Reply to I’m tired of my exchange student talking about how easy school is here and how dumb the American kids are.

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Reply to "I’m tired of my exchange student talking about how easy school is here and how dumb the American kids are. "

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]he's right[/quote]

He isn't taking any math and science classes because he finds math and science "not enjoyable" (ie too difficult in teen talk)

This means his only core classes are English and History, so he is taking only 2 "real" classes, with the rest of the 5 classes blow off electives.

Even the low performing kids take 4 core classes which include math and science, at a minimum.  The high performing kids will double up on a core class, such as 2 math/science/stem classes, a foreign language class and usually an academic elective such as computer or orchestra.

Is he taking AP classes?  AP classes are where the college bound students (ie gymnasium) would be.

If he is taking 5 fun electives and only 2 core classes, neither of which are AP, and is not taking any math or science, then he is at the lowest possible level of classes, most likely with the lowest performing students.  I don't know what Germany calls their lowest tier, but it sounds like his course load is lower than what even the not college bound kids take in high school.

OP needs to familiarize herself with what the "gymnasium" equivalent students take at her high school (which is NOT his schedule) and what the lower performing kids take (which is likely MORE rigorous than his schedule) then look over his schedule with him and explain that he is taking a class selection lower than the lowest performing kids at his US high school, which is why his schedule is so easy and why his classmates might not seem good at school.

Then ask him if he would like you to set up an appointment this week with the counselor, to switch his English and History classes to AP classes, and to drop 2 of his fun electives for math and science classes, since he keeps expressing that his blow off course selection is not rigorous enough for him to keep up back home.

Call him out using his own words, but do it in an informed way that makes it sounds like you are on his side

I also agree that he is probably homesick, and this is a defense mechanism. [/quote]

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