Assessing the quality of English education in Switzerland's high schools
In the Swiss educational system, the hours dedicated to English lessons in secondary schools can vary significantly, depending on factors such as a student's academic orientation and the specific canton. This diversity stems from the decentralized nature of Switzerland's education system.
Across the country, English courses are not fixed and the weekly hours can fluctuate. For instance, in Geneva's secondary schools, English lessons are typically offered from the seventh grade, starting at age 11, while in Zurich, English is taught from around age seven or eight, in the second year.
The Swiss obligatory school system includes two years of kindergarten and lasts for 11 years, with the age range for the system slightly differing by canton, ranging from about four or five to 12 years old.
English lessons continue throughout the obligatory schooling in Switzerland. However, the quality of English lessons in Swiss secondary schools is a topic of discussion among the public. Some argue that the varying hours and starting ages across cantons could impact the quality of instruction.
In terms of the teachers, most English teachers in Swiss public schools are not native English speakers. While the majority of these teachers are native speakers of German, French, or Italian, efforts are made to ensure a high level of proficiency in English.
Switzerland is ranked as a 'high efficiency' nation in English language skills, according to the EF English Proficiency Index. However, an analysis by RTS public broadcaster suggests that learning two foreign languages simultaneously could explain why Switzerland is not on par with 'very high efficiency' countries.
Despite this, Swiss students make up for their English proficiency later in life, according to studies. It's worth noting that there are no readily available statistics on the exact number of native English-speaking teachers in Swiss public schools.
The number of hours dedicated to English lessons in secondary schools also varies throughout Switzerland and within the same canton. This diversity in English education reflects the cantonal autonomy over education, with some cantons beginning English instruction earlier, offering it as a compulsory subject, or providing more weekly class time, while others may introduce it later or with less class time.
In conclusion, the English language education landscape in Swiss secondary schools is diverse, with factors such as the student's academic orientation, the canton, and the specific school influencing the number of hours dedicated to English lessons each week. Despite these variations, Switzerland maintains a high level of English proficiency among its students.
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