Unit 1　School life

　　【美文阅读】　

　　School years in different countries

　　当你正在享受假期的时候，世界上有些国家的孩子却还在学校里学习。由于地域、文化、时区的差异，在世界上不同的国家，学校里的学制、假期及课程安排等也形式各异。

　　Somewhere in the world, right now, students are hard at work in school and some are enjoying holidays. With over 190 nations across the globe's 24 time zones(时区), there are different types of school year. Here's a brief introduction to the typical school year in the following three countries.

　　Australia

　　Students in Australia attend school for 200 days a year. Their school year lasts from late January to late November. Since Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere(半球), it experiences summer while it's winter in China. Summer vacation for Australian students is from December to late January. The school year in Australia is divided into four terms, with each term lasting 9 to 11 weeks. Students then have two weeks of vacation between each term. The typical school day is from 9 a．m. to 3：30 p．m., and lunch is eaten at school. Students are required to attend school for at least nine years.

　　France

　　The school day in France typically runs from 8 a．m. to 4 p．m., with a half day on Saturday. Lunch is a two­hour break for public school students. Students usually attend school from the age of 6 to 18. The school year lasts from August to June, and is divided into four seven­week terms. Students in the primary grades learn basic skills in reading, writing, and math, as well as participate(参与) in exercises to develop observation，

　　imagination, and physical abilities. Older students study French, math, physical and natural sciences, foreign language, history, etc.

　　Japan

Most Japanese schools run on a trimester(三学期制) schedule. The school year begins in April and ends in the following March, with summer, winter and spring holidays to separate the three terms. Uniforms are required and there are many rules for hairstyles, shoes, socks, skirt length, etc. Students in Japan study academic subjects, such as Japanese language, math, reading, social studies, and they also receive moral(道德的) education. Moral education involves teaching students about health and safety, understanding and confidence, public manners, and environmental awareness.