South Africa - an exotic and extraordinary country of multi-ethnic culture and personality; combining sophisticated modernity with ancient tradition.

A high school day begins at 7.30am and the academic portion is usually concluded at 2.30pm. Most students attend some form of sport or cultural activity in afternoon and the school day ends at 4.30pm.  Homework and exam preparation is done at home but there is always plenty of time for a social life. Most South African schools are co-educational.

Cultural activities include music, chess, computer clubs, art, community outreach programs, youth leadership etc. School sport includes soccer, cricket, rugby, netball, hockey, swimming and athletics.    

South Africans attend school in uniform. Typical subject choices are as follows, but will differ from school to school. Every South African student has to study English. 

Grade Nine 

Compulsory Subjects

 English, Afrikaans or Zulu, Mathematics, General Science, History

 Geography, Woodwork or Home Economics, Life Orientation (Bible      

 Education, Guidance, Physical Education), Entrepreneurship

 One additional subject from:

 Art, Business Economics, Accounting

 Grades Ten, Eleven and Twelve

 Compulsory Examination Subjects

 English, Afrikaans or Zulu

 Four Subjects From:

 Mathematics, Physical Science, Biology, Geography, 

 History, Accounting, Woodwork, Home Economics, Art

 Business Economics, Computer Studies, Graphic Design

 Additional Subjects

 Career Guidance

 Optional 7th Subjects

 Additional Mathemcatics, Computer Studies, Chinese, Graphic Design

 Economics, Portuguese, French, German, Hebrew

Speaking English as a Foreign Language

South Africa has eleven national languages. Native English speaking South Africans are in the minority yet all South Africans speak English.

You may not feel completely comfortable speaking English the whole time, you might be wondering how you'll express yourself; how you'll communicate with store clerks, teachers, classmates and your host family,  but when you're surrounded by that language from morning till night, you learn the fastest way possible. It's like a month of class in a single day!.

 With your initial preparation, plus the constant exposure you'll have to the language, you'll be talking comfortably with your host family in just a few weeks. Within four months, you should speak English fluently and you may also be speaking some Afrikaans, Zulu, Sotho or even Venda!. You'll tell jokes and gossip with friends, even dream and speak to pets in the once foreign language. And the fluency you develop will give you a great advantage in your future schooling and career.