Greenheart Travel

Tag: Spanish Classrooms

What to Know About Studying in a Bachillerato Program in Spain as an Exchange Student

High school in Spain in many ways represents the culture of Spain. The same as school in the United States. School in Spain is effective and minimalistic. It accomplishes what needs to be done in a manner that is much less grandiose; it’s an accurate representation of Spanish efficacy.

It’s a little tricky to navigate at first, especially for exchange students but I believe that ultimately, it’s a very positive educational experience. There are some key differences you should be aware of, and I’m going to try to outline them for you here.

I think knowing a little bit about the school system will help anyone who’s going to be studying in Spain feel more comfortable in their new home.

The front of my high school in Spain, a one story simplistic building.

Academic Differences Between Spain and the U.S.

Attending school after a student turns 16 years old is not mandatory in Spain. At this age, it’s common to enter into technical programs or simply stop with their education. So, when you are either in 1^st or 2^nd bachillerato (equal to junior and senior year in the U.S.) it is assumed you have interest in your own education as no one is making you attend classes.

For example, attendance isn’t mandatory if you want to pass your classes you go to school. The classes are presented in a similar style to university classes. The teachers come into the class and lecture for an hour, assigns homework, then leaves. The student is responsible for taking notes, finishing homework and studying for exams.

It requires a lot more initiative on the part of the student than in the U.S. The exams are difficult and the students are expected to prepare on their own. It’s a little more minimalistic and to the point than school in the U.S. but I think this system is equally good, if not better.

Student buy snacks in the Cantina during the first break of the day.

Lunch and Breaks in a Spanish High School

School in Spain is only six and a half hours, and because of this, lunch isn’t eat at school. School finishes at 2:30 p.m. and families usually eat at about 3 p.m. There are two breaks during the school day, one at about 10:30 a.m. for about 20 minutes, and another at about 1:15 p.m. for 10 minutes. Everyone brings a sandwich for a snack which is eaten during the first break of the day. The school has a cantina which sells sandwiches, candies and soda.

During both of the breaks students are allowed to leave the school campus. Often, we leave to go talk with students from the other nearby school or to go to the nearby restaurant.

De-Mystifying Bachillerato

The Bachillerato program is what Greenheart Travel students will be entering into when studying in Spain. The 1^st Bachillerato is the equivalent of being a junior in the United States. And 2^nd Bachillerato is the equivalent of being a senior in the U.S.

Before Bachillerato is 1^st-4^th ESO which is equivalent to 7^th through 10t^h grade. ESO is obligatory, Bachillerato is not.

When you enter into the Bachillerato program there are two options in my school, humanities and sciences. Some of the other schools in my town offer different programs such as fine arts, but mine only offers these two. I’m in the humanities program. The program that you choose for Bachillerato limits what you can go on to study in a Spanish college.

In short, school in Spain is a unique experience that in many ways is similar to school in the U.S. It’s something that I’m am confident anyone can catch onto easily. Going to school in Spain is a very important part of the education experience. It has furthered my knowledge of Spanish and the culture of Spain in a way I never thought possible.

About the Author:

Martin Tomlinson is 16 years old and lives in Overland Park, Kansas. His was inspired to study abroad in Spain because he feels “it is important to be a global citizen. Experiencing a different culture not only helps me understand it, but also helps me examine my culture and examine my views in deeper and more meaningful way. I want to become the most understanding person that I can possibly be.” Follow Martin’s adventures on our blog!

Ready for your own academic experience in a Spanish high school?!

October 24, 2017
How to Prepare for Being a Student in a Spanish High School

High school in Spain is very different from the United States. Students have the responsibility of learning the information on their own. Of course, the teacher instructs and is there for questions and to provide the information, but the students are responsible for taking that information and learning it.

Study Time

Rather than having a lot of homework and school projects, we have exams. Students are expected to study a lot which was really hard for me at the beginning because I didn’t understand the language, and I wasn’t used to studying so extensively.

High school here is taken very seriously. How you do in high school determines what universities you can or cannot get into. Here in Spain, public universities are free or at a very low cost. But, you can only get into the public universities if you have good grades, so everyone works really hard to accomplish that.

Louise with some friends at her school.

School Schedule

The school schedule is also different. We have six classes a day, two in the morning and a break, then two more and a break, and then two more before we go home. We have a different schedule each day, which I really like because it changes things up.

As an exchange student learning in a different language, school has been really hard for me. But, it has also been a really good way to learn the language, and a great life experience to have. Most of my teachers understand that I’m going to have difficulties in class and work with me so I’m not totally lost. But, sometimes there are expectations that I can’t live up to, and that can be difficult.

A schoolyard in Spain.

Here are a fews tips to succeed in the classroom when studying abroad in Spain:

1. Take a dictionary to school.

Taking a dictionary to school really helped me at first. I came to Spain with two years of Spanish classes, which was a good start to have, but could never have prepared me enough for actually hearing the way people speak. They say Extremadura has one of the heaviest accents in Spain, which made it even harder at first to understand what people were saying to me. But, having a dictionary really helped me out.

Learning a new language is a long process and takes time, even after eight months I can’t say I know everything. I have so much more to learn, and I won’t go home completely fluent, but I will go home knowing the language mas o menos.

2. Ask questions.

Asking questions is key because it shows the teacher you’re interested. Plus, how will you learn if you don’t ask? For the most part, my teachers have been 100% willing to help me out. At the beginning of the year, my language arts teacher gave me Spanish worksheets instead of whatever we were doing in class as a way to help me learn the language.

3. Translate the material.

Translate the material, not only will it help you learn the language, but it will give you a deeper understanding of the material so you can actually pass the exams. For me, I’ve found that exams here are a lot about memorizing material word-for-word. So, if I translate it, I can have a better chance of remembering what I have to write.

4. Attend after-school lessons.

Don’t be afraid to go to after school classes. I’ve been going to after school tutoring lessons with my host-sister, and they’ve been so helpful. It’s hard to get all of the information you need just by listening to the teacher. Going to the tutoring lessons has helped me SO MUCH because it’s more one-on-one. They aren’t too expensive and usually they will help you with more than one school subject.

Louise Plever in a classroom with fellow students.

Go with an Open Mind

My advice is to go in with an open mind and be ready to face the challenge. This is a learning experience and a chance to push yourself to your limits. I was so nervous my first few days of school, but everyone was very kind and accepting. I have learned more than I ever thought I could over these past eight months inside and outside of school. I have also met some absolutely amazing people! If you want to study abroad, and feel you’re up for the challenge, don’t hold back! Do it!

What’s holding you back? Contact us to study abroad!

June 2, 2017
What to Know About the Classroom Culture in Spain

¡Hola saludos! My name is Jackson and I will be sharing about the classroom culture of Spain and what it’s like for your first couple weeks to a month studying abroad in Spain. I’ve been studying in Extremadura, Spain, for two months now and I’d 100% recommend it. From my first days with my host-family to school, I’ve felt accepted and a part of the life here even if I haven’t understood everything being said.

Changes in the Classroom

You should not feel nervous to ask questions when you don’t understand the teacher or something you’re studying in class. It’s totally normal to feel nervous, but the teachers will be more than willing to help you. What you shouldn’t do is not say anything until you’re studying for the exams and you don’t understand the material.

An example of a high school in Spain.

School Exams

Although there isn’t as much homework here, the exams are more serious and you definitely need to study for them. No homework means you find yourself with free time in the afternoon (after your siesta of course), so you shouldn’t just watch Netflix. What helps me the most is studying. If you’re tired of studying, try talking with your host-family in Spanish, or just spend time with them.

Class Schedule

Another thing that is different here, but also great, is the class schedule. At my school we have six classes a day, and every day the schedule of the classes changes. This is great because you aren’t just doing the same thing over and over again, even though it’s the same subject. The classes in my school are forty-five minutes each, and after two classes we have a break for twenty-five minutes. Two more classes follow before another break. Finally, there are two more classes and then school’s finished.

Greenheart Travel student alumni enjoy their first Spanish dinner in Madrid.

Advice for Your First Day of School

One thing that was hard for me the first day of school was worrying about being accepted, but my nerves were killed very soon by smiling faces and everyone wanting to talk to me. Some advice I have is just be yourself and speak as much Spanish as you can. If you don’t understand what people are saying, don’t act like you do because you won’t ever learn like that. Don’t be alarmed if people want to talk with you in English. A lot of people here like English and want to use English in a career. So, another good way to make friends and get better at Spanish is to talk with people in both languages.

Well, I hope that my words will push you into a more comfortable zone about leaving your country and living in a totally new place and whole new lifestyle. If you have the opportunity to live in Spain, or travel abroad, I would say go for it!

P.S. Fiestas in school may happen!

Are you ready for a change in your school environment? Study abroad!

April 21, 2017
An In-depth Webinar About Life in Spain

When you think of studying in Spain, what comes to mind? Running of the Bulls? Yummy tapas? There’s so much more to traveling and immersing yourself in this part of the world than dodging horns and eating patatas bravas.

To get an in-depth look into life in Spain as an exchange student, give Greenheart Travel’s latest webinar on Spanish culture a listen! Lauren Dutton, a Greenheart Travel high school alumna, speaks about her daily routine, school life, and the moments that stood out the most over her semester in Badajoz, Spain.

Lauren not only sheds light on Spain’s beautiful culture, tasty cuisine, and the Spanish language, she provides very useful tips in regards to packing for a semester in Spain. Lauren also offers some advice for high school students unsure about ways to gain credit for classes, as well as encouragement on how to make studying abroad in Spain through Greenheart Travel a reality.

Here’s a look at the webinar:

Please leave a comment below if you have any other questions about spending a semester in Spain!

July 13, 2016