Tenerife forum

[vickyh]

Hi Everyone, I'm Vicky and I;ve been reading postings on the forum for a while now trying to get different opinions on schools, work, life in Tenerife etc. Been holidaying in 'Rife for 20 years, since a kid. My husband Paul and I, plus our three boys all under 6yrs) are seriously thinking about relocating to Tenerife full time. Paul is an estate agent and the market is dire in England now (pretty rubbish in tenerife as well I know). I'm a Primary School teacher, although I don't work full time. Want to have the courage to move so the children and us can have a better lifestyle but am scared to death as we've both usually had steady jobs. Also, I know absolutely nothing about the spanish education system. I think it would be better for the kids to immerse theselves in Spanish school but which one??? In England I would have poured over league tables etc (I know I'm a saddo ) but I feel like I will be going eenie meeny miny mo! Some must be better than others or are there ones to avoid at least? Looking in the South (Galletas, Chafiras, San Miguel, Medano ish areas? Thanks

[rob]

Hi Vickyh and welcome. If you've been reading for a while you'll know that what you intend to do is a huge task with three kids. Do you speak Spanish? I hope that you have a good amount of savings.

I think that you should order one of the new books that's mentioned on moving to/living in Tenerife section.
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[strippersrus]

Hi Vicky.

welcome to the forum.

theres loads of information on here about schools...lol and areas....it depends on what you want out of an area to live...

The schools are pretty good over here although you will get good and bad reports about most of them. Some people prefer different things to be offered at school than others.

My 3 children are all in soanish school and settle in w=very well...this is not always the case and the older the children are then the more difficult it can be tointergrate into the spanish system.

If your children are all under 6 then spanish school could definitely be a possibility for you. they start school very early here, from the age of 2...as long as they are 3 by the decmeber of that year. They have 3 yeasr of Infantil schooling...similar to pre-school eduction in the UK. Then they start year one at 6 years old.

They have English lessons in the school, but other than that, english is rarely spoken. Unless by the english children. There will normally be other children who speak english in the school, depending on the area.

I would suggest that you start learning spanish as soon as possible, so that your children will not be so shocked when they hear it all day long. It will also benefit you both for job porspects and life in general over here.

Its very different living over here than holidaying here..

The areas that you have put down do have good spanish schools near them.

I can totally understand where you are coming from with regards being scared to move and scared to change the schools for the children, but if you are really determined to move to Tenerife, then I am sure that you will do everything you can to make it as plain sailing as possible.

Children are very adaptable and if they are out-going kids they will do perfectly well in the spanish system and come out with 2 or 3 languages at the end of it.

Don't rush into any decisions though as there are english schools here. These do cost money but at the end of the day the education of your children it very inportant.

If you have any questions and can't find the answers, then please feel free to ask. I and others will do our best to answer them.

Mary
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Stripps

Where the party starts.....
www.tenerifehennights.com

[vickyh]

Thanks for replying Mary and giving your opinion. I do speak a fair bit of Spanish - mostly toursit stuff but I can understand quite well but my husband doesn't have any spansih. What the children know is limited to Dora the explorer! Mostly Hola and Vamanos! I agree that they are young enough to adapt though. I've got all boys, twins who are 5 years old and another boy who is nearly3. Do you know anything about class sizes and how the school day runs. Do they have more of a play led curriculum until they are six? How have you found your chidren's english? I know they can obviously speak it well but how does their reading and writing of english do? Do they struggle or do you make an extra effort to read in english with them as well as spanish? Sorry so many questions!!! I am the worlds worst worrier about everything!!!!

[vickyh]

Rob, thaks for the advice, will definitelybe ordering book you mentioned. I know its a big task moving with three kids! Just living with three boys under 6 is manic! Throw into the equation moving to a foreign country, look for a job, sell uk house, rent place, find schools.....aaagh! Hope end result will be worth it though. Doing the right thing for us as a family is the only ting we're really worried about. Will hopefully have a bit of money behind us but will need to find jobs asap too. Hoping estate agency market is looking for someone like my husband to charm them to death!!! I wonder how popular private tutoring is over there? I tutor primary school kids in England in the evening. Would that be a service people in Tenerife would use too? I can speak some Spanish and understand quite a bit.

[andyfowles]

Hi Vicky. Unfortunately I can't help with kids school stuff but I know others will be able to. Welcome to the forum anyway and I'm sure you'll find all the info you need here
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[rob]

Vicky, the property market in Tenerife is quite slow at the moment and 'charm' will not get your husband a job. A minimum of fluent Spanish and a good knowledge of Tenerife and the property market here might get him a chance of a commission only job. If he spoke 2 or 3 other languages as well then there would be more of a chance.

Although the property market here is nowhere near as bad as in mainland Spain (I've just read a report that 30% of Spanish estate agents have made NO sales in the last 6 months!) I would estimate that there has been between 30 and 40 % job losses in the estate agency business in the last 12 months. Why on earth would an estate agency want to take on a charming man with no experience and no language skills when there are sales personnel with a good knowledge of the Tenerife property market available?

If you don't have the capital to keep your family for 12 months without earning then I would suggest that you start saving hard and perfecting your Spanish.

When there's a recession how many families do you think will have the spare cash to pay for a private tutor?

Sorry if this sounds like doom and gloom but I do firmly believe in telling it as it is. 21 years of seeing so many dreams shattered leads me to spend my time giving free advice to those that will listen.
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[vickyh]

WOW Rob, you really are a misery! I know you are just telling it like it is though! Better to be forewarned and fore armed I s uppose. Think you're wrong about the tutoring though - recession or not, I'm always being asked to do private work but can't take anymore children on. Parents are keen for their children to do well and will often sacrifice other things to make sure they give them a bit extra. Tenerife may be different though. Although I did know a spanish family who paid for english tutor for their son. Sold my husband short in last posting - being glib. He is actually very good at his job and has been manager of several branches - won accolades in his job etc but market has started to turn here - scarily so, and it is going to get much worse in the next year or two, we think. Seen his wages go down 25% last month as so much of his wage is commission only. Lots to think about. Cost of living here is going crazy too. Going to worry and think some more while listening to Leonard Cohen depressing music and reading Sylvia Plath!!!!!! Failing that - will have a G and T (tenerife sized one!!) Thanks for advice and your time - even though it wasn't very upbeat!!

[strippersrus]

HI Vicky....

Don't feel affended by Rob...He has been here a long long time and deals and knows the system here very very well.

I agree that you both need to have fluent Spanish. Especially if you husband wants to work in the estate agents sector.

As for tutoring....yes there are people who do it, but the cost is minimal. I am not of the cost in the UK but the wages here are low as is the cost of living. This is the main attraction for many brits, but with that comes the fact that they may not be able to pay the same rates as in the UK.

I think that you would be able to find work....after a while it would pick up and you could get a few families. But would earn minium wages for it.

As for the schooling here....the days are shorter as most schools don't supply food so they finish at 1.30pm or 2pm.

My childrens school starts at 8.30am and finishes at 1.30pm but then they do supply lunch so actually leave at 3pm. Some children don't have lunch and finish at 1.30.

I study hard with my children aswell for their english lol....at school the english taught is not overly good, as it is taught as a foreign language so is very basic. I do reading and spelling with the children at home. Although their spelling is still quite bad. They write, read and speak sapnish everyday at school, so you have to wrok hard on the english.

You should be OK as you tutor anyway so would teach your children their english.
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Stripps

Where the party starts.....
www.tenerifehennights.com

[strippersrus]

oopppss...I forgot to say.

The classes of 3,4 and 5 years olds does not only consist of playing. They have certain books that we have to buy to help with reading and writing.

They start by hand control with shapes and lines, then move on to letters and bits. My charlie was getting homework for the last 2 years. Only basics..writing reading and sums lats year.

Obviously there is play as children learn through this.

They get a report every trimester and you go in and speak to the teach. They cover the same sort of things as the foundation stages in English schools. But all this is in spanis so for the first year it may seem that your child is not learning much. Whereas they are really...they will be learning the language and items taught.

I also think this is helped by parents input. Some English parents wont help or don't try to help their children, so they suffer at school and it takes longer for them to achieve the same level as most children.

I hope this helps a little
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Stripps

Where the party starts.....
www.tenerifehennights.com

[rob]

[MaryJ]

Hi Vicky,

Welcome to the forum from me.

I can't help with kids school stuff either, but Mary has already done a very good job with that as always.

Mary (Stripps) also wrote:

[vickyh]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Rob, I do probably want encouraging because i'm worried i'm going to spend my whole life thinking about something rather than just doing it. In many ways, we have got it made in the uk - jobs fairly secure but for how long I don't know. Pauls wages are falling and our mortgage is creeping up togehter with the cost of living over here. The state of the country is in a real mess with the banking disasters. Council tax to rise by 5-10% as well as food and bills. Its not just the current economic crisis though, as I know tenerife will feel its effects too, I have real concerns about bringing up three boys in uk. Seems to be a safer environment to bring up children. Ijust want what is best for them. I appreciate the candour - seriously I do. Your views have given me other things to think of

[rob]

Rob, I do probably want encouraging because i'm worried i'm going to spend my whole life thinking about something rather than just doing it.

Then I should stop posting to you. In my mind you shouldn't be worrying about that but about how to make the move successfully and getting the best possible help and advice and furthermore taking heed of that advice.

Just imagine the alternative......

You sell your house, make the move, you get a job but your husband doesn't and gradually your assets dwindle to the point of you not being able to pay your way and end up going back to the UK and having to start again with no capital or assets.

Search this forum and you'll find that I've had this discussion several times, the first time that it happened I was taken to task quite severely by a member for ruining someone's dream. The family involved came here in the good times, brought their car, household goods etc. but couldn't get decent jobs and ended up going back to the UK several thousand pounds poorer, couldn't afford to get back on the housing ladder and didn't even have a few months of good times to remember because of all the stress it caused.

I'm not saying that it's impossible just telling you that you need a minimum of a years living expenses behind you and the willingness to learn Spanish as though your life depended on it and then once you're here to work like stink.
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Who am I? Follow the myspacetenerife link under my avatar.

Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing.