I simply plan to give a true picture, based on experiences from parents and teachers. Aloha College. The English School of Asturias. Under these circumstances, or if you have older children or if you’re living in Spain short-term, an international school might be a better option. In Spain, it is compulsory for all children to attend school between the ages of 6 and 16. Some international schools in Spain are also subsidized, follow a bilingual (English/Spanish) curriculum and are also authorized to accept both Spanish and foreign pupils. The third language program currently includes Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin). https://familylifeinspain.com/2016/09/secondary-education-in-spain/, https://familylifeinspain.com/2013/02/education-in-spain-division/, https://familylifeinspain.com/2010/11/education-in-spain-our-story-i/. Our children never fail to amaze me. How happy are you with the level of English of the teachers giving the classes? El Limonar Monteprincipe is a bilingual education center for pupils from the age of 3 to 8 years old. All students commence a third language in Year 7, which may be continued as an elective subject from Year 9. We love Family Life In Spain. Some 95% of Spanish students at bilingual schools have chosen to be taught in English.” Regional differences in bilingual education “There are notable differences between bilingual education in each of Spain’s regions, especially when it comes to the English skills required of teachers. In this article, we discuss the Spanish education system and outline what to consider when selecting a bilingual school for your child. He has a talent for connecting with everyone he meets that shines at his school too. They are required to teach the Spanish curriculum, including primary and … 2. Our priorities are to work with National and Regional Authorities in Spain to establish best practice in teaching and learning in bilingual schools.”, https://www.britishcouncil.es/en/partnerships/success-stories/bilingual. The popularity of bilingual schools has risen so dramatically that, . “We have been working since 1996 with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to support the implementation, development and evaluation of bilingual and bicultural education throughout Spain. By having native English teachers teaching the language. Another advantage of studying abroad … He spent one year at a local village school in Arenas near Velez Malaga and then stayed at CEIP San Sebastián in Mijas Pueblo from age five to twelve. However, if you aren’t a competent Spanish speaker, you may find this challenging. As you can see from the sample answers above, my own research into local schools, in the Malaga area, highlighted what I had already been lead to believe by other parents and friends working in the education sector: Needless to say, this does not make our role as a parent any easier when choosing the best school for our children! Too many kids are unable to say or write a simple sentence after 6 years of English…. Some experts argue that it has been rolled out too quickly where demand is high, thus compromising the quality of education. From the year they turned three, both our children attended local state-run schools in Spain. 239 30850 Totana, Murcia, Spain Tel: 34 968 424386 The rest had studied English and primary teaching.”, “My kids attend a semi-private school (colegio concertado) but they follow the Comunidad de Madrid curriculum. In regards to the Madrid bilingual program, there are now 336 primary schools, 98 secondary schools, and 163 private schools. Hence this research … My current beliefs may not reflect the true picture. A two-way program is intended for both native Spanish speakers and native English speakers. The following two tabs change content below. When researching secondary options for our children, I struggled to find schools offering what I believed to be “bilingual” education. Jump forward eight years and aged eleven, our strong-willed, independent, caring and intelligent daughter had developed strong roots and was ready to spread her wings. For instance, it’s likely you’ll find helping with homework or communicating with teachers difficult. Today, there is an integrated bilingual curriculum for 89 primary and 56 secondary schools across Spain. In the 2016-2017 period, that figure had jumped 360% to 1.1 million, according to an EL PAÍS study of data from the Education Ministry. Not only is it shown to increase cognitive capacity, but it also creates a vast amount of future opportunities – especially when it comes to a language as widely spoken as Spanish. Educational leaders like Dr. Sanchez implement policies for bilingual education. The same is true in Andalusia, where 30.5% of elementary school students and 28.6% of high school students study in English. Spanish 300/300H fulfills GE area C3. “I believe that a school that advertises itself as “bilingual” should offer an equal number of subjects in each language.ie. School address: Urbanización Torrequebrada, Calle Ronda del Golf Este, 7 – 11, 29639 Benalmádena, Málaga After the bilingual program was launched in 2004, the Andalusian regional government allowed. El Limonar Monteprincipe is a bilingual education center for pupils from the age of 3 to 8 years old. And I’m not talking about learning hundreds of (useless) vocabulary lists. In Asturias, where more students study in English than any other region (52.3% in elementary school and 33.7% in high school), teachers only need to have an intermediate level (B2). Quality of life Every child is different and our role as parents is to decide what we believe to be best for them. Sunland international School (SUNLAN) Asturias. Before sharing my findings and thoughts on bilingual schools in Spain, I’d like to share our Spanish education story so far with you …. Spain has many entirely independent private schools which include international schools and bilingual schools. We wanted our children to be educated in their mother tongue, in English, as well as their adopted Spanish. The Columbus School. Both educational systems offer excellent opportunities for learning, so you can choose the school that’s right for you with confidence. I do not intend to make any school look good or bad. International schools in other Spanish locations Caxton College. ” articles you can read lots of advice and experiences that may help you to make up your own mind on what is best for your own child. However, a recent article in El Pais has criticised the project. When we think of a bilingual school, it is easy to assume that all classes must be taught in both of the chosen languages fairly equally, but in Spain that is not the case owing to a shortage of … https://familylifeinspain.com/2018/03/bilingual-education-spain-time-make-decision. SEK has day school and boarding options, both at a pretty penny. International Schools With 2 of its locations in the community of Madrid, SEK International is one of the most prestigious school systems in the country (#13 in El Mundo). “We began without qualified teachers, and CLIL training – the European methodology to learn a new language through other subjects such as mathematics – is voluntary. And they are really good at teaching! 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