Tenerife forum

[bubbly]

thanks maxine jenny and rob for the sound advice, it makes sense to be completely positive when taking a big step like this
appreciate your time in replying,and will certainly take on board your wise comments.


bubbly
_________________
every day is a sunnier day in tenerife

[jenny]

I only planned to stay a year to learn Spanish and then move on to "real" Spain, but after 7 years, getting a husband, a child and an apartment here, I really wouldn't want to go anywhere else now.

You will have hard times, we all have, but work hard and stay positive and you will love it here too.

[karlb]

[bubbly]

i will jenny, i know it takes hard work and perseverence for anything to work in life, its hard here and i do expect it to be harder over there for the first few mths anyway but in the long term over there has more to offer and i will stick it out i will i will i will.

thanks bubbly
_________________
every day is a sunnier day in tenerife

[JudeKen]

Hi Bubbly

I have 2 daughters, eldest will be 12 and youngest 10 when we move over in July. They will both be going to Spanish schools. Not sure which ones yet. Have been chatting on the forum for a while and if we are to live over towards Golf De Sur /Amarilla San Isidro would be our local high school. Although Los Cris appeals to me with it being a new school etc.

Would love feedback from anyone who has kids already in High school....

LOL a Crystal ball would be fab wouldn't it Bubbly!!!!

I agree with Rob, a positive attitude makes all the difference in how things will go when you move.
_________________
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

Albert Einstein

Judith Kennedy - Sports & Exercise Therapist. www.Time4Myself.co.uk

[karlb]

Hi all I moved over almost a year ago and my son goes to Spanish school. He was 3 when he started and loves it, I cannot praise the school highly enough.

On the flip side of that I would think long and hard about putting your child into a Spanish school over the age of 5. I have read a few tragic stories whereby because the child has no knowledge of the language it is almost impossible to make friends and integrate into the class. They may become separated and start to become very stressed.

It happened to a friend of mine who is now going back to the UK as their son became upset and his school work started to suffer badly. His writing became very untidy, sleepless nights, loss of interest etc etc.

Imagine being put into a situation where you cannot understand the teacher or communicate with your class mates.

Spanish school is fantastic but unless your child is at a young age or has a basic grip of the language I would most certainly go to an English speaking school.

My thoughts on this have changed since I have been in Tenerife, when I moved over had my son been over 5 I may well still have thought of Spanish school. However having been here a while I have learnt it would not have been in his best interests.

Thats my opinion for what its worth. Good luck.
_________________
Need a cleaner in South Tenerife ? Cleaning just got better... www.maid4tenerife.com

Who am I? Check out MySpaceTenerife.

The sky is not less blue because the blind man does not see it.

[jenny]

I take a girl home from Las Galletas school who has only been here for a few months. She is about 9 and also spoke no Spanish and she says she is getting on great and although can't speak much, she does now understand what the teacher says. There are also some other English children in her year so maybe this helps.

I guess it depends on how outgoing your child is. If they are very shy then it will take them a lot longer to learn Spanish and they may have more problems integrating, but then again, even in an English school they may find it takes a long time to make friends.
_________________
Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17

I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[rob]

I believe that if parents move to Tenerife and want to put their children into Spanish school they are morally obliged to give the children support in all ways possible.

Private Spanish lessons as soon as the decision to move is made are a must, OK so it's expensive but it should be seen as part of the costs of relocating.

Ongoing support and making sure that the children are progressing.

Discussing and resolving any problems related to language.

There is no reason to dump children into a Spanish school with no knowledge of the Spanish language!

Rant over.
_________________
.

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.

[Estate_girl]

I came over here when I was 11 yrs old my parents gave me the choice of going to Spanish or English School I choose Spanish School and I wont lie it was hell for a while, I was 12 by that time and kids can be very cruel, at that time there weren’t many other British kids in my school for me to rely on, even though I would be in tears most days and my Parents said I could change to the British School, I stuck it out and finally something just click with the language....looking back I honestly don’t know how I managed but today I am bilingual which makes a huge difference when looking for a job here or mainland....and it gives you a really good feeling of accomplishment.

But I do think it a decision the child should make, knowing it will be very, very hard at first....

I agree with Rob that private lessons should be a must, but I had them and got sick of going to School then having lessons afterwards, when all I wanted was to go out and play, so remember it's a lot to load on to a kid they need loads of support and the offer of being able to change Schools if needed.

[strippersrus]

I must sound really nasty then lol.....I just told my children they would be going to spanish school...lol

But they thank me for that now....My daughter said it was hard at first because she didnt understand, but now she is excellent.....a bot like you Leah she just clicked and that was it.

My son was the same and he does really well now..

The baby well bless him he is only 4 and I felt really sad about sending him because he was just learning English, but now he is speaking spanish and understanding a lot more.

We didn't have spanish lessons before we came out here, we knew basic spanish...but I sat down and helped the children every day with their homework and used all sorts of books and materials......I learnt more each day by helping them.

I got myself some spanish friends and so did the children and that helped a lot. I am pretty good at languages so maybe it has been easier for me, Melinda seems to be the same.

I would definitel recommend getting lessons before you come out here t hough because it would have helped me a lot more with schools and paperwork, but I don't regret being thrown in the deep end becasue I and the children had to work for it.

The children will grow up bilingual and that is such a bonus......I would tell anyone and everyone to put their children into spanish school.....it seriously is the best thing that I and my children have ever done....and they are soooooo happy.
_________________
Find out more at www.myspacetenerife.com
Stripps

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

[rob]

I must sound really nasty then lol.....I just told my children they would be going to spanish school...lol
We didn't have spanish lessons before we came out here, we knew basic spanish...but I sat down and helped the children every day with their homework and used all sorts of books and materials......I learnt more each day by helping them.

You did have Spanish lessons. There's nothing wrong with DIY Spanish lessons, you made the effort for your kids and it's worked. Well Done.
_________________
.

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.

[JudeKen]

Hi

Karl, thats interesting how you have changed since being over there.

Our two are up for Spanish school, the club they are going to now is great and the woman who takes it is fab, she knows we are moving and with the rest of the kids just there for leisure/extra curricular she pretty much tailors everything to our two, which is great for us

We are however planning on getting some more specific 1:1 stuff done based on school work so i am currently looking for curriculum books in spanish, you know the kind of things they have in the UK Carol Vorderman and Maths etc LOL.

I agree with stripps. The way I see it, it's like we are giving them a gift with the opportunity to speak another language fluently.
_________________
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

Albert Einstein

Judith Kennedy - Sports & Exercise Therapist. www.Time4Myself.co.uk

[strippersrus]

Jude hunnie if you want school books to look at I can give the kids books from last year to use and practise with......

They will help you a lot honest....They helped me masses...

Thanks Rob...for your comment...I appreciate that......
_________________
Find out more at www.myspacetenerife.com
Stripps

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

[JudeKen]

that would be wonderful!!!!!


_________________
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

Albert Einstein

Judith Kennedy - Sports & Exercise Therapist. www.Time4Myself.co.uk

[karlb]