Most “bilingual” schools simply offered a couple of subjects that were taught in English. Why choosing a Boarding School in Spain? Top international schools in Valencia and Alicante, Comparing some of the best international schools in Alicante. Since 1996, the British Council has made a significant investment in bilingual education, alongside the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Their Montessori approach, combined with an English curriculum is aimed at allowing students to enter into British secondary schools either in the UK or abroad. In Madrid however, where 43.8% of primary school students and 27.6% of secondary students take classes in English, teachers must have an advanced level of English (C1). The Columbus School is one of the most sought-after bilingual schools in Medellin. In our “education in Spain” 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. If a bilingual education program is broken into a standard 50/50 split during the school day, students who do struggle with the new language may find themselves focused on the second language only. Successful graduates can choose from a range of positions within the bilingual education context. , where 30.5% of elementary school students and 28.6% of high school students study in English. We soon learnt that this performance ended as soon as she entered the school building. Rules and regulations differ from our home country. Some of the statements and facts are quite frankly shocking …, Regional differences in bilingual education, “There are notable differences between bilingual education in each of Spain’s regions, especially when it comes to the. Colegio Internacional Torrequebrada (CIT) is a bilingual private school (Spanish & English). Bilingual education in Spain is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the international education system, gain practical and theoretical skills in a new environment. “I believe that a school that advertises itself as “bilingual” should offer an equal number of subjects in each language.ie. I think the schools shouldn’t be called bilingual because the percentage of classes is not 50/50 and also they don’t actually produce bilingual children. Bilingual education in Spain is a relatively new development, and in Ronda especially so with both schools having only run their programs for a very short time; one year for the primary school, and three years for the high school. When researching secondary options for our children, I struggled to find schools offering what I believed to be “bilingual” education. Huguet, Á. and Llurda, E.: 2001, ‘Language attitudes of school children in two Catalan/Spanish bilingual communities’, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 4, … “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. We’ve been really lucky, the level of English of the teachers at my daughters’ school is fantastic, (almost) native. Are the needs of one native group privileged over the other? 10 Reasons Why You Should Consider Relocating. Surrounded by native speakers, you will learn the language faster. The regional government did not supervise the teachers’ progress,” he adds.”, “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. The school offers Infant, Primary and Secondary Education in a stimulating and safe environment within the academic, social and sports limits. The majority of schools seemed to offer a British curriculum which was not what we wanted. Should you opt for local state schools, private international schools or bilingual schools in Spain? After 16 years old, they can choose to continue their education so they can apply to university or enter vocational training. Huguet, Á. and Llurda, E.: 2001, ‘Language attitudes of school children in two Catalan/Spanish bilingual communities’, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 4, … (Anghel, Cabrales & Carro, 2015) Teaching in a bilingual school in Madrid definitely has so many positives! I think the teachers, if not native, should demonstrate an advanced level of the language, both written and spoken.”. History of Bilingual Education in Spain The most successful program began in the capital city of Madrid in the year 2004. In this article, we discuss the Spanish education system and outline what to consider when selecting a bilingual school for your child. By bringing in native-speaking teachers, begin at infant level and not enforce it on a school that is not appropriately equipped. Before sharing my findings and thoughts on bilingual schools in Spain, I’d like to share our Spanish education story so far with you …. Here are a few to get your research on Bilingual Schools in New York started. Hence this research … My current beliefs may not reflect the true picture. A case in point: one year after California repealed its ban on bilingual education, Massachusetts passed the LOOK Act, which stands for Language Opportunity for Our Kids. Another advantage of studying abroad … This “Bilingual Project” has been pioneering for both Spain and Europe, and has inspired other governments and education authorities to develop multilingual education and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) projects in their schools. Learning another language is an incredible opportunity and one that you’ll doubtless want to share with your children. As in our introduction, the school you choose for your child will depend on your unique circumstances. For instance, it’s likely you’ll find helping with homework or communicating with teachers difficult. However, if you’re exploring sending your child to a bilingual school, you should make sure to visit and evaluate the teachers’ approach. For instance, are both languages given equal attention? Educational leaders like Dr. Sanchez implement policies for bilingual education. I am of the belief that the teachers providing classes, in English, in state schools, need more training and a higher level of English to better carry out their roles. Good education 100% in Spanish is far better than shoddy teaching because the teacher only speaks intermediate English. We can confidently say that as a result of our decision to put the children in the local village school: However, as happy as we were with our children’s Spanish state education, we decided it was time for a change. The International School Estepona is West Marbella’s leading primary school and nursery, situated in El Paraiso, Estepona, in the heart of “The New Golden Mile” on the Costa del Sol, Spain.The School is set in a secure fenced compound of 3,700 sq metres which includes ample car parking. Our children never fail to amaze me. The evaluation was led by a leading world expert in bilingual education: Professor Emeritus … This pages gives a comprehensive overview of bilingual schools or international schools in Spain. The same is true in Andalusia, where 30.5% of elementary school students and 28.6% of high school students study in English. Where are the Best, Safest and Cheapest Places to Live in Spain? In Spain, there are no league tables to advise us which are the best performing schools, although there are many regulatory bodies that can be consulted to conduct basic checks. B-53402624. P.S. the benefits of bilingual education are undeniable. Some experts argue that it has been rolled out too quickly where demand is high, thus compromising the quality of education. Bilingual teaching models In Spain Spanish coexists with Basque, Catalan and Galician as the medium of instruction. We wanted our children to be educated in their mother tongue, in English, as well as their adopted Spanish. She was calm in the classroom, well most of the time. Shoreless Lake School (SLS) Address: Apdo. https://familylifeinspain.com/2016/09/living-abroad-with-children-changes-inevitable/, https://familylifeinspain.com/2014/11/spanish-homework-children-and-spanish-language-learning/, https://familylifeinspain.com/2014/06/using-story-cubes-tell-stories/, https://familylifeinspain.com/2013/10/education-in-spain-meeting-marie-tere-cuisenaire-rods/, https://familylifeinspain.com/2010/11/education-in-spain-our-story-ii/. In Spain, it is compulsory for all children to attend school between the ages of 6 and 16. 1. The Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education will help meet the current demand for experts in the field of bilingual teaching and learning. In Madrid however, where 43.8% of primary school students and 27.6% of secondary students take classes in English, teachers must have an advanced level of English (C1). Which subjects are taught in which language and how are they assessed? School address: Urbanización Torrequebrada, Calle Ronda del Golf Este, 7 – 11, 29639 Benalmádena, Málaga So, before writing the post on our family blog www.familylifeinspain.com , I’d like input from others.”, “We’ve been really lucky, the level of English of the teachers at my daughters’ school is fantastic, (almost) native. “Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience of bilingual (English/Spanish) education in Spain. However, we know it’s not the same in other schools in the same town.”, “Only Catalans can teach English in public schools, the level is really low, not one child in 5 or 6 form can say a word of English to me. The repeat-rate is sky high, so clearly something is going badly wrong!”, Teaching English at school with (almost) native teachers is important. Every child is different and our role as parents is to decide what we believe to be best for them. In order to research the matter further, I invited parents to answer a simple questionnaire about their experiences with “bilingual schools in Spain”: Here are a few comments and suggestions made by the parents, in response to my open questions: Q1. Both educational systems offer excellent opportunities for learning, so you can choose the school that’s right for you with confidence. As much as it tore me apart to see her like that, I knew in my heart that we were doing the right thing. Bilingual education in Spain is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the international education system, gain practical and theoretical skills in a new environment. Colegio Internacional Torrequebrada (CIT) is a bilingual private school (Spanish & English). 150 W 105th St., New York, NY. 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. And they are really good at teaching! If you have an older child (over 8 years old) or your … This “Bilingual Project” has been pioneering for both Spain and Europe, and has inspired other governments and education authorities to develop multilingual education and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) projects in their schools. Well known for its music and dance program, this bilingual school that previously had a thriving Spanish dual language program recently added a Russian dual language program. They accuse regional governments of using students as a testing ground … The implementation of this program occurred in three phases. Bilingual inclusive education in Madrid, Spain: Deaf and hearing pupils | Inclusive Education in Action In Andalusia, for instance, “there are not enough teachers qualified to speak well,” says Christian Abello, professor of English studies at the University of Seville. English Impact 2017 . The Spanish education system is divided into three groups: state schools, state-subsidised private schools, and independent schools, which include most international schools. The English School of Asturias. And I’m not talking about learning hundreds of (useless) vocabulary lists. You’ll want to make sure there’s likely to be consistent provision for bilingual education to ensure standards are maintained. The popularity of bilingual schools has risen so dramatically that many regions have been unable to keep up with demand. 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. “We began without qualified teachers, and CLIL training – the European methodology to learn a new language through other subjects such as mathematics – is voluntary. 239 30850 Totana, Murcia, Spain Tel: 34 968 424386 School address: Urbanización Torrequebrada, Calle Ronda del Golf Este, 7 – 11, 29639 Benalmádena, Málaga Each year this program continues to grow based on the success rate. 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! From the year they turned three, both our children attended local state-run schools in Spain. Your children will be able to continue with a familiar curriculum taught in their native language with small classes and high-quality facilities. 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. They are so resilient and adaptable. Founded in 2004, DC Bilingual Public Charter School now serves more than 400 students in grades PreK3 – 5. Benalmádena International College S.L. Bilingual Education Project Spain (2010) . El Limonar Monteprincipe is a bilingual education center for pupils from the age of 3 to 8 years old. Bilingual (English/Spanish) nursery and primary school in Benavista, Estepona, founded in 2004. 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. Whichever route you choose, many parents want their children to learn both languages. We love Family Life In Spain. My kids are appalled by the mistakes the teachers make in class.”, “I was one of two teachers at the school who had formally studied bilingual education. The school follows the English and Welsh National Curriculum whilst complying with the requirements of the Spanish Education system. Fortunately, the state education system in Spain is of a very high standard. By having native English teachers teaching the language. Balearic Island Some children do acquire good language skills but usually because of the support they receive outside the school”. to teach classes in the first few years, says José Antonio Romero, coordinator of the bilingual program at the public school Miguel Servert in Seville. 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