I’ve recently been looking into international schools in Madrid and Barcelona for my child, and it’s all making my head spin. I initially thought that international schools would just be English-taught and my child would naturally pick up Spanish after moving here, but it turns out it’s not that simple at all! The different curriculum systems place vastly different levels of emphasis and use different teaching methods for Spanish. I’m worried that making the wrong choice could significantly impact my child’s future, so I wanted to start this thread to hear everyone’s thoughts and gather some collective wisdom.
Comparison of Major Curricula
I’ve mainly researched the three most common systems here: the IB, the British A-Level, and the American system. Their requirements and positioning for the Spanish language are completely different. I’ve created a simple table for reference, and please feel free to correct me if I’ve gotten anything wrong!
| Curriculum System | Characteristics of Spanish Courses |
|---|
| IB System | A second language is mandatory. Students can choose Spanish A or Spanish B. It has high academic requirements, with an in-depth study of culture and literature as part of the international school curriculum. |
| A-Level System | Spanish is usually offered as a separate elective, so students can choose to take it or not. To apply to Spanish universities, students typically need to obtain a DELE or SIELE certificate separately. |
| American System | Similar to A-Levels, Spanish is also an elective. Course selection is flexible, but the depth and intensity of language study may not match the IB. |
My Personal Dilemmas and Considerations
Our family’s goal is for our child to have the option to apply to good local universities in Spain while also keeping the door open for studying in the UK or the US. From this perspective, does the IB system seem like the safest bet? Its Spanish B course appears to be very systematic and academic, and success in it is highly recognized by local universities. Moreover, the IB diploma, as part of the international school curriculum, is globally accepted. However, I’ve heard the IB workload is extremely heavy and can be very tough on students, which is what makes me hesitate.
In contrast, the A-Level and American systems are much more flexible, allowing a child to focus more energy on subjects they excel at within their international school curriculum. But for Spanish, they would have to rely on extra tutoring and external exams, which feels like a somewhat unbalanced approach. I wonder if this would affect their integration into the local environment and their deeper understanding of Spanish culture. A friend’s child who attends a British school doesn’t speak Spanish very well and mainly socializes within their own small circle. This is something that worries me a bit.
So, I’d like to ask the experienced parents on this forum: how did you choose for your children? What have their actual experiences been like? I’m especially interested in the effectiveness of their Spanish learning and its impact on university applications. Is there any advice from those who have been through it that you could share? Thanks everyone in advance!
