SaritaBarcelona

A discussion started on another thread about children in Spain. I thought it would be interesting to discuss how everybody finds life for their expat kids, how they adapt at school, how they cope with being bi- or even trilingual, how they get on with their Spanish counterparts.

For example, my three year old son is English and Colombian by birth, born and brought up in Catalonia up to now, which is technically (!) Spain. He speaks English and Spanish quite well, used Catalan (not so well...!) at nursery and now school when he starts, and seems suited to the Spanish way of life. We do not insist on a 7pm bedtime, and he eats his meals with us, eating virtually the same food. We are intrigued to know what his accent will be like when it is consolidated! He will probably be a mixed up kid in terms of not knowing where he is from, but we are sure that the benefits of such a multi-cultural upbringing will have its rewards. Does anyone have a child that has grown up like this and is now an adult? I would be interested to hear how they turn out and how to avoid pitfalls.

cricketman

I dont think you need to worry. Language and friends are the key. If your children socialise with a Spanish circle of friends then they will feel Spanish. And if they speak English fluent, have some British friends and have a good knowledge of the UK, then they will integrate easily there if they ever want to move there

I know some kids who have gone to international school their whole lives in the CDS, have now left school, dont speak Spanish so are obviously not Spanish in any way, but dont really feel English as they have never lived in the UK.

These guys I feel sorry for as they have no culture or identity to relate to. A lot of them go round like they've watched too much MTV

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

My kids go to international school and far from not being able to speak spanish they've learnt it better than when my daughter was in state school, they have spanish class mates - lots of em and they have spanish lessons everyday and one lesson of "como" (spanish culture, history) taught in spanish. In fact the play ground is a fascinating palce, the kids flit from language to language in mid sentence, its really weird. The spanish kids speak english, the english speak spanish and the others "mix n match"!!!!!!!!

As for their identity, well they're international!!! They feel happy in the UK and Spain... and anywhere else I hope, they havent got restrictions and I like to think when they're grown and working, they wont be frightened of moving countries. Intergration is great, but at the mo Spain has enough of its own kids and high unemployment.

Just my view, which I guess is an obvious one LOL

Jo xxx

cricketman

Wisely you've chosen a great international school

I didnt mean all international schools, just the one these kids I know went to which didnt do the things you mentioned above

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

Its a long story, but due to my sons age when we arrived here 13, it didnt seem right to us to stick him into a state school, my daughter was 11 and she tried state school for 6 months but was so unhappy we had to take her out and put her into international too!!! But it is a brilliant school and we chose it because it was a very relaxed, friendly and laid back school, but very strict at the same time, in the middle of fields and the campo!

However, the interesting thing at the mo is the credit crunch seems to have thinned out alot of the british kids in the school, BUT has increased the Spanish!! They obviously feel that its the best way for their kids to learn english! So we noiw have a situation at the school whereby there are as many if not more Spanish in the school! No bad thing in my opinion cos they all intergrate with each other and learn each others language and I guess cos the school is predominantly english (english curriculum, teachers etc), there isnt the same "you're a foriegner, them and us" attitude that you may get (that we found) in the state schools

Jo xxxx

jackytoo

Many of the decent Inernational schools on the CDS are now doing bi-lingual courses. These have attracted many well-off Spaniards who see the benefits of this. How well do you know the CDS?

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

Well I live near Málaga and the school mine attend is in Cartama


Jo xxx

jackytoo

Got mixed up I was asking Cricket man as I thought he was in Asturias

cricketman

I'm living in CDS at the moment, my family have lived here for 10 years. My brothers went to school here - and I have some friends who went to school here too

I've also lived in Oviedo and Barcelona. My OH is Asturiana

jackytoo

Really got mixed up, all is explained now, what about the UK knowledge? You post as an expert on there too

HBG

I don’t know if this is appropriate for this thread, but I moved countries at the age of 12, not through choice, and it was horrible, and it left scars, and I’ve hated my mother and stepfather ever since.

Of course I got used to my new foreign friends, I didn’t have any choice, but the hatred never died, they’re both dead now and I still feel it.

SaritaBarcelona

I don't think it is inappropriate HBG, the idea is to discuss children living in Spain, and how it may affect them for good or for bad, there is no real thread to this thread if you see what I mean. It is a shame you had that experience. Was it the country you found difficult or the way that you yourself were treated there? I imagine that even if you don't like a place, if the people are warm, it is not as bad. I would be interested to hear, but if it is painful, obviously you may prefer not to discuss it.

lynnxa

I know kids like that too

cricketman

Woh, you wont to know everything about me!

I grew up in the UK, went to uni in the UK and spent 5 years working in London after uni

Does that help you? Am I qualified to have opinions now?

lynnxa