I only spoke English until a couple years ago, despite having taken a bit of French and German in high school. I could have never actually used it. Couple years ago, I moved to Norway. And the kids here are amazing with language.
Not only do they understand dialects well and learn both official types of Norwegian, they are expected to understand Danish and Swedish. They start learning English their first year in school, and many wind up taking an additional language in high school.
There is no homework in elementary school (and less at higher levels), no grades, and no holding kids back a grade. The school days are shorter. If a kid is needing help, there are programs to help them catch up. A smart kid will make good grades (and work for them): Average actually means average, and that is OK. Good marks mean a kid is learning over and above what is expected of them. If too many students are getting high marks (instead of average) on the national tests, they adjust the tests so they are harder.
A few kids find school boring, but the system itself leaves room for kids to excel as well as makes provisions for those that aren't - which seems like one of the fallbacks of the American system. You are expected to make A's and B's and there simply isn't room for the high acheiver to work for anything.
> No official grades are given at this level. However, the teacher often writes a comment, analysis, and sometimes an unofficial grade on tests. Tests are to be taken home and shown to parents. There is also an introductory test to let the teacher know if the student is above average or is in need of some assistance at school.
> ... When the students enter lower secondary school, at age 12 or 13, they begin getting grades for their work.
Not only do they understand dialects well and learn both official types of Norwegian, they are expected to understand Danish and Swedish. They start learning English their first year in school, and many wind up taking an additional language in high school.
There is no homework in elementary school (and less at higher levels), no grades, and no holding kids back a grade. The school days are shorter. If a kid is needing help, there are programs to help them catch up. A smart kid will make good grades (and work for them): Average actually means average, and that is OK. Good marks mean a kid is learning over and above what is expected of them. If too many students are getting high marks (instead of average) on the national tests, they adjust the tests so they are harder.
A few kids find school boring, but the system itself leaves room for kids to excel as well as makes provisions for those that aren't - which seems like one of the fallbacks of the American system. You are expected to make A's and B's and there simply isn't room for the high acheiver to work for anything.