2.+Did+you+find+out+some+differences+and+similarities?

On this page you can share some of the similarities and differences between Portuguese education and culture, compared to your own country.

**__Similarities__**

 * == In England children with special needs are in normal schools where possible but if the need is serve then they attend a special school. ==
 * == In England each classroom has an interactive whiteboard. ==
 * == In England and Portugal, children sit exams at the age of 11/12 in maths and their native language, before progressing to secondary school. ==
 * == In England Physical Education/Gym, Music and Art are also compulsory and all children have to do them. Religious Studies, Design and Technology are also compulsory. ==
 * == In England, there is an official National Curriculum that teachers must follow (this will be changed by 2014 but currently still being used) in Primary and Secondary school. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/secondary ==

__Differences__

 * ==In England it is expected that all staff wear smart clothes (jeans are not allowed). At the majority of schools in England, children wear school uniform.==
 * ==In England children start school earlier when they are 4 or 5 and have more expected of them at a younger age.==
 * ==In England children sit exams for 11 subjects at the age of 16.==
 * ==Teaching in England is much more pupil led, with children being encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. There is greater use of 'talk'; where children often work together (in groups/ pairs) to complete activities.==
 * ==It is compulsory for children to study Religious studies and PSHE (personal social health education)==


 * ==** Cultural differences: Food (time of meals)/ drinking culture ('night life' is different from England)/ Religion (England is multicultural in terms of religion- there is a greater awareness of other religions) **==

== Libraries in Spanish schools are not so well equipped. Students do not have access to watch movies. For instance, the library of the school where I did my teacher training was composed of books quite old.In Spanish schools, there are no so many books which students can use to do research and know more about an specific topic. ==



- In Finlande the compulsory school lasts 9 years. After that students can choose between secondary school and professional schools.
==== - In Finland we have more compulsory subjects. All students (from age of 7 to 15, some of these only in few years) have to study history, religion, gym, music/art, finnish, swedish, english (or other language), maths, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, study guidance, handcraft, home econimics. ====

- schools have a special computers classroom, where teachers teaching different subjects
= **SIMILARITIES:** =
 * === Children start school at 6-7 ages in Turkey. ===
 * === Time lesson, the students go to the laboratories in Turkey. ===
 * === There are computers in each classroom in Turkey. ===

= DIFFERENCES: =
 * === Students wear uniform in Turkey. ===
 * === There are quite a lot of material in laboratories in Portugal. This is not enough in Turkey. ===
 * === Lessons begin at 8 am and ends at 3 pm in Turkey. ===
 * === There is not refectory in the schools in Turkey. ===
 * === The lunch break is only 60 minutes. ===
 * === In the schools of Turkey, secretary room, classrooms and teachers room is the same building. ===


 * SIMILARITIES **


 * -In Spain, Students do not stay in schools until it is six o´clock . If they have school in the afternoon, they only have to stay until 4, 4:30 in primary education. However, students in secondary education stay in school from 8:30 until 14:30. **


 * -There are **** around 30 students **** per class. **
 * -Classrooms are **
 * -Students do not normally wear uniform. **


 * DIFFERENCES **


 * -In Spain, there is not too much communication between the school, teachers and students. It is only compulsory to have one talk between the teachers and students' parents during the course year. **


 * -There are no rooms with computers for students where they have access to do their own projects and research. **


 * -In most schools, students have to pay for their books and their own materials. **


 * -In general, classrooms are not well equipped with computers. So it is quite difficult to use ICTS in classrooms if there is no access to computers. There is normally a computer lab however the students do not have free access to the classroom, only for computer lessons. **


 * -The material available in libraries is rather reduced. **


 * -There is not teacher work room where teachers work together. **


 * -Group-work is not used as a mechanism for learning in most schools. Teachers prefer students work individually. **