Italian School vs American School

What are the differences and similarities? Which one do you think is better?

Before I left, my mom and I did some research on schools in Italy. We found out the Italian schools are one of the most rigorous education systems in Europe. I don't think I really took into consideration what it would be like.

Comparing to my school in the States (Washington Latin PCS), there are many similarities, but lets start with the differences and how it works. Your first year of high school you are put into a class with around 18-28 students. Whoever you are with that first day of high school, you will be with for the next five years. You stay in one room the whole year and you don't switch classrooms, the teachers move rooms after each period. There is also a 10 minute break at 10 am, and you leave between 12-1 depending on which year you are.

Testing and grading is a bit different as well. They only grade you on tests. You can get a participation point for doing your homework or classwork but its not a grade. There are two types of testing. The first one is la Verifica/I Compiti. This type of testing is a written test, the same as you would do in the States. The other type of testing is Orale/Interroga. This is a oral test or the direct translation is Interrogation. This is where you and 2/3 other students are asked questions about the content that you have learned. It doesn't sound too bad, but the content is usually covered by 20-30 textbook pages. And you're not allowed to have notes in front of you.

There are many types of schools in Italy: Scienze Umane (Humanities), Classico (Classic), Artistico (Arts), and Scientifico (Science). There is a different curriculum for each school, but overall they all work the same. I do Scienze Umane. In the states I actually do Classico. Which I didn't know until I got here because the difference between Classico and Scienze Umane is that in Classico you learn Greek. My school in the states actually says on the logo/website that it is a Classical Education system. I honestly did not know what that meant at all, but now I do :)

My Take

I think the education system in Italy is very aggressive on the students. I have talked to some of the parents here in Italy and they all connected the education to a fascist education system. Now I don't think I would compare it to that, but I do agree with the fact that students are failing because of how it is. There is barely any room to take a small break. There are tests after tests and the fact that there are oral tests makes it 10x harder. I dislike the fact that you only get graded on test, and me being a terrible test taker has cost my grades to not look as pretty as it usually does.

Luckily my school in the states curriculum is very similar so I am able to keep my head above the water. Also I'm in third year which I guess is the equivalent between Sophomore and Junior year, so the content we are learning I have already done. You would think that would make it easier, but not really because it's either content I don't remember or content I remember but they do it a different way so I have to disable how I solve things and relearn it a new way. All of this IN ITALIAN!

Also a big thing that I think is a necessity in school is support. Mental health is very important in the States, and we have a great support system within the school. The teachers also support you and this makes the atmosphere 100x better in my opinion. Here in Italy there are barely any relationships with the teachers and the students. My school here in Italy just hired a counselor this year. This year! I don't even think the counselor is located in the school so you can't even see them throughout the school days.

Based on the information I have told you all, tell me how you feel. What did you already know and what didn't you know? I would also love to hear your questions!

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