Student
The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb studēre, meaning “to direct one’s zeal at”; hence a student could be described as “one who directs zeal at a subject”. In its widest use, student is used for anyone who is learning.
Australia
In Australia, after Kindergarten or Preschool, children begin primary school, starting with ‘grade prep’ (in New South Wales the first year is called Kindergarten, and in South Australia the first year is called ‘Reception’) and continuing ‘year one’, ‘year two’ through to ‘year six’, except in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, where they go through to ‘year seven’. They then move on to secondary school (also known as high school) for ‘year seven’ (‘year eight’ in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland) through to ‘year twelve’. After year twelve, students may pursue tertiary education at university or TAFE (technical and further education). Children in primary and secondary school are all referred to as students. The term student is used for all learners including primary school, secondary school and university/TAFE.
[edit] Canada
In Canada, special terms are occasionally used. In English provinces, the high school (known as Academy or secondary school) years can be referred to simply as first, second, third and fourth year. Some areas call it by grade such as Grade 10, Grade 11 and Grade 12. Provincial variations can include Grade 9 in High School, though in most provinces, Grades 10 through 12 are considered High School, with Grades 1 through 6 called “Elementary School” and Grades 6 through 9 called “Middle School” or “Junior High School” in some provinces. In university, students are classified as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-year students. In some occasions, they can be called Senior Ones, Twos, Threes, and Fours. First years are commonly known as “frosh”, and the first week of university for first year students is commonly known as Frosh week.
Continental Europe
In Belgian universities, first-year students are called schacht in Dutch. In French, a bleu or “bizuth” is a first-year student. Second-year students are often called “carré” (square). Some other terms may apply in specific schools, some depending on the Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles attended. In Germany the term “Student” is reserved for those attending a college. Often it is shortened to “Studi” College freshmen are called Erstis. Different terms for School-Students exist, depending on which school is attended by the student. The ones attending a university preparatory school are called Gymnasiasten, while those attending other schools are called Hauptschüler or Realschüler. Students, who graduate with the Abitur are called Abiturient. Those attending a university preparatory school may also referred to with different words depending on grade level.
[edit] United Kingdom and Ireland
In the past, the term “student” was reserved for people studying at University level in the U.K. Children studying at school were called pupils or schoolchildren (or schoolboys or schoolgirls). However, the American-English use of the word “student” to include pupils of all ages, even at elementary level, is now spreading to Britain (particularly in the state sector), as also other places where British English is primarily used, such as Australia and Singapore. In South Africa, the term “learner” is also used.
In England and Wales, teenagers who attend a college or secondary school for further education are typically called “sixth formers”. If pupils follow the average pattern of school attendance, pupils will be in the “lower sixth” between the ages of 16 and 17, and the “upper sixth” between 17 and 18, however many schools still refer to them as “Year 12″ and “Year 13″. They “go up” to University after the upper sixth.
In Scotland pupils sit Highers at the end of fifth year (when aged 16–17) after which it is possible for them to gain entry to university. However, many do not achieve the required grades and remain at school for sixth year. Even among those that do achieve the necessary grades it is common to remain at school and undertake further study (i.e. other subjects or Advanced Highers) and then start university at the same time as their friends and peers.
At universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland the term “fresher” is used to describe new students who are just beginning their first year. Although it is not unusual to call someone a fresher after their first few weeks at University, they are typically referred to as first years. There is little derogatory connotation to this name in the UK, except for an occasional reference to “freshers” in a tone that implies naivety. More commonly, it will be used in a kindly fashion. For instance, a University official might ask a student if they are a fresher without any hint of a put down.
At Trinity College Dublin under-graduate students are called, according to which year they are in, Junior Freshmen, Senior Freshmen, Junior Sophister or Senior Sophister, taking in the usual four year degree course. Sophister is another term for Sophomore, though the term is rarely used in other institutions and is largely limited to Trinity College Dublin.
The term, “first year” is the more commonly used and connotation free term for students in their first year. The week at the start of a new year is called “Freshers’ Week” or “Welcome Week”, with a programme of special events to welcome new students. An undergraduate in the last year of study before graduation is generally known as a “finalist.”
The ancient Scottish University of St Andrews uses the terms “bejant” for a first year (from the French “bec-jaune” – “yellow beak”, “fledgling”). Second years are called “semi-bejants”, third years are known as “tertians”, and fourth years, or others in their final year of study, are called “magistrands”.
For school pupils, first of all is primary school and it starts off with an optional “nursery” year followed by Reception (similar to Kindergarten) and then move on to “year one, year two” and so on until “year six”. In state schools, children join secondary school when they are 11–12 years old in what used to be called “first form” and is now known as “year 7″. They go up to year 11 (formerly “fifth form”) and then join the sixth form, either at the same school or at a separate Sixth form college. A student entering a private, fee-paying school (usually at age 13) would join the “third form” — equivalent to year 9. Many schools have an alternate name for first years, some with a derogatory basis, but in others acting merely as a description — for example “shells” (non-derogatory) or “grubs” (derogatory).
In Northern Ireland it is very similar but with some differences. Pupils start off in nursery or Reception at aged 3 to 4, and then start primary school in “P1″ (P standing for primary) or year 1. They then continue primary school until “P7″ or year 7. After that they start secondary school at 11 years old, this is called “1st year” or year 8. They continue secondary school until the age of 16 at “5th year” or year 12, and then it is the choice of the individual pupil to decide to continue in school and do As level (known as “lower sixth”) and then the next year to do A levels (known as “upper sixth”). Or they can leave and go into full time employment or to start in a technical collage.
For school pupils in the Republic of Ireland, firstly there is Junior School, which usually consists of three years, Junior Infants, Senior Infants and First Class, ages 5-7, then they advance to Primary School, 2nd Class to 6th Class, ages 8 – 12. They then go up to Secondary school level. Here students will first enter their Junior Cycle which consists of 1st Year to 3rd Year. At the end of their 3rd Year all students must sit a compulsory state examination called the Junior Certificate. After 3rd year, pupils have the option of taking a “transition” year or 4th year, where students take a break from regular studies to pursue other activities that helps to promote the personal, social, vocational and educational development of students and prepares them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society, while also provides a bridge to enable them to make the transition from the more dependent type of learning associated with the Junior Certificate to the more independent learning environment associated with the Senior cycle. This year is optional not all pupils are required to complete this year in Secondary School. They then advance to the Senior Cycle, 5th Year and 6th Year. At the end of the 6th Year another state examination is required to be sat by all students, known as the Leaving Certificate. The Leaving Certificate is the basis for all Irish pupils to advance to Higher Education via a points system. A maximum of 600 points can be achieved. All Higher Education Courses have a minimum of points needed in order to gain a place on that course.
[edit] United States
In the United States, the first official year of schooling is called kindergarten, hence the students are kindergarteners. Kindergarten is optional in most states, but few students skip this level. Pre-kindergarten, also known as “preschool” is becoming a standard of education as academic expectations for the youngest students continues to rise. Many public schools offer pre-kindergarten programs.
There are 12 years of mandatory schooling. The first eight are solely referred to by numbers (e.g. 1st grade, 5th grade) so students may be referred to as 1st graders, 5th graders, etc. Grades 9 through 12 (high school) have alternate names for students, namely freshman, sophomore, junior and senior.
[edit] Before first year
Some high schools and tertiary institutions use the term “prefrosh” or “pre-frosh” to describe their newly admitted students. Schools often offer a campus preview weekend for prefroshes to know the schools better. Students are considered prefroshes until they register for the first class.
[edit] First year
A Freshman (slang alternatives that are usually derogatory in nature include “fish”, “new-g”, “fresher”, “frosh”, “newbie”, “freshie”, “snotter”, “fresh-meat”, etc.) is a first-year student in college, university or high school. The less-common[citation needed] gender-neutral synonym “first-year student” exists; the variation “freshperson” is rare.[citation needed]
In many traditions there is a remainder of the ancient (boarding, pre-commuting) tradition of fagging. The student may also be subjected to a period of hazing or ragging as a pledge(r) or rookie, especially if joining a fraternity/sorority or certain other clubs, mainly athletic teams. For example, many high schools have initiation methods for freshmen, including, but not limited to, Freshman Duct-taped Throw, Freshman races, Freshman Orientation, Freshman Freshening (referring to poor hygiene among freshmen), and the Freshman Spread.
Even after that, specific rules may apply depending on the school’s traditions (e.g., wearing a distinctive beanie), non-observance of which may result in punishment in which the paddle may come into play.
[edit] Second year
In the U.S., a sophomore is a second-year student. Folk etymology has it that the word means “wise fool”; consequently “sophomoric” means “pretentious, bombastic, inflated in style or manner; immature, crude, superficial” (according to the Oxford English Dictionary). It appears to be most likely formed from Greek “sophos”, meaning “wise”, and “moros” meaning “foolish”, although it may also have separately originated from the word “sophumer”, an obsolete variant of “sophism”[1]. Outside the USA the term “sophomore” is rarely used, with second-year students simply called “second years”. The term “sophomore” is hardly known in Great Britain
