lebristaconic

Hello ! We will try to answer your questions^^. So, in most schools in France there are no policemen because having guns is forbidden by the law (even if it’s easy to have a knife), but in some schools situated in a place where there is violence the government tries to employ policemen (many  people are against it).

Our exam, “Bac”, is in two parts. In “1ère” we have to take some subjects: french, and for some pupils biology, maths… The other part is in “terminale”  and it’s stressful for most pupils.

Nos réactions à vos observations des ados français et américains :

         Les armes sont illégales pour les ados, et c’est interdit d’avoir les armes à l’école. Quand il y a une personne qui a une arme, c’est choquant parce que ce n’est pas normal. Pittsfield est une petite ville, alors il y a moins de violence que dans une grande ville comme New York. À Pittsfield, la violence est surtout entre des adultes.

         Au lycée, quand il y a de la violence c’est à cause des drames et il n’y a pas souvent des armes. Nous n’avons pas de détecteurs de métal à Pittsfield. Mais il y a un agent de police dans chaque école à Pittsfield au cas où il y a quelque chose de grave. À Taconic, nous en avons deux. Nous pensons que la violence serait pire s’il n’y avait pas de policiers. Avez-vous des policiers à l’école ?

         C’est vrai qu’on conduit à 16 ans, mais tout le monde n’a pas de voiture à 16 ans. Il faut suivre des cours (en classe, et aussi il faut observer et pratiquer à conduire avec un instituteur) pour avoir un permis à 16 ans. Si on ne suit pas les cours, il faut attendre l’âge de 18 ans. Les cours coûtent cher – environ $500 (€375). On travaille pour payer l’essence et pour les assurances parce que c’est très cher.

         C’est vrai aussi que c’est très cher d’assister à l’université, mais quelquefois il ne faut pas payer tout les frais parce qu’il y a des bourses et des prêts. Quelquefois on ne paie rien si on est très doué en sport ou en études, mais c’est très rare.

         C’est vrai aussi qu’il y a beaucoup d’activités à l’école, comme vous avez dit. Par exemple, en ce moment on prépare pour le «prom». Prom est le grand bal de l’année pour Juniors et Seniors. C’est très cher pour un couple: il faut payer les billets, les robes et les smokings, les coiffures et les manicures pour les filles, les chaussures, le transport (souvent une limousine, mais on essaie aussi d’être très créatif – un camion de pompiers, une ambulance, un tram, un camion de glace, un tracteur, des bus) les bijoux, les fleurs. Les filles doivent acheter leur robes, mais les garçons louent leurs smokings. Cette année, le prom est le 8 juin. Nous afficherons des photos. Il y a une fête après, mais on ne peut pas la quitter avant 6:00 du matin. Il y a des activités à la fête: un spectacle d’hypnotisme, un mur d’escalade, une piscine, un jacuzzi, beaucoup de nourriture, les sports, un feu de camping, des massages, et une salle pour dormir.

         Pour les Seniors, il faut payer $200 pour les activités pendant “Senior Week” à la fin de l’année: il y a un voyage, un dîner, et une pique-nique. Ça paie aussi le «yearbook» et le costume universitaire.

Est-ce que vous avez des activités pour les élèves en terminale à la fin de l’année ? Est-ce que vous avez une cérémonie pour la remise des diplômes ? Êtes-vous nerveux de passer le bac ? C’est quand ? Est-ce que vous pensez que vous êtes bien préparés ?

HELLO

Everyone here in 1°spe tried to find the differences between being a teenager in America (Taconic high school) and being a teenager in France (Jean-Marie Le Bris).

What do you think about it?

Can you give us your reaction?  do you agree with us?

Each country has its own rules which allow us to do different things. From these rules the ways of life of teenager aren’t the same

First there are bad points about being a teenager in America

For example in America you are allowed to use guns to protect yourself but this can engender violence like in Columbine high school where a student killed everyone around him.

Money is a big problem in America because you need it to enter a prestigious university that’s why a lot of kids have to work before and/or after school to assure them a bright future.

Nonetheless you can see these differences in a positive way :

There are more activities organized by school like sports etc. plus, almost all teenagers get a car when they turn 16 so they can go further and further.

In small schools like ours everybody knows each other so there is a good atmosphere and less violence.

Moreover if you don’t have money you still can have a good education thanks to the scholarships.

However we don’t have a car before 18 years old but we manage to move by hitch hiking or taking the bus.

As a conclusion we can say that we are the same, we are teenagers and we understand each other in spite of the differences because we have a lot of common points too like troubles with parents and authority.

Sinquin Michelle

Plouhinec Léo

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In english we talked a lot about teens in Pittsfield and Douarnenez. We compared the two groups and found out that there are many differences but also common points.

In fact there are many common points in the life of teens here and in Taconic high school. First, the teenagers of Taconic high school have the same relationships with their friends and families like here. At our age we often have problems with our parents because we want to do everything we want. If something goes wrong our friends are very important for us to talk, to have fun and to help us in difficult situations.

Another common point is alcohol and drug addictions for some people. They have many problems in their life and at school so they start drinking because they don’t know how to deal with their situation. They don’t ask for help and it’s hard to stop.

But there are also a lot of differences. Teens in Taconic are more independent. They earn their own money because they work after school to buy a car and to go to university. The French people have to work hard at school and usually don’t much time to work and earn some money

The violence is an important problem in the USA. People can buy guns and at school there are metal detectors whereas in France we don’t.

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-Our analysis is based on our two classes , that is to say Taconic’s pupils and JMLB’s pupils . Although we have the same age , our lives , hobbies , activities are very different . Indeed , there are different points and some similar points between our two cultures .

First and foremost , we are going to begin with the common points because they are less obvious . In fact , we can first admit that we all go to school . We learn approximately the same subjects ( French , English , maths , sciences .. ) We can explain that because they are the fundamental things that the school as an institution teaches us .

Moreover , we are humans so we have the same reactions . For instance , all of us are waiting for the holidays , end of the lessons and the breaks . Even if they are different , we have tests and homework .

On the other hand , Taconic’s schedules are different from Jean Marie Le Bris’s schedules because we begin at 8 a.m and finish at 5:30 p.m while you finish earlier . You can work and go to school too but we can’t because we don’t have the time and not the age . Furthermore , you can have a driving license at 16 but we can’t have one before 18 !

All things considered , we think that we are more dependent on our parents than you are

louise and simon .

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FLATRÈS Angélique 1ère L

DROUET Florian 1ère ES

Teenagers life

We will show you some principal differences between teenagers life in the United States and France and their common points.

Indeed, we can say that in the United States, there is a different system of education. If we take the example of school, we can see that unlike French schools, you have less homework than us and you spend less time at school, it isn’t very stressful for you and perhaps more for us.

There is also the problems of violence. Indeed, the American teenagers can buy weapons because of the constitution contrary to the French teenagers who can’t. It explains the high rate of violence.

Next, the American teenagers are more independent because they can work out of school and have a driving license at 16years old. It means that they can earn money in order to pay their studies, that is an important responsibility.

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Teenagers life

We will show you some principal differences between teenagers life in the United States and France and their common points.

Indeed, we can say that in the United States, there is a different system of education. If we take the example of school, we can see that unlike French schools, you have less homework than us and you spend less time at school, it isn’t very stressful for you and perhaps more for us.

There is also the problems of violence. Indeed, the American teenagers can buy weapons because of the constitution contrary to the French teenagers who can’t. It explains the high rate of violence.

Next, the American teenagers are more independent because they can work out of school and have a driving license at 16years old. It means that they can earn money in order to pay their studies, that is an important responsibility.

julie

agathe

First Virginie’s reaction :

For me, I thought that american teenagers looked like characters of movies : American pie =). But now, I have a different idea about the life of american teenagers what shocks  me is the violence in your school.

Julie’s reaction :

For me, I was very surprised about your article because I thought American Teenagers had less problems or on the opposite, they were so perfect and beautiful. Maybe because of americans series or movies. But now I have an other picture of american teenagers (more real). Thank you for that !

Morgane’s reaction :

I was suprised by your article because most of you think that being teenager in  France  is more difficult than  being  teenager in the USA. There are some difficulties to be a teenager in France (I’agree with the other french pupils: there are problems with parents) but it’s not very hard.

There are not a lot of figths in our school or it’s more in junior school not in our level (we are in a “cité scolaire” that means it’s a “collège & a lycée”). I hope Jamie’s nose will heal quickly =) But outside, in the parties, which are more usually in the street, there are fights but more for the boys who drink too much.

In France the first important thing in our education it’s the Baccalauréat (Bac), it’s this year and the next year and it’s hard and stressfull. And after that we have to decide for the future and what we want to do and that scares me. We can go to the “fac” (university) and it’s free but the first year there are a lot of students who stop their studies and we have to work really hard, our free time will become rare.

I’m surprised because most of you speak about “drugs, sex and alcohol” and I didn’t know that it was so present. Maybe because you live in a town which is bigger( but you said you haven’t a lot of activities you can do and for me to be in a big town is to be able to many activities ). But contrary to french students you can work (even if you’re a litlle obliged) but in france it’s really hard to find a job when you are a teenager

Personaly I think that to be a teenager is difficult. I don’t really like  school, I just wait for the summer holidays because in these 2 months I think about nothing :just to have fun and meet new people … So I think the everyday life it’s a bit boring :we can’t have a car before our 18 birthday and we live in a little town, with not a lot of shops or interesting activities … I’m eager (but stressed too) to leave Douarnenez and go in a big city for my studies. I think to be a teenager in a town or in a city is really different.

First, we think that teen’s life is very different for everybody . In fact , teen’s life is a question of culture , social back-ground and the geographical position .

Culture, because it depends on the parent’s education , religion, .. etc

Social background , because if their parents are divorced, if their parents have financial problems or not, ..

Geographical position : if you live in an urban or rural place ; it’s not the same ! The size of your high school and of your town too !!!

French teenagers have a very different life , it’s hard to give a typical description. Everyone lives their life as they can but sometimes they live as they want.

Etre ado aux Etats- Unis est plus facile que un ado en France. Tout les ados aux Etats- Unis cries beaucoup et ne travaillent pas dur. Classes est facile, travail est facile, vie est facile. Les ados Francais je regrette pour vous. Je ne connais pas la travaille en France, mais je suis sur c’est plus dur. Qu’est ce que tu penses de les ados aux Etats-Unis.

C’est dur d’être un ado aux États-Unis parce que il y a beaucoup des mauvaises choses. Beaucoup des ados fumet et boivent aussi ne reussissent pas leurs éxamens á l’école. Á Taconic on doit aller au l’école chaque jour parce que il y a une “attendance policy”. Pour demander l’inscription a l’université c’est très stressant parce que il n’y a pas beaucoup des temps.

Être un adolescent Américain, c’est très stressant. Après le collège, nous allons à une université.. où nous devons payer beaucoup d’argent ($50,000) pour être présent.. Mais d’abord nous devons être acceptés. Donc, c’est très important pour nous de travailler en été et quelquefois après l’école aussi.Les drogues, sex, et l’alcool sont trois choses les adolescents Américains font chaque jour, ce n’est pas bon, mais c’est vrai.

La violence est un grand problème aussi, dans l’école et pas dans l’école. Je ne suis pas fier de cela (mais ma classe a dit “dis à nos amis en France, c’est une histoire parfaite!”) mais mardi.. la 15 mars, j’étais dans une baggare à l’école. La fille contre qui je battais .. elle m’a frappé dans mon visage, seulement UNE fois .. mais une BONNE fois parce qu’elle a cassé mon nez. Parce que mon nez est cassé .. vous direz probablement que “elle est un bébé” mais fiez-vous à moi .. que j’ai fait bien aussi (hahaha).

Donc, comme vous pouvez voir; nous ne sommes pas exactement “les adolescents parfaits”. J’arrêterai de parler pour maintenant.. ou je serai ici pendant les jours. J’espère que je n’ai effrayé personne avec ma réalité.. je suis sûr que beaucoup d’entre vous sont le même! Nous sommes seulement des adolescents, vous savez? Lol. Votre professeur dit “Jamie est fou!” oui? Bien, bien.. je suis fini. À bientôt!

Alors, c’est vrai qu’il n’y a pas beaucoup de choses à Pittsfield. Pour s’amuser, nous allons au centre commercial ou au cinéma ou peut-être à un musée. Mais ça va, parce qu’il y a les choses qui nous inquiètent. Pour notre avenir, nous devons passer le SAT. C’est comme le BAC et c’est pour l’université. Si on réussit nos SATs, nous devons payer de l’argent pour l’université. Nous devons payer pour une voiture aussi. C’est beaucoup d’argent, n’est-ce pas? Alors, pour gagner l’argent, les ados ont les boulots. Moi, je ne travaille pas…mais en été, je vais trouver un travail. Je l’ai besion pour toutes les choses que je vous raconte. C’est ridicule!