we are considering moving to Zurich area and are currently looking at the educational system in Switzerland. I understand, that at about 11-12 the kids are evaluated to continue the education in gymnasium - mostly in math and languages.
Our older daughter is currently 9yo without any German. Does it make it extremely unlikely for her to get into gymnasium, if we decide to move?
Thanks for a prompt response. I've looked through a few threads in the forum, and haven't found an answer to my question. Hence the post. Could you link a thread, that would answer my concern, please?
She can always go for an apprenticeship instead and may prefer that route. They’re not like the US system. Many youngsters here do apprenticeships, probably more than go the gymnasium route.
It really depends on the kid. We moved here a couple of months before my son turned 13. He is now very competent in the language and his teachers feel confident that he will be prepared to test in. We have added some extra things and worked very closely with his teachers on a plan for this. His teachers have been a godsend, they are incredible people. It's all about how motivated the student is, the quality of the teachers, and how keen the school/geminde is to get your child integrated. I will tell you that the first year is hard. It's hard on everyone! Good luck.
My son did it, because in the maths test, he was the only kid in the whole canton who could solve one of the questions. The next ten years of so were very very tough. He was constantly told by various teachers that his German wasn't good enough for the next level (with the honourable exception of his German teachers - go figure!). He got a 5.1 grade in his Masters in Physics from Basel University this year., producing a dissertation that, with a few changes, will be suitable for publication as a piece of new science.
My daughter dropped out of FMS and is now doing an OU degree.
In BL at least, it is unusual for non-Swiss kids to get to university.
I have students who make it with a minimum years before the streaming, I have students who are born here who don't pass. I think it depends on your child and her belief in her self, on the edu professionals around her and on her potential. Independence, most of all. I am not sure, though, if this battle is in fact fair for a new coming child.
Kurz Gymi should be doable and these days there really is no reason any longer to go for Lang Gymi. Better to stay in your neighbourhood school and do Sec there.
Advantage of Kurzgymi test is that there are three subjects instead of only two and also, in Zürich, its only exam that counts.
In ZÜrich there are loads of non-native kids doing Gymi these days.
I am surprised to hear that in BL it is unusual for non-Swiss kids to get to University. ......could you explain further please if you know the possible reasons for this?
Tilia, MusicChick, NotAllThere, Anderham- thank you for the responses, it's very helpful, especially the first hand experience.
To clarify my understanding of timeline:
say, my daughter turns 10 next May. Which grade will she fall into? is it 4 or 5th? As I now understand, she will stay in the primary school till the end of 6th grade (Zurich canton), which is 1 - 2 years. And then will go to the middle school for 2 years before (potentially) taking a Kurz Gymi entrance test. Which gives her 4-5 years to get fluent with German. Is that a correct count?
She will go to 4th grade (in Zurich). So she will have 4.5/5.5 years to learn German before she does the exam. The exam can be taken three times; in second year of Secondary school, third year and possibly also "10th year" although that is unusual.
Of course there's exceptions, as with everything, where some kid just picks up German incredibly fast and/or is just generally very smart. One should never focus on the exceptions, though.
It's also the cart before the horse, come here, see how it works out, and maybe have her start learning German first before worrying which school she should go to 5 years from now. The obsession with Gymnasium is unnecessary anyways. Plenty of terrific alternative education options in this country.
@Samaire13 - I take your point, that it will be hard, but I disagree, that it's too early to plan. I definitely want her to have an opportunity to go to the university in whatever country I choose to live in.
That is true IF it is certain that the parents are staying in CH for the long term. However, as expats, we are never too certain about how things will pan out in the following few years. I can see how a child can be disadvantaged if s/he does a university degree later on in life in another country. Even the Swiss love certificates
Any non EU family coming here should have a back-up plan, as being allowed to stay in Switzerland long term cannot be counted on. That back-up plan should include transitioning the children back to one's home country education system and educational expectations.
I know two children personally who arrived in years 4/5 with no german and made it to Langzeitgymi (year 7). Excellent maths can make up for weaker german for very bright children.
Going to gymnasium in year 7 really isn't the be all and end all for getting a tertiary level qualification. The percentage of swiss with a tertiary level qualification is broadly similar to the US/UK, even though only around 15% go to year 7 gymi. Many courses here are studied in institutions that would be called universities in other countries, but are 'Fachhochschule' here.
Nevertheless I sympathise with the underlying concern - I have a degree and I don't want my life choice to live in Switzerland to make that an unachievable target for my own bright but not gifted children. I think doing as much research as possible on the paths through the system here is a good idea.