for an academic year in the state of Indiana.

“The teacher told us about FLEX and sent the children with good knowledge of English. I passed the selection on the second try,” said Rosa.

The program gives you the opportunity to live in the USA for a year.

On the features of education

She likes that in America there is choice and many creative subjects. Sports are developed, you can win scholarships for education if you are an athlete, as the girl says, “There are sports that are not in Kazakhstan - I played lacrosse,” she says.

She noted the presence of a large number of clubs that you can join and develop. She was in a speech club, where twice a month the members traveled to a school for a competition. She liked to compete with high school students whose native language is English. Rosa took second place twice and third place several times.

It is not difficult to study in America, as Rosa believes. She took a subject for the 11th grade, and they just started taking trigonometry, although in Kazakhstan they studied it in the 7th grade.

“We teach mathematics and science earlier and more strongly than in American schools. But the advantage of their schools is in conducting experiments in chemistry, physics, biology, which is lacking in Kazakhstan, says Rosa. — There are 12 subjects in our schools, and we have to unfocus on everything at the same time. In America, there are the same six or seven items every day. You immediately target them and teach only them.”

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The USA is a great school of life, as the girl believes. “I gained not only academic knowledge, but also life experience,” she says.

About plans

“I want to graduate from university with honors, make good acquaintances and friends. Develop your skills to the maximum to be competitive in the future,” said Rosa.

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