The German education system Most German children between the ages of 3 and 6 attend a German preschool, which is known as 'Kindergarten' or 'Kita' and they aren't run by the government, but by city or town administrations and local churches. German elementary schools are called 'Grundeschule'. After children have completed four years of elementary school, there are four options for secondary schooling. The most gifted children attend a 'Gymnasium' (grammar school) and graduate after grade twelve or thirteen with an 'Abitur', an exit exam which qualifies you for university. Then there is the 'Realschule', which students have to attend until grade ten. The least academic school is the 'Hauptschool' which students have to attend until grade nine and it's exit exam is either a 'Hauptschulabschluss' or, after another year, a 'Realschulabschluss'. The last one is the 'Gesamtschule' (comprehensive school), which all students are allowed to attend, regardless of their school performance. Most German schools are public schools. A great portion of the German universities is public, so student's mostly don't have to pay tuition fees or low ones. By the way, today's the Independence Day of Estonia!

#2 - Introduction Hello guys! My name is Izabella, but everyone I know calls me just Ella. I am fifteen years old and I live in the beautiful city of Cologne in Germany, which is actually the origin of the name for the perfume. My mother's family comes from Poland, to be more precise they are from Warsaw, where my uncle lives. I have one sister, Mia, who's ten years old. My hobbies are mainly playing tennis and reading. If you have a tumblr, contact me! I am in the ninth grade and go to the 'Gymnasium', which is not a German equivalent to high school. If you want to help me with English, French, or my poor Russian and Polish, send me a message, and especially if you need help with your German! Currently, I am pretty bored.

- #1. In my very first entry I'd like to tell you about my reasons to learn foreign languages. Since I am learning English and French in school, speaking these languages is important to me. Additionally, I want to be fluent in Russian for my career. I am also interested in many other languages, like Polish, because my family's from there, Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew and so much more. I have no idea why I like languages this much. It's just the ability to contact with people that attracts me somehow, I guess.