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Schools
學校
September is traditionally the end of summer and the beginning of autumn in the UK.
傳統來講，9月是夏末秋初的月份，
It is also the month when children go back to school after their long summer holidays,
也是孩子們在結束漫長的暑假后回到學校的月份。
but what do you actually know about British schools?
但是，你實際上又對英國的學校了解多少呢？
There are two types of school in England.
在英格蘭有兩種類型的學校。
State-run schools are paid for by the government,so are free to attend.
公立學校由政府支付費用，上學是免費的。
Independent Schools are private,which means you have to pay to attend.
私立學校則是私人性質的，進這樣的學校就意味著你要自己交錢上學了。
The school day usually starts at 9 in the morning and finishes around 4, with breaks for lunch of course!
學校一般早上9點開始上課，下午4點左右放學，當然中間有午餐小息。
In many schools, you have to wear a uniform too.
許多學校還會要求學生穿校服。
Children start school when they are 5 years old.
孩子到了5歲，就要開始上小學了。
This is called primary school, and lasts until the child is 11 when he or she will go on to senior school.
小學要一直上到11歲，那時候孩子就要進入大齡兒童學校學習了。
Secondary school is compulsory from 11 until 16 years of age.
中學的教育是義務教育，面向11-16歲的青少年。
At 16, students take national examinations called GCSE's.
16歲時，學生要參加全國統一考試，稱為“普通中等教育證書”考試。
After this, students can stay on that school for another 2 years and take A Level examinations.
通過該考試以后，他們就可以在學校再學習兩年，然后參加中學高級水平考試。
These examinations are necessary if they want to go on to university at 18.
如果學生想在18歲上大學，那么他們必須通過這些考試。
Some universities start in September,but others begin in October.
一些大學在9月份開學，但也有在10月份開學的。
Courses normally last 3 years,but some, such as languages, engineering or medicine,can take much longer to complete.
一般3年就可以學完課程，但像語言類，工程類或者醫學類這樣的學科則要花更長的時間才能修完。
Students usually go to university in a different town,so need to get used to living alone,paying bills and washing their own clothes!
通常，學生們上的大學都在另外一個城鎮，因此他們要習慣獨自生活，支付賬單和自己洗衣服！
For many, this is a difficult time,but everyone soon becomes used to it!
對于很多學生來講這都是不容易的事情，但是每個人很快就習慣了！
Universities in Britain used to be free,but many students now have to pay for part of their course.
英國的大學以前是免費的，但是現在，許多學生都必須支付課程的部分費用了。
Similarly, students used to receive a grant—money from the government in order to live.
同樣地，學生以前也會有助學金-來自政府的生活補貼。
Nowadays, they have to borrow money from banks or the government, called a student loan,or take part-time jobs.
而現在，他們不得不向銀行或者政府借錢，這就是所謂的學生貸款；或者去做兼職。
Either way, it can be difficult and many students have money problems.
不管哪一種方式都很困難，很多學生都存在經濟上的問題。
School and university life are not just about studying, however.
然而，學校和大學生里的生活并不僅僅是學習。
Many students take part in drama productions or play music.
許多學生會參加戲劇創作或者去搞音樂。
Others, of course, take part in a wide range of sports,such as football, rugby and cricket.
當然，其他的人也會參加各種各樣的體育活動，比如足球，橄欖球和板球。
Many of the friends British people make at school and university remain friends for life,
英國人在學校或大學里交到的很多朋友都會維系一生。
so it seems true to say that your schooldays really are "the best days of your life."
所以，校園生活是一生中最棒的日子這種說法似乎不無道理。
