One of my classes took a couple days to write out as many questions as they could think of to ask me. They are mostly interested in high school in America – makes sense, since they are high schoolers. Here is an abbreviated list of their questions, edited slightly for clarification. If you are a current high schooler, please send me your answers! If you know any current high schoolers (looking at you, Mr. Gillis), please have them answer some questions and send them to me. My kids would love to hear from real students!
I think the questions themselves are revealing about the experiences and expectations French high schoolers have. Note the questions about guns and religion; restrictions and beliefs about those things are night and day in France and America. But some questions indicate how little difference there is between teenagers across the world; they want to know how people make friends, what they like to do, and if the stuff on TV is real or not.
- Are there activity clubs? We don’t really have those.
- Do you have security guards at school?
- What sports can you do after school? Are you allowed to choose the sport?
- Do you wear uniforms? I see those in movies.
- Are you allowed to use your phones? We have to keep our put away.
- Are you allowed to smoke in front of the school? I usually have a cigarette before school.
- How many students per class?
- Can you sleep in high school? I heard that Americans wear pajamas to class.
- What is your favorite day of Spirit Week? Does everyone get the same Spirit Week?
- Why do American kids have part time jobs? I don’t know anybody my age with a job.
- What do you like the most about your school?
- How does it feel to drive that young? Isn’t it scary?
- What kind of job do you want in the future?
- Why is religion so important in America’s culture?
- Are you allowed to wear religious things in school? (Allison’s note: it is illegal to wear religious garb in schools in France. This includes, kippas, hijabs, and crucifix necklaces.)
- Do you study a lot of subjects? What is your favorite?
- Are you allowed to leave school between classes?
- Do you live far from you school? How do you get there?
- How good is the food in the cafeteria?
- Can you go home to eat lunch? Are you required to eat the school food, or can you bring your own?
- Is it easy to make friends at school?
- Are there special high schools for each religion?
- Is there more freedom than in France?
- How long is the break between classes? Sometimes we leave for an hour and come back.
- How long is the school day? Our days are so long…
- Do you have classes on Wednesday? We don’t mostly.
- Are you teachers strict like ours?
- What is the influence of religion on education?
- Are there political organizations within the school?
- What do you talk about with your friends?
- Do you have a lot of religion?
- Is carrying a gun with you safer than without? Is that why you carry them?
- What is your favorite artist? I like Travis Scott.
- Do you have to have a badge to go anywhere in your school?
- I am 15, so am I a junior?
- Do you always eat outside in a group, like in the TV shows, with food from a brown paper bag?
- At what age do you start learning French? We start English when we are young.
- Do all high schools have cheerleading clubs?
- Is it true that all of your exams are multiple choice, and that you don’t have to write out an answer?
- Do all the pupils at school feel safe or not?
- Is it true that you ride in big yellow school buses like in TV shows and movies?
- Are you a “nerd” or a “jock? Are those real?
- Can nerds speak to popular students?
- Do you have the same hours each day? We have different classes every day.
Flan in France 
These questions are astounding. They indicate an extraordinary level of intellectual curiosity coupled with beliefs in American culture obviously driven by media.
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Bonjour ! My classes are working on some responses. Yes, these are awesome questions. It makes my students and myself think things trough even about our own culture comparing it to France. My students also have some questions that I will have to send. They want some more information on a few questions such as how their teachers are strict, their school schedules, leaving campus, how they get around. What age can they smoke in the parking lot at school? And others as well. Thanks for your blogs! My students and I really appreciate them!
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Thanks, Mr. Gillis! My students will be very interested in your responses, and I’ll make sure they answer all your questions.
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I’m replying as a student, so for question number two; we don’t have security guards although teachers have “duties” Like some teachers are on bus duty and others on bathroom or hall. They just watch over the students since some are quite problematic. Last year we had 7 to 10 fights in a day. Insane. And about the bus question; we do ride the big yellow bus you see in movies and shows although its not as loud and crazy than in the movies
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