Training in Heytersburh, Maryland, United States of the winner in FLEX program Maria Talalaievska finishes. Her thoughts about it are as follows.

So it was April, and it seemed that the time passed so slowly. Very little is left by the time I return back to Ukraine. And now I realized that never resorted to the details of the study at the American School. So, while I have the opportunity to talk, I decided to write about my regular school day.

Every day I wake up around four in the morning to do the tasks that I did not have time to finish in the evening, or view the tutorials. By the way, my school books are much thicker than those that were in Ukraine – one of them has more than a thousand pages. That’s why teachers do not use them during lessons, but demand from students that they read them at home.

So, my day starts with a semester of English classes (English Language and Composition), which is the level of AP (Advanced Placement), means that the subject is taught at the university level. At the end of this course, students take an exam with him (the desire), which is measured by a five-point scale. Most American universities after reckon this subject so as to student or student took it to the university, if he / she had a mark set by each university separately. By the way, all the exchange students I was the most university-level subjects and I pleased. In fact, this class gives many students hard because our teacher is very demanding. Honestly, my first estimate for the essay, when I came to America, was two points from nine possible. But now I get no lower than seven or eight points (B), the very satisfied with my teacher. In this class, we get a list of twenty words each new topic. When our teacher conducts several tests for these words, some of whom are archaisms English words borrowed from other languages, etc. In addition, we often get serious tasks, such as writing a research essay on a particular topic using a minimum of five auxiliary printed sources. Also, recently I was tested for level of English TOEFL and got 107 points, at the level of a native speaker, which also is good news to me. My English teacher was also very happy with this result.

French is the second subject in my schedule. Within 47 minutes of my class, students hear and speak only French. Though we often watch French films and learning here is not easy, because each of them we get a folder with more than a hundred of questions that we must answer. In addition, I participated in the American national testing high school students of the French language, which has 580 points, which is 33% higher than the US national average score.

The third and fourth lessons are biology, which is also the subject of university level. My biology teacher is a former researcher of neuroscience because paying great attention to accuracy and presentation of scientific thought. Each week we write at least two tests of the subject, and often conducted laboratory work. During the last laboratory, for example, we use light microscopes to describe different types of cells, including even bacteria. Last semester we had laboratory work, where we have isolated the DNA and many others. I also participated in the national test of biology, where I received 660 points, which is 45% above the US national average score. In addition, my teacher asked to participate in the AR exam as one of his best pupils, because he believes that I show good results. Therefore, in the last week of my stay in America I will write exams.

During the dinner, which lasts 45 minutes, I often go to the school library, where I work on the study of different materials using quizlet portal, where you can create your own cards for learning objects.

Then schedule a lesson psychology, which is also the subject of university level. He likes many students, because our teacher often gives us a variety of projects ranging from presentations and ending polls. Evaluation is very strict, we have to carefully prepare and handle a lot of material.

After psychology lesson is math lesson, which roughly corresponds to the program in Ukraine grades 10-11, blending themes and algebra and geometry. I perfectly cope with this object became an assistant teacher and is now helping other students to explain the material.

The final lesson in my schedule is the US Government, which is also the subject of university level. I need to spend a lot of time preparing for this lesson, after all completely new and unfamiliar, unlike other subjects. But I cope quite good and quite pleased with the results (scores 9-10 meets our in Ukraine).

Each quarter is determined by a group of students (Honors Roll), whose GPA 3.00 (corresponding to 9.10 scores in Ukraine) or higher, to 4.00. Students, who receive this mark, give certificates attesting it, which is the equivalent of Ukrainian diplomas for excellent teaching. I received such certificates by the first and second quarter, and hope that in the third quarter and get it (third quarter ends April 11). Also at the end of each semester, in January and June, students pass the semester exams. I also rented out after the first semester and have shown good results. I want to thank all the teachers in the Ukraine, who taught me and gave the opportunity to represent Ukraine and Ukrainian in American schools, because now here I diligently learning, have good results in training and support good relations not only with teachers who teach me things, but and with other teachers and students.

In addition to schooling, I spend a lot of time for volunteer activities, attend evening for people with disabilities, visit many museums, and participate in various orientations and activities with other students on exchange. There was also a participant Ukrainian Festival. Actively participate in various charity events, competitions, preparing presentations (one week had 9 presentations). Had the opportunity to go on national radio and talk to reporters. Also visit failed to prepare diplomats department, which serves the representatives of other countries, and I was used to study the Ukrainian language and talked in their native language, also visited NASA. Impressions, emotions, mood, of course, impossible to convey in the letter, so tell more details when I return to Ukraine. Although very little time at all, I’m preparing for testing to be able to adequately pass it and pass some topics in the subjects studied in Ukraine. When issued free time, I spend it on a study of foreign languages ​​(Polish, and Korean), and drawing. By the way, with such a variety of nationalities in the school and the city often seems to me the opportunity to practice my speaking skills in these languages, which helps me to learn them more quickly. Many of my friends are immigrants, most of whom speak English poorly. It helps knowledge of French, which is also widespread. Among my friends there are people from India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Japan, China, Korea, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Moldova, Estonia, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, Cameroon, Mexico, Chile and El Salvador. And frankly, I’m proud of the vast number and variety of my friends.

Best regards,

Maria Talalaievska