Glossary entry (derived from question below)
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.
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +1 | Sixth Form or Sixth Form College |
Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies
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3 | thoughts |
Bourth (X)
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3 | academic/selective secondary school |
Teresa Quinn
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2 | Secondary school |
Bashiqa
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References
(?) |
José Patrício
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Change log
Dec 14, 2011 16:20: Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies Created KOG entry
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!)
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.
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)
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. |
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. |
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. |
Discussion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school