He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
#1
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Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
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He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
Having shifted 7yo to a British International school in Sept & after much worry warting if his Spanish would remain good (3 years in state school in village).... appointment with his Spanish teacher this morning, heś at the same level as many and better than some in his class. And they're all Spanish. Phew! Irony is some of the mums have told me they're p'd off there are so few Brits there whereas we're chuffed to bits his day is spent mainly in Spanish.
#2
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
Its amazing how children cope.
If only us adults could learn a language, even our English is crap sometimes
If only us adults could learn a language, even our English is crap sometimes
#3
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#4
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
If only there was an Oxford certificate in Spanenglish.
#5
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
Having shifted 7yo to a British International school in Sept & after much worry warting if his Spanish would remain good (3 years in state school in village).... appointment with his Spanish teacher this morning, heś at the same level as many and better than some in his class. And they're all Spanish. Phew! Irony is some of the mums have told me they're p'd off there are so few Brits there whereas we're chuffed to bits his day is spent mainly in Spanish.
The same at the international school my son attends! Lots of Spanish kids, they "mix n match" the languages in the playground and altho the lessons are predominantly taught in english, they also have shadow lessons in Spanish. Not all international schools are just for Bish, nor do they alienate the children from the Spanish, culture, language etc - they just happen to us the English curriculum alongside the Baccalaureat.
It seems that as a lot of Brits are leaving, the Spanish are filling the school places, cos they like the idea of their children picking up the english language this way instead of just thru english lessons!!!
Jo xxx
#6
Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
I've been told by a Spanish teacher (when I did a language course back in the 90s in Spain) that students from countries like Holland, where they leave school already with several languages, learn Spanish a lot quicker. This makes sense, but I wonder how they fit all those words in! It is impressive how quickly children can pick things up - to me the amazing thing is learning to read.
#7
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
English is the natural choice for Spain`s students.
It opens far more employment opportunities than learn French or German.
I deal with some small Spanish businesses,we communicate in English most of the time.
They also deal with other UK and US based firms.
I read recently that English was being stepped up a gear in all state schools in Spain.
My city in the UK has a huge Spanish student population.
It opens far more employment opportunities than learn French or German.
I deal with some small Spanish businesses,we communicate in English most of the time.
They also deal with other UK and US based firms.
I read recently that English was being stepped up a gear in all state schools in Spain.
My city in the UK has a huge Spanish student population.
#8
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
Having shifted 7yo to a British International school in Sept & after much worry warting if his Spanish would remain good (3 years in state school in village).... appointment with his Spanish teacher this morning, heś at the same level as many and better than some in his class. And they're all Spanish. Phew! Irony is some of the mums have told me they're p'd off there are so few Brits there whereas we're chuffed to bits his day is spent mainly in Spanish.
enhorabuena to you all.
#9
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
I'm glad to see that international schools are gaining a bit of credibility on the forum. When I have mentioned international schools in the past on here, its been met with some dissapproval as if I was being elitist, British or preventing my kids from intergrating. That isnt the case. Going on what I know of international schools they're full of all nationalities and languages. They have lessons in British, lessons in Spanish and extra language lessons in whatever for those who need it. The Spanish send their children to internationals because they understand the need for their children to be bilingual if they are to succeed in the international business world and a lesson twice a week doesnt necessarily bring total fluency!
As for intergrating, well theres time after school, weekends, holidays, clubs etc for that, if you feel its neessary, but education is education and has to be the best, sadly, if that means paying for it then so be it!
Jo xxx
As for intergrating, well theres time after school, weekends, holidays, clubs etc for that, if you feel its neessary, but education is education and has to be the best, sadly, if that means paying for it then so be it!
Jo xxx
#10
Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
I'm glad to see that international schools are gaining a bit of credibility on the forum. When I have mentioned international schools in the past on here, its been met with some dissapproval as if I was being elitist, British or preventing my kids from intergrating. That isnt the case. Going on what I know of international schools they're full of all nationalities and languages. They have lessons in British, lessons in Spanish and extra language lessons in whatever for those who need it. The Spanish send their children to internationals because they understand the need for their children to be bilingual if they are to succeed in the international business world and a lesson twice a week doesnt necessarily bring total fluency!
As for intergrating, well theres time after school, weekends, holidays, clubs etc for that, if you feel its neessary, but education is education and has to be the best, sadly, if that means paying for it then so be it!
Jo xxx
As for intergrating, well theres time after school, weekends, holidays, clubs etc for that, if you feel its neessary, but education is education and has to be the best, sadly, if that means paying for it then so be it!
Jo xxx
#12
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
I thought Spanish state schools taught English now.
#13
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
A few are just beginning to introduce a bilingual programme and are teaching lessons in both languages, in fact the state school my daughter has just started does this and already has a huge waiting list of Spanish parents who want their kids on this programme and its oversubscribed. But the majority of state schools have the usual English lesson twice a week, which teaches them English, but it doesnt teach them to be bilingual
Jo xxx
#14
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
Woudn`t it be better for them to learn more in Spanish in school and learn basic English at home.
#15
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Re: He's as good at Spanish as the Spanish! Yay!
The Spanish who can afford international schools are doing it the other way round arent they! Thats why there are so many Spanish in international schools
Jo xxx