British kids in schools in Spain

[Pesky Wesky]

Some of you may want to comment on this
Overseas education: British kids experience education problems in Spain - Analysis - TES Connect

And whilst we're on the subject of education...
I've seen lots of factual stuff on other forums, but what I haven't seen is a wide spectrum of more subjective views on the types of education available here, comparisons to the UK, advatages and disadvantages etc. Just a lot of different peoples' views and experiences together in one thread. Any contributions to be made??

[SteveHall]

Thanks for posting, very interesting. Thought-provoking, even

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

Some of you may want to comment on this
Overseas education: British kids experience education problems in Spain - Analysis - TES Connect

And whilst we're on the subject of education...
I've seen lots of factual stuff on other forums, but what I haven't seen is a wide spectrum of more subjective views on the types of education available here, comparisons to the UK, advatages and disadvantages etc. Just a lot of different peoples' views and experiences together in one thread. Any contributions to be made??

OOPs, sorry, maybe this wasn't clear.
What i haven't seen is lot of different peoples' views and experiences together in one thread, and that's what I would be interested to see.

[jojo]

Well this is my opinion of the Spanish education system based on my daughters 6 month trial at a state school.

The teachers were strict but friendly which I liked. The Spanish pupils were fine, the english pupils there were in the main not intergrating, were not academic, not interested in learning anything and were simply there cos the law states they have to go to school (altho it would be interesting to know what their attendance records were like!!). As a result the school tried to put on extra Spanish lessons and extra homework to help, but the english kids didnt bother and I suspect their parents could or wouldnt help them because of a variety of reasons!!. My daughter didnt really get on with the Spanish cos they didnt like the english kids and the english kids werent really her type! She did make friends with a Spànish bilingual girl who was sweet, but unfortunately hanging around with a "guiri" wasnt the done thing.

I would conclude that there alot of British families who move out here without giving their childrens schooling much thought and dont take it seriously. Its fine when they're tiny and can start without prejudice and open to learning, but as they get older they will fall into the "tribal" them and us. It may not be a violent war, but its an undercurrent. I dont blame the Spanish kids or the education system, I think its cos there are too many British in these schools and they herd together, its actually better if there are only one or two in a school, then they're more of a novelty and not a "pack". Whats really needed in my opinion are some State British schools, where they are taught the Spanish curriculum and gradually learn the spanish language.

Jo xxx

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by jojo

Well this is my opinion of the Spanish education system based on my daughters 6 month trial at a state school.

The teachers were strict but friendly which I liked. The Spanish pupils were fine, the english pupils there were in the main not intergrating, were not academic, not interested in learning anything and were simply there cos the law states they have to go to school (altho it would be interesting to know what their attendance records were like!!). As a result the school tried to put on extra Spanish lessons and extra homework to help, but the english kids didnt bother and I suspect their parents could or wouldnt help them because of a variety of reasons!!. My daughter didnt really get on with the Spanish cos they didnt like the english kids and the english kids werent really her type! She did make friends with a Spànish bilingual girl who was sweet, but unfortunately hanging around with a "guiri" wasnt the done thing.

I would conclude that there alot of British families who move out here without giving their childrens schooling much thought and dont take it seriously. Its fine when they're tiny and can start without prejudice and open to learning, but as they get older they will fall into the "tribal" them and us. It may not be a violent war, but its an undercurrent. I dont blame the Spanish kids or the education system, I think its cos there are too many British in these schools and they herd together, its actually better if there are only one or two in a school, then they're more of a novelty and not a "pack". Whats really needed in my opinion are some State British schools, where they are taught the Spanish curriculum and gradually learn the spanish language.

Jo xxx

I have no first hand experience of this given that my kids finished their education in the UK ... But I would suggest that part of the problem with integration for the older kids is compounded by the fact that their parents dont speak or write Spanish either - so with the best will in the World on the part of the schools in giving additional homework and extra Spanish lessons - if the kids parents cant sit down and help them with it, or encourage them to work at it (given that they arent learning themselves!) theres little hope for the kids to crack on with it.

Sue x

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

I have no first hand experience of this given that my kids finished their education in the UK ... But I would suggest that part of the problem with integration for the older kids is compounded by the fact that their parents dont speak or write Spanish either - so with the best will in the World on the part of the schools in giving additional homework and extra Spanish lessons - if the kids parents cant sit down and help them with it, or encourage them to work at it (given that they arent learning themselves!) theres little hope for the kids to crack on with it.

Sue x

Yes!! I think parent interest is also an issue in some areas. I dont know, but I'm sure there are a lot of parents who come over here for the relaxing lifestyle who send their kids to school without a care or a thought of how they're getting on. In fact I'm sure for some its actually a nuisance to have to get up in the mornings to get their children there on time and possibly dont bother half the time!!

Jo xxxx

[SteveHall]

Originally Posted by jojo

In fact I'm sure for some its actually a nuisance to have to get up in the mornings to get their children there on time and possibly dont bother half the time!!

Jo xxxx

Exactly! 52% truancy in the summer term at my local school ..... usually from the expat kids and specifically the nuisance ones so the teachers would "hacer el sueco" (turn a blind eye) to it.

As I have noted many times, when a schools' inspector was assigned to Torrevieja he was quoted in Información "What crime have I committed to merit Torrevieja?"

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

Some of you may want to comment on this
Overseas education: British kids experience education problems in Spain - Analysis - TES Connect

And whilst we're on the subject of education...
I've seen lots of factual stuff on other forums, but what I haven't seen is a wide spectrum of more subjective views on the types of education available here, comparisons to the UK, advatages and disadvantages etc. Just a lot of different peoples' views and experiences together in one thread. Any contributions to be made??

interesting report - backs up a lot of what I've been saying over the past few years

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

OOPs, sorry, maybe this wasn't clear.
What i haven't seen is lot of different peoples' views and experiences together in one thread, and that's what I would be interested to see.

I will write a long reply later


right now I'm off to watch fama a bailar!! in spanish



I'm still waiting for a drool smiley

[Tallulah]

Originally Posted by xabiachica

I will write a long reply later


right now I'm off to watch fama a bailar!! in spanish



I'm still waiting for a drool smiley

Was that you on the comments section, Xab?? So true, so true......