I have been in Spain for two months now and have liked it a lot. The most surprising this for me, is the difference in the schools in California compared to Madrid.
Throughout my time in the school, I have taken note of some of this differences. So here they are.
Firstly, there is a lot of memorizing. Whenever there is a test coming up the students always memorize the exact definitions of words in their head instead of understanding them. Each person is expected to have memorized all the prepositions in alphabetical order and be able to recite it by heart. I don't find that helpful to know a list of prepositions but they do it anyway. In language class they have to memorize and know all the intricate grammar rules and why a word is written the way it is. Students have to know the categories of each verb down to wether it is active or passive, perfect simple or preterite perfect and so on. It is funny to me how the spanish kids know more about the english language than I do. In english class they were talking about auxiliary verbs and direct nouns and so many different categories where I only know the basics.
Another thing that is different it how old fashioned the schooling is in Spain. If the teacher walks into the room and you aren't seated, you have to stand up, behind your chair for the whole class as punishment. Also they are very open about your grades. After a test or evaluation, the teacher calls out the names followed by your grade for everyone to hear. At MCDS you kept your grades to yourself so people wouldn't see grades as a competition and instead to look at them and improve.
Throughout my time in the school, I have taken note of some of this differences. So here they are.
Firstly, there is a lot of memorizing. Whenever there is a test coming up the students always memorize the exact definitions of words in their head instead of understanding them. Each person is expected to have memorized all the prepositions in alphabetical order and be able to recite it by heart. I don't find that helpful to know a list of prepositions but they do it anyway. In language class they have to memorize and know all the intricate grammar rules and why a word is written the way it is. Students have to know the categories of each verb down to wether it is active or passive, perfect simple or preterite perfect and so on. It is funny to me how the spanish kids know more about the english language than I do. In english class they were talking about auxiliary verbs and direct nouns and so many different categories where I only know the basics.
Another thing that is different it how old fashioned the schooling is in Spain. If the teacher walks into the room and you aren't seated, you have to stand up, behind your chair for the whole class as punishment. Also they are very open about your grades. After a test or evaluation, the teacher calls out the names followed by your grade for everyone to hear. At MCDS you kept your grades to yourself so people wouldn't see grades as a competition and instead to look at them and improve.