For many years the school system in Finland has been very successful. In the PISA survey, which compares reading, math and science knowledge of 15 year olds around the world, shows Finland is not only the top European country but also competes with Asian giants like China, Singapore and South Korea. But what makes the educational system in this small country so different from others in the western world?
The main reason is the Finish government makes it possible for all children to attend preschool, which comes after kindergarten. Compulsory education begins at 7. Teachers work with their pupils in school as much as possible. They have little homework to do when they get home. When teachers are not with the pupils they spend a lot of time in schools working on the curriculum and new projects. They teach in teams if it helps them reach their goals. That is why dropout rates are low compared to other countries.
In contrast to other nations, teaching in Finland is a highly admired profession. Finland selects its teachers very carefully. Only talented students go on to a university and receive a master’s degree in education. Finland only takes the best to educate its youth.
Schools in Finland are small, at least for international standards. More than in any other country teachers are ready to prepare children for life. In some cases they know every pupil in their school and can adjust to them. Teachers try everything to succeed with their pupils. Most of the pupils get additional help in their elementary school years, either by the teachers themselves or through specially trained educators. Moreover Finland’s schools get their money from the government. The people who are in charge of the education system, from teachers to administrators are trained teachers, not politicians like in other countries.
All Finnish children, whether they come from the city or a rural town, whether from a rich or poor family have the same opportunities in education. Education experts claim that there is very little difference between very good and the worst students. Two thirds of Finish pupils who finish compulsory education move on to higher education, the highest rate in the European Union.
Until the 1960s Finland’s school system had been influenced largely by its neighbor, the Soviet Union. Most students left school after six years; some went on to private school. Only the wealthy ones got a better education. In the middle of the 1960s the Finish government saw the need to change and modernize their education system if they wanted to be internationally competitive. Lawmakers made a simple decision: a single school for all the 7 to 16 year olds. They also put a focus on language learning. Students learn Swedish as their second and English as their third language.
A part of Finland’s success is also due to the fact that its society is homogenous. There are not so many differences between the wealthy and poor, as in America or other western European countries. This is reflected in the classroom too. Teachers always try to show pupils how to behave socially and care for others. They teach them that taking responsibility is very important for their future careers.
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Mengapa Sekolah-Sekolah di Finlandia Begitu Berhasil?
Selama bertahun-tahun sistem sekolah di Finlandia terbilang sangat sukses. Berdasarkan survei PISA, yang membandingkan pengetahuan dalam membaca, matematika, dan sains siswa berusia 15 tahun di seluruh dunia, Finlandia tidak hanya menduduki peringkat teratas di Eropa, tetapi juga bersaing dengan raksasa Asia seperti Tiongkok, Singapura, dan Korea Selatan. Namun, apa yang membuat sistem pendidikan di negara kecil ini sangat berbeda dari negara barat lainnya?
Alasan utama yaitu pemerintah Finlandia menjamin anak-anak untuk mendapatkan pendidikan prasekolah, yang dilakukan setelah taman kanak-kanak (TK). Pendidikan wajib dimulai pada usia 7 tahun. Guru berinteraksi dengan para siswa di sekolah sesering mungkin. Selain itu, mereka tidak banyak mendapat pekerjaan rumah (PR) untuk dikerjakan. Ketika guru tidak mengajar, mereka menghabiskan banyak waktu di sekolah mengerjakan kurikulum dan proyek baru. Mereka mengajar dalam tim jika itu membantu mereka mencapai tujuan. Itulah mengapa angka putus sekolah rendah di Finlandia dibandingkan dengan negara lain.
Berbeda dengan negara lain, mengajar atau menjadi Guru adalah profesi yang sangat dikagumi di Finlandia. Guru yang direkrut dan dipilih pun dilakukan dengan sangat hati-hati. Hanya siswa berbakat yang melanjutkan ke universitas dan menerima gelar master dalam pendidikan. Finlandia berusaha memberikan yang terbaik untuk mendidik generasi mudanya.
Kebanyakan sekolah di Finlandia relatif kecil, setidaknya untuk standar internasional. Dibandingkan dengan negara lain, guru siap untuk mendidik anak-anak demi masa depan mereka. Dalam beberapa kasus, mereka mengenal setiap siswa di sekolah mereka agar dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan mereka. Para guru mencoba segala cara untuk membuat siswa mereka berhasil. Sebagian besar siswa mendapatkan bantuan tambahan di masa pendidikan sekolah dasar, baik oleh guru itu sendiri atau melalui pendidik yang terlatih. Terlebih lagi, sekolah di Finlandia mendapatkan dana dari pemerintah. Orang-orang yang bertanggung jawab atas sistem pendidikan, dari guru hingga administrator adalah tenaga didik terlatih, bukan politisi seperti di negara lain.
Semua anak di Finlandia, baik mereka berasal dari kota maupun desa, baik dari keluarga kaya maupun miskin, memiliki kesempatan yang sama dalam pendidikan. Para pakar pendidikan menyatakan bahwa hanya sedikit perbedaan antara siswa yang sangat baik dan yang terburuk. Dua pertiga siswa Finlandia yang menyelesaikan pendidikan wajib melanjutkan ke pendidikan tinggi, tingkat tertinggi di Uni Eropa.
Sampai tahun 1960-an sistem sekolah Finlandia telah mendapat banyak pengaruh oleh negara tetangga, Uni Soviet. Sebagian besar siswa putus sekolah setelah enam tahun; beberapa diantaranya melanjutkan ke sekolah swasta. Hanya yang berasal dari keluarga kaya yang mendapatkan pendidikan yang lebih baik. Pada pertengahan 1960-an, pemerintah Finlandia sadar untuk mengubah dan memodernisasi sistem pendidikan mereka jika mereka ingin bersaing secara internasional. Anggota legislatif membuat keputusan sederhana: sekolah tunggal untuk semua anak berusia 7 hingga 16 tahun. Mereka juga fokus pada pembelajaran bahasa. Siswa belajar bahasa Swedia sebagai bahasa kedua dan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa ketiga mereka.
Alasan lain dari kesuksesan Finlandia juga karena fakta bahwa masyarakatnya homogen. Tidak begitu banyak perbedaan antara yang kaya dan miskin, seperti di Amerika atau negara-negara Eropa Barat lainnya. Hal ini terjadi di kelas juga. Guru selalu berusaha menunjukkan kepada siswa bagaimana hidup bersosial dan peduli pada orang lain. Mereka mengajarkan siswa bahwa tanggung jawab itu sangat penting untuk karir mereka di masa mendatang.
Contoh Artikel Bahasa Inggris Tentang Teknologi
artikel teknologi
The International Space Station
The International Space Station is a large satellite that orbits the Earth at an altitude of between 300 and 460 km. It travels at a speed of 27,000 km an hour (17 000 mph). The space station serves as a laboratory for scientific experiments in many fields. The spacecraft is also used to make tests for future missions that will travel to Mars and other planets. It is not owned by a single country. It is a project carried out by the space agencies of many nations. Japan, Russia , the USA and European countries have sent astronauts and scientists to the space station in the last decade.
The first part of the ISS was launched into orbit by the Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1998. Since then Russian and American spacecraft have been delivering modules to expand the space station. During this period of time crews have been constantly arriving and leaving the ISS. The space station, with its over 30 modules, had finished in 2012 and will stay in orbit until at least 2020.
Due to zero gravity, scientists on the ISS can carry out experiments that cannot be done on Earth. They check out the effects that zero gravity has on plants and animals, or they can mix together fluids which react differently in space. Scientists on Earth can watch the experiments or carry out new ones. They can also monitor the crew’s data. Even students around the world can take part in certain ISS experiments and compare results.
Living on the ISS for a longer period gives researchers an insight on how the human body changes when it is exposed to weightlessness for a longer time. This data is important in order to see how astronauts react when they go on a longer trip, for example to Mars. Such an expedition would take almost three years to complete.
The atmosphere that is created on board the ISS is like the earth’s atmosphere.
The food that the astronauts eat is mostly frozen and canned. There are kitchen appliances, like warmers and refrigerators on board. Drinks are made by adding water to powder. Waste is collected in bags and then carried away by an air stream.
The space station gets its power from solar sails that turn the sun’s energy into electricity. They are much more efficient that than the solar cells on Earth. Some of the energy is turned into heat which keeps the space station at the same temperature all the time. Oxygen is delivered to the ISS by spacecraft from earth. It can also make breathable air from recycled water .
A typical day for the ISS crew begins at six o’clock. After breakfast they have a conference with ground controllers before work starts. A lunch break and more work and exercises lead them up to 19.30. Then they have dinner, another conference and go to sleep at about ten.
Although low earth orbit partly protects the ISS astronauts from radiation, they still are exposed to radiation levels that are five times higher than those in a passenger airplane. There are a number of health risks in long-term space travel. Muscles and bones become weaker. Pumping blood into the heart slows down and the immune system weakens. To prevent this from happening, astronauts and scientists have to exercise regularly. For this purpose there is equipment for weightlifting, a stationary bicycle and a treadmill on board. Microgravity is similar to what we experience when we get older. So scientists can get new insights on the aging process.
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