august-2014

Learning from Spain
In weighing up whether a move to Spain
would work for our family, I travelled to
the Murcia region with my eldest daughter
in January to look at potential private
schools for my 12 year old son. We were
staggered with the choices – and at first
it appeared that the number of Englishspeaking
schools in the region must be
due to the popularity of the place with
Brits. However, we soon discovered a
new generation of aspiring Spaniards,
who feel that being taught in the English
language offers their children the best
chance in life and many of the schools
were dominated by Spanish children.
We eventually opted for a school in San
Pedro del Pinatar, with lessons half in
English and half in Spanish; it seemed
perfect. This is my final attempt to ensure
at least one of my children is bilingual, as
like the Spaniards, I believe in the saying:
“One language sets you in a corridor for
life. Two languages open every door along
the way.” Language aside, the school’s
proximity to the glistening Mar Menor and
all that the lagoon offers was also hugely
attractive.
But it has not been that easy!
The Spanish system is very different from
the British one – and parents considering
moving their children here need to be
aware that each term children sit exams
and by the end of the school year a certain
percentage needs to be passed in order
to progress to the next school year.
My boy did not stand a chance, as he
joined in the last school term with no
prior Spanish knowledge.
I wish we had been made aware of this
and we could have supported him more
and may even have looked at a different
option for him. I am sure it differs
from school to school, but the emphasis
on academic learning and exams is huge
and the claim to be superior to the English
education system is not supported by
research; at least not nationally.
In the global PISA test for 15-year-olds,
(in maths, reading and science), the
Netherlands now have the European lead,
with Britain continuing to outrank Spain.
The arts are not covered by the PISA
tests, but they are clearly not a priority
from what I have seen (with perhaps the
exception of the King’s College whose
secondary head is also the art teacher).
As an artist and educator myself, this
hurts and having recently visited the Fine
Art faculty at the University of Murcia, I
can also see a very formulaic system of
teaching art is in place at higher levels too
– with little space for personal innovation
and expression.
Despite being English and creative, my
son has decided to try and make a go of
it. He has a positive attitude and we are
hoping next school year will see his level
of Spanish overtake ours, as it is already
threatening to do.
In an attempt to improve my own ability
to communicate, I figured that there
must be an appetite for English conversation
amongst the adults in the town. Tentatively,
I put signs up on lampposts with
a tearaway email address offering an exchange
of English conversation for Spanish
conversation. I have met a couple
of “lamppost dates” in cafés as a result.
My Spanish is slowly improving, but I am
learning more about the people of this
town (and the impact of unemployment)
as a result. Maybe it’s time to establish
an English/Spanish art school for all ages.
living in a foreign country include growing
in confidence, cultural awareness and in
the case of the Mar Menor – a whole new
set of water sports skills.
In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com
It may appear that I am griping about the
differences in the Spanish system, but I
am merely trying to prepare other parents
for what to expect. There is much
learning to be had in Spain and the biggest
educational factors of moving here
are not simply linguistic. The benefits of
Page 34
Costa Cálida Chronicle: Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement t
Sales Contact Teresa 619 199 407 or for the Editor Contact Patti 646 005 017
www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com