A few weeks ago I posted about Doug an my experience, as parents, navigating the world of elementary school. In this post Lucia and Gabe provide their perspective, in interview format. . Lucia’s answers are in orange, and Gabe’s in green. No editing or elaboration from the intervfiewer
What words would you use to describe your school in Ecuador?
Understanding/supportive - the teachers are helpful
Fun - the teachers like to play games that help learning; there is lots of recess and the kids are friendl
Active - Everyone is always doing something, you aren’t just sitting around.
Active (people are always paying, working, eating), welcoming,
How do you feel about wearing a uniform to school?
It’s okay. I like the color of the uniform, but it is hard to wear things that you really like. Both uniforms get a little hot, especially the sweat suit. Most people end up taking off their sweaters by midday.
I think it is sort of cool because it is easier to put it on in the morning and I like the colors.
What is one aspect of your Ecuadoran school that you wish you could transfer to your school in the US?
That everybody is friends with everybody and the classes are rarely disruptive.
That it is trilingual – we get to learn French as well as Spanish and English
To have a wooded area like we have here. Sometimes we have gym there, or we look for different things for a class.
What is one aspect of your school in the US that you wish could be part of your school here?
The nice garden and the green house made out of bottles.
Air conditioning and heating. Maybe some hallways in the main school so you don’t have to be on slippery ground or get wet when it rains.
Gabe: After school homework club. I like being with my classmates and it a good time to get homework done.
What is your favorite subject in school here?
Spanish language and literature. It’s fun, we do poems and it is not too hard but is challenging, and something I enjoy.
English social studies : It is interesting and since we’re doing world history I can learn a lot of things that are important in the US also
Math in both Spanish and English, and Science in English. In math I get to do multiplication. In Science we are learning about the organs.
How do you like riding the bus to school?
I like it, but it would be nice if the seatbelts worked better and were easy to adjust. The drivers are safe, and the ride is short.
It is fun, and a good opportunity to talk with friends. And if you bring your Pokemon cards you can trade them on the bus.
How do you like the school lunches?
School lunches are good. They might not always be the healthiest, and they aren’t always things I like, but I can usually eat most of them. It is nice to be able to try the traditional foods and the lunch ladies make very good food.
Some of them I like and some of them I don’t, but it is a good experience to have some of the local foods. One of my favorite local meals is llapingachos. I don’t like the humitas.
What do you think about specials here?
Art is fun. We can usually be creative, we don’t have to copy a painting that someone else already did. We can make our own version or dream up something. In Gym we play plenty of games. The teacher is very nice. Corporal Expression is fun. We are doing exercises like push-ups, jumping jacks and running or doing relays. In Music we learn a lot and its nice for me because I know a little bit of music, and it is nice to be able to know the Spanish names and still understand.
I like that gym is outside everyday. There is a LOT of running around, more than at home.
In a different culture you get to learn about different artists, and different ways of painting things.
Anything you’ve noticed that is really different?
The teachers expect you to pass exams, but there is always time to catch up later. For example, one of my classmates tripped while she was going down the stairs, fainted and hurt her wrist badly so couldn’t write for a week. The students are funny but they pay attention in class and they try their best.
That they sing the national anthem in a group with the whole school every Monday morning.
The school is totally different. Each classroom has its own door facing the outdoor walkways.
What about homework?
The homework level is good. It isn’t too hard, and not more than two pages per subject at a time, and usually for the next day or the day after that.
It’s different because they give a bigger quantity sometimes.
How do you think your Spanish ability has changed?
Being immersed in it for more than just an hour at a time is much better and I’ve improved a lot. I’ve expanded my vocabulary and now I talk half the time in Spanish and our whole family can understand what I’m saying.
I can do a lot more. I can play with my friends better because I can say more.
I like it, but it would be nice if the seatbelts worked better and were easy to adjust. The drivers are safe, and the ride is short.
It is fun, and a good opportunity to talk with friends. And if you bring your Pokemon cards you can trade them on the bus.
How do you like the school lunches?
School lunches are good. They might not always be the healthiest, and they aren’t always things I like, but I can usually eat most of them. It is nice to be able to try the traditional foods and the lunch ladies make very good food.
Some of them I like and some of them I don’t, but it is a good experience to have some of the local foods. One of my favorite local meals is llapingachos. I don’t like the humitas.
What do you think about specials here?
Art is fun. We can usually be creative, we don’t have to copy a painting that someone else already did. We can make our own version or dream up something. In Gym we play plenty of games. The teacher is very nice. Corporal Expression is fun. We are doing exercises like push-ups, jumping jacks and running or doing relays. In Music we learn a lot and its nice for me because I know a little bit of music, and it is nice to be able to know the Spanish names and still understand.
I like that gym is outside everyday. There is a LOT of running around, more than at home.
In a different culture you get to learn about different artists, and different ways of painting things.
Anything you’ve noticed that is really different?
The teachers expect you to pass exams, but there is always time to catch up later. For example, one of my classmates tripped while she was going down the stairs, fainted and hurt her wrist badly so couldn’t write for a week. The students are funny but they pay attention in class and they try their best.
That they sing the national anthem in a group with the whole school every Monday morning.
The school is totally different. Each classroom has its own door facing the outdoor walkways.
What about homework?
The homework level is good. It isn’t too hard, and not more than two pages per subject at a time, and usually for the next day or the day after that.
It’s different because they give a bigger quantity sometimes.
How do you think your Spanish ability has changed?
Being immersed in it for more than just an hour at a time is much better and I’ve improved a lot. I’ve expanded my vocabulary and now I talk half the time in Spanish and our whole family can understand what I’m saying.
I can do a lot more. I can play with my friends better because I can say more.
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