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European Multilateral Comenius Project
“No Trees Without Roots”
2013-2015
Features of English Study in the Romanian
Education System
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for
any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
I. The Structure of the Romanian
Education System
A.
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B.
Pre-university Education:
Preschool education – kindergarten
average age: from 3 to 5 years old.
Primary education: 1st – 4th grades
average age: from 6 to 10 years old.
Secondary education: 5th – 8th grades
average age: from 11 to 14 years old.
High school education: 9th – 12th grades
average age: from 15 to 18 years old.
Post – high school education.
University Education
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Romanian education is:
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free of charge and compulsory up to the
age of 16 (10th grade);
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free of charge, but optional, up to the age
18/19 (the graduation of high school)
II. Foreign Languages Study in
Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary
School:
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It starts as an optional activity in kindergarten;
English is usually chosen by parents;
In the preparatory, 1st and 2nd grades – one modern
language is studied (especially English) - 1h/week;
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In the 3rd and 4th grades - one modern language is
studied (especially English) - 2h/week;
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In the 5th and 8th grades - two modern languages are
studied (especially English as L1 and French or German as
L2) - 2h/week for each modern language;
•
There are special groups of secondary students that
study English intensively – 4h/week.
III.Foreign languages study in high
school:
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two modern languages are studied (especially
English as L1 and French, German or Spanish as L2) –
minimum 2h/week for each modern language;
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special intensive English classes – 4h/weekdivided in level groups;
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bilingual classes – 5h/week (study of English
language) + 1h/week to study the Geography (9th
grade), the History (10th grade), aspects of the British
Culture and Civilization (11th and 12th grades)
IV. Characteristics of Studying English
• Systematic
connection of the English Curriculum to the European Portfolio,
respectively the Linguistic Passport.
By the end of the
grade:
Level of
performance
2nd
4th
6th
9th
12th
A1 partial
A1
A2
B1
B2
Intensive Classes
A1
A2
B1
B2
Bilingual Classes
C1
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Section C from the Baccalaureate - evaluates all the four communication skills in
English: listening, speaking, reading, writing;
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The highest level the can be achieved is B2;
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The students who have Cambridge certificates pass this language test without the
examination;
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Cambridge tests – many options in the pre-university education - are organized by
British Council or by special certified schools;
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The Cambridge certificates are internationally recognized.
V. The general objectives of studying English,
with degrees of complexity and difficulty
according to different grades, aim at:
1. The development of listening skills.
2. The development of speaking skills.
3. The development of reading skill.
4. The development of writing skills.
5. The development of interest for studying English and for
acquiring knowledge about Anglo – Saxon civilization.
VI. The general objectives of studying
English, with degrees of complexity
and difficulty according to different
grades, aim at:
1. The development of listening skills.
2. The development of speaking skills.
3. The development of reading skill.
4. The development of writing skills.
5. The development of interest for studying English and
for acquiring knowledge about Anglo – Saxon civilization.
VII. Learning contents – grouped into general
themes:
• Child about himself – personal universe and interests;
• Family;
• School universe – school objects, school subjects;
• Child and people around him – environment;
• Fantastic world – characters from cartoons, stories, movies;
• Culture and civilization – habits and traditions;
• Means of communication and information in the modern
society: mass-media, internet, etc.
VIII. Types of learning
activities:
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Multiple choice exercises;
True/False sentences;
Yes/No questions;
Fill-in exercises;
Dialogues;
Role play;
Story telling;
Project activities, etc.
IX. Teachers’ personal
development
• Language and methodology courses/workshops
organized by the British Council and other
institutions;
• Teachers’ semestrial meetings – discussions on
pre-established topics, experience exchanges,
examples of good practice.
X. Activities from our school...
• “Pro English” Club: weekly meetings where students
get the chance to communicate in English, practice
grammar, do project activities;
• Regular activities that mark events from the Anglo –
Saxon culture: Halloween, Guy Fawkes, etc.
• Music performances in English;
• Traditional English contests in which our students get
involved: “English My Love”, “Kangaroo Linguist”, etc.
• Extracurricular activities: visits to British Council,
“Different School” Week, International Summer
English Camp,