Well, today was the first day of maturita testing. I have to say, it is quite an interesting process. Most of my students were so nervous. They have a computer program that randomly selects a topic number 1-25. Then the students have 15 minutes to prepare a short speech on the topic (it should be at least 10 minutes), read a short article and be prepared to answer questions from it. They also are given some basic grammar exercises to do. I was surprised how unprepared some of my students were. The topics don't differ much from year to year so they should have known most of the info. The students who got Canada and Australia knew very little on those subjects. Granted, I don't know much about those two countries myself, but I would have made a point to learn it for my graduating exam if I knew it was my only shot.

One student got the topic "Social Problems of the World." He had to describe the social problems here in the Czech Republic. He said that there were problems with the Gypsies but it wasn't a social problem or racial. The problem lies with the Gypsies themselves. I was flabbergasted by the things he said. Gypsies are horribly discriminated against here. They are segregated in schools and usually can't get hired. So they are unemployed and need government subsistence. This student doesn't believe the Gypsy (Roma) population should get assistance. He thinks they are just lazy. He said that anyone who really wanted to work could find a job. Good luck in a country with about 15% unemployment. He had no facts to back up his opinions. David and I tried to ask him questions to help dig him out of the hole he had dug, to no avail. I asked him, "What about the people who try to get jobs but are turned away because they are Roma?" He didn't believe that it happens. I guess he never reads the papers or watches the news. This student almost failed. He received a 4. Five is the lowest and means failure. He didn't receive such a low grade because of his opinion. Stating his opinion is not wrong, but he was being tested on facts and his ability to articulate them in English, which he did very poorly. He made horrible grammar mistakes. So don't think he was punished for his ghastly opinions. He wasn't.

Anyway, tomorrow is round two and afterwards there will be a BBQ. Yee Haw!! I asked if it would be a Texas BBQ to which one student replied, "It will be if you come!" I'll see what I can do about that! I'll update you on tomorrow's tests and BBQ. Should be interesting. By the way....it snowed here yesterday morning, really!!!