To see if we can get this month is "the month of posts controversial ': P, I am going to tell the' conversation salon 'in which I participated a few days ago, obviously, went to the salon.
For that you have never experienced (in fact, I even made some had no such talks), the conversation salon is a twist on the typical 'elevator conversation'.
mean by 'elevator conversation' that typical conversation with a neighbor:
uncomfortable silence --- ----
- Ui, what a good day to do, eh?
- Yes, yes, very good time .
uncomfortable silence --- ---- For when you're in the salon, it tends to happen the same. Only a haircut is a bit slower than an elevator ride, so the hairdresser usually ends up telling his life and miracles (Transversal are grateful for this ability in the hairdressers, the truth, because it saves a lot of awkward silence.)
The hairdresser (hereinafter Ms. X) in question, told me how happy she was with the school for their children. Apparently, Ms. X had been one of the fortunate to be able to take his two sons (ages 4 and 8) to a bilingual public school. A servant, evidently surprised at the phrase "a bilingual public school
Madrid, a region with a single official language, he asked why two languages \u200b\u200bare taught in that school, and what was taught bilingual system. Interestingly
Ms. X also seemed very surprising my question. Clearly, the school was bilingual "English-Castilian", and gave all classes in English (the native teachers were partly English, and the books were in English), except the kind of 'English language' which, needless to say, occurred in Castilian. It must be said that Mrs X, I saw all this perfectly normal and logical.
I do not just be clear about the concept ... so I asked how a teaching course at the college, and what was the percentage of foreign children in school. I was surprised to learn that nursery, primary and secondary schools and the vast Most students were children of the country, not foreigners, to the same extent as other public schools.
even more surprised, I asked Mrs. X what were the possible disadvantages of this school. She replied that the main problem was that as the school was 'partially' English, as all children, instead of teaching the country's customs and community, were taught English customs. That is, for Christmas, the Magi were not coming, but Santa Clauss, did not take place in November "All Saints", but "Halloween" and so forth. In addition, all such acts made by children: the typical plays, Song recitals, etc. were in English. Which gave rise to curious situations because children knew English, but parents, so that most parents were going to nod and smile at such events, because most do not understand or dad what they were saying their children. That is, the children spoke a language other than their parents did not understand.
In any case, despite the trivial problem, the parents said Sra.X clung to bring their children to that school. And yes, I felt bad that their children were taught manners that she did not know, but it was a small price to pay because they were bilingual from an early age and knew English.
For what I am going to cheat ... the truth is I do not believe it. Not a bit. I thought I would cheat and that the school would be concluded or private. I looked pretty hard to believe that the Madrid public money subsidize a school where they teach customs which are children of another culture and another country, where Castilian is only given a few hours a week. So a little googling the topic. How great was my surprise to learn that the case of that school, not only is not an isolated case, but is in fashion: according to the newspaper 20 minutes (edition of Madrid),
1 in 4 schools are bilingual and plis-plas in a
get a list of bilingual schools in Madrid . Obviously, one (myself included) may think that "because in newspaper will have you gone to fix!". So I kept looking until they found the website
Madrid education and the law governing
. It appears that for a bilingual school in Madrid is, give the following conditions, among others:
- that give a minimum
a third of classes in English.
- What classes in English will be those of a person approved for the title.
- That the Castilian and math classes is always given in Castilian.
Seeing this, yes, I begin to understand that back in 98, the PP was in favor of the Catalan education law passed Pujol (which has applied since in Catalunya), and that is the finding that bilingualism in schools Catalan Catalan means giving everything except Castilian.
In any case ... Did we not, gentlemen politicians, only one subject is not enough to learn a language properly and that the current Catalan education law (current since 1998) is bad because of this terrible?
In any case, I am going to stick with the percentage of Castilian in the classroom, because I have no doubt that Madrid leave school fluent in Castilian (well, all good or all bad to allow that, of course ...), but I think in honor of the double standards, let him fall.
I can not find at all that it is going to adopt English customs. Is not it a cultural suicide in school children learn the traditions of other countries, instead of the typical country and community in which they are?
Come in my time I would not want Santa Clauss and celebrate Halloween, but Castanyada, Sant Jordi and his uncle, or Twelfth Night.
So no wonder that children do not know Madrid chotis dance! : P
