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Best education for my 10 year old.

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:53pm
4 replies104 views3 members subscribed
Mhairi13

Posts: 2

Location: Javea / Xàbia

Joined: 10 Jan 2019

Hi. I m thinking of moving to javea for a few months early this year with my 10 year old girl (11 in Feb). She would come back for her final year in primary school in Scotland in August/sept 2019. We have my parents holiday home near the siesta bar near the port, and have come out 2/3 times a year for the last 30 years so we know our way around. 

I always wanted to do this with our older 2, now 17 and 19 but were not in the position to do it then.

Ideally we would love her to be in a Spanish school, learn the language, make friends(she is sociable) with all nationalities.

A couple of questions? Has any one else done this? I’m an ex primary teacher so don’t have any concerns checking she is up to date with her schooling before she goes back to Scotland. What are the pros and cons for maybe doing it for 2 terms?

She loves gymnastics, plays saxophone, goes to hip hop dancing and loves learning and life and I wonder if anyone could recommend particular schools in Javea we should try?

When are the term dates in Spain?

Is there normally someone in a Spanish school that can speak English to stop her feeling isolated? 

Many thanks in advance,

Mhairi 

Cheryl

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:52am

Cheryl

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:52am

Hello Mhairi, as an ex primary school teacher, what does your experience tell you would happen to a non English speaking child spending two terms in UK at this stage of their education?
If holidaying in Spain 2 or 3 times a year has given her enough understanding to cope with the curriculum, and if you speak Spanish well enough for extra tutoring outside of school, it could possibly work, but what are you hoping for her to gain from this that taking Spanish lessons in the UK and holidaying in Spain on a regular basis wouldn´t?

Cheryl

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:48am

Cheryl

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:48am

Hello Ray, I wasn´t in any way trying to comment on the quality of Spanish education, more on the 2 terms bit, at this particular stage of education. In English classes, I would expect her to be a great help but would two terms be enough to not only learn the language but everything else as well? Long term, I fully accept your comments but without any knowledge of the amount of Spanish already spoken, I still can´t see how this would benefit her.

If the OP takes a look at this; https://www.expatica.com/es/education/children-education/education-system-103110/     it gives some good information, including term times and this piece: 

Lessons in Spanish state schools are taught in Spanish or sometimes in the regional language, such as Catalan or Basque. Schools usually assess the children’s ability in Spanish and if they need help with the language, they can be given extra lessons. Schools may put children in the appropriate class for their level of understanding – which could be with younger children – until their language has improved to the point that they can follow lessons with children of their own age. As a rule, the younger the child, the quicker the new language is acquired. Some children may have to repeat a year.

Some schools in areas where there are lot of expats offer intensive language or ‘bridge’ classes for the first few weeks alongside the usual curriculum. If a school does not offer extra help you may have to organise private lessons with a tutor or through a language centre in cities.

I´m just concerned how she will cope.

Mhairi13

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:35pm

Mhairi13

Original Poster

Posts: 2

Location: Javea / Xàbia

Joined: 10 Jan 2019

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:35pm

I’m hoping I’m misinterpreting the tone of your ‘help’. I have taught children in Scotland who come with no English and have watched them blossom very quickly with the right support, I can see from comments that there would be support with language. I am not expecting her to be grammatically perfect in Spanish, but I think this amount of time immersed in another culture/s and language , could have far wider educational, cultural and personal/social  benefits in her life. 

There is far more active learning and teaching methods in the curriculum  nowadays which again, I feel would be easier for her to integrate into.

Acceptance, tolerance, friendship and adventure cannot be measured by vocabulary and grammar. 

It would be interesting to hear opinions from people who have or have had children in particular primary schools in javea. I have been coming for over 30 years and my children since they were 10 weeks old. Many thanks for your constructive comments, Mhairi 

Cheryl

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:09pm

Cheryl

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:09pm

Hello Mhairi, I think you have misinterpreted my efforts to offer a perspective on this and provide some links which I hoped would help you further in making your decision. I had also hoped that it would encourage further discussion from people here who could offer further insight as to how their own children coped at different ages.
My comments are as a mother, like yourself. With my own daughter, my concerns would not only be how she would cope out here for two terms but how she would then re-integrate back into the UK system and of course that would include their emotional well-being such as how they would react to being in classes for younger children, if that was needed.

I´m not a teacher, which was why I asked about your experience in this type of situation, especially with short term changes. 

I was also lucky in being able to take my daughter abroad on a regular basis and I believe she benefited greatly from the experiences. She also has tolerance and the other qualities you mention.

My objective at the start of this was to give information, such as links to find out term dates and to mention what might turn out to be downsides. I don´t know how much research you have done already but wonder if you might be interested in this piece I found about Spanish summer camps for children which may offer an alternative.

https://www.languagecourse.net/schools--spain/junior

Whatever you decide, I hope it goes well.



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