Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

gymnase

English translation:

Sixth Form or Sixth Form College

Added to glossary by Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies
Jul 19, 2011 11:11
13 yrs ago
8 viewers *
French term

gymnase

French to English Social Sciences Education / Pedagogy Switzerland
Would it be correct to describe this in UK English as an "academic 6th Form college"? If so, would that be understood by non-UK readers? Any other suggestions. The target audience is UK English speaking parents of potential students.
Change log

Dec 14, 2011 16:20: Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies Created KOG entry

Discussion

Sam Cogdell Jul 19, 2011:
US English readers and "academic 6th Form college" I don't think this would understandable to most US readers unless they were familiar with the educational system in the UK. I think the only point of reference in the US would be "high school" or "prep school." But you've said this needs to be for UK English readers.
B D Finch (asker) Jul 19, 2011:
Context The only additional information I can give is that this is part of a marketing brochure for a property development and is intended to show potential purchasers that they need have no worries about the adequacy of the local educational provision. The secondary school has already been mentioned.

Proposed translations

+1
1 hr
Selected

Sixth Form or Sixth Form College

It would be called a 'sixth form' if it is a direct continuation from 'Year 11' (i.e. the students stay in the same school for their A-levels). It's called a 'sixth form college' if it's an entirely separate institution (they deal solely with the sixth form students aged 17-18 and there are no younger students in the building!)
Peer comment(s):

agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne : sith form college
42 mins
Thanks!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Alexandra. "
32 mins

Secondary school

Depends on what it is exactly. Need further info from you to be more precise.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

thoughts

Well, yes, I know, I'm supposed to put an actual translation proposal, one and only one, in the box above. And yes, I know, you want first-hand people from lakeside dwellers.

But if the following is to be believed, it is basically the French lycée général, as opposed to the lycée professionnel, only starting/finishing a year later.
I don't know about you, but I call lycée (unqualified) as "high school" as opposed to "middle school" (collège).
Of course the Swiss have this distinction between gymnase and école de degré diplôme (but they probably don't have classes préparatoires having, from what I can make out, set the bar earlier).

Secondary education, which is also mandatory, is for children ages 12 to 15. The curriculum has a general core, but offers classes to prepare for further optional education based on a student’s interests. Students may prepare to attend the “gymnase” or “GRAMMAR SCHOOL” (HIGH SCHOOL), a vocational school, or a general high school.

Optional continuing education, where students may pursue one of three types of studies.
• A “gymnase” leads to a “Maturité Fédérale” and subsequent entrance into a university,
• A vocational school (“école professionnelle”) or apprenticeship, which follows three to four years of company-based training and leads to a diploma for specialised studies (CFC), or
• A general high school (“école de degré diplôme”) leads to a “Certificat de fin d’études”, which is a high school equivalency diploma.
http://members.impactgrouphr.com/reloads4.nsf/73ceb0b9d43d52...

"Grammar school" might still be understood by many. Otherwise something "explanatory" like "gymnase prematriculation high school".

You might also do worse than the same thing in German, Gymnasium which might well be more readily understood than its French translation.

• Switzerland (usually 3–4 years after 9 years of compulsory schooling (primary and secondary I); in some cantons it is also possible to attend a so-called "Langzeitgymnasium" which lasts 6 years, following a six-year primary schooling; the Gymnasium ends with Matura at the age of 18/19).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_(school)
Note from asker:
Thanks for all the information. I thought that the German <b>Gymnasium</b> was from 11 years, but anyhow think I need to refer to something familiar to UK readers.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

academic/selective secondary school

From what I understand of the Swiss education system, a Gymnasium is a secondary school for 11-18 year-olds, so Sixth Form College is definitely not the correct term. UK parents would understand what was meant by either academic or selective secondary school. Alternatively, you could follow Bourth's suggestion and keep the original term Gymnasium but provide a gloss.
Note from asker:
Thanks Teresa. It seems to be the last three years, so not really a grammar school.
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

15 mins
Reference:

(?)

Note from asker:
Thank you, but posting a general Google search is really not all that helpful. I am asking for specific information from people familiar with both the Swiss educational system and UK English terminology.
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search