Teenage Life in Spain

Spain is an ideal country to visit for teenagers. The country is already very well known as a retirement destination for
Europeans and a great vacation spot for families. However, the country has a lot to offer for people of any age, especially
for teenagers in Spain.
There are many reasons why Spain attracts teenagers. The environment in Spain is spontaneous and informal which makes it
easy for adolescents to make friends. Additionally, the normal schedule in Spain is much more relaxed than in other
countries, which is more in line with the natural rhythms of youth. The lifestyle in Spain revolves around taking in fresh air,
walking and carrying out one's life in the city center. This allows teenagers in Spain to enjoy a certain freedom that they
may not be able to experience elsewhere. Spanish teenagers often get together in the city center and hang out, with nothing
to fear, since Spain is a very safe country.
Additionally, there are many things for teenagers in Spain to do during the year.

SPORTS AND ACTION

Spanish teenagers have many options to practice fun activities or sports in the outdoors.
In the summer, many teenagers in Spain practice adventure sports such as canoeing, rafting or climbing. In fact, there are
many companies dedicated to adventure sports in the country. In the winter, the same mountains that are alive and active in
the summer become great places to ski or snowboard.
Spanish teenagers can also have fun from coast to coast in this country blessed with over 3,000 kilometers of
coastline. Teenagers in Spaincan surf the wild waves of the Cantabrian Sea in the north or practice windsurfing and kit-
surfing in the blusterous Strait of Gibraltar.
If you prefer to watch sports rather than play them, there is no shortage of prestigious sporting events and famous athletes in
Spain. Watch the Formula 1, important tennis matches or catch an exciting Real Madrid or FC Barcelona European football
game… the list is endless.

THEME PARKS AND WATER PARKS

Spain has more theme parks than any other European country!
Some of the large North American studios have opened parks in Spain such as Port Aventura by Universal Studios
near Barcelona, or the Warner Brothers Park in Madrid. These theme parks attract a large number of teenagers from Spain as
well as families from all over Europe. Warner Brother's Park has some of the most exciting rides while Universal's Port
Aventura Park, apart from its record breaking attractions, is famous for its attention to detail in the thematic areas.
Other parks are also popular with teenagers in Spain. Isla Mágica, in Seville, recreates important moments in history such
as the American Conquest. Terra Mítica Park, in Alicante, is also dedicated to ancient times with various attractions and
monuments from different civilizations.
Spanish teens can also enjoy some more classic amusement parks; some are over one hundred years old. These parks, such
as the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, the Parque de Atracciones del Tibidabo in Barcelona and Tívoli Park in Malaga,
have been continually renovated over the years but still manage to conserve their classic appeal.
During the hot summer, teenagers in Spain can head to one of the country's many water parks. Aquópolis is particularly
famous with seven parks located throughout Spain including the largest water park in Europe in Villanueva de la Cañada,
Madrid. Other important water parks in Spain are located in famous vacation spots such as Aqualandia in Benidorm or
Aquarama in Benicasim.

GOING OUT

Going out is a popular activity for teenagers in Spain because it is a great way to experience the true environment of the
country. In all Spanish towns and villages it is tradition to hold festivals and other celebrations in the street including
outdoor concerts, markets, fairs, firework displays, competitions, food stands, parades etc. Get swept up in all the fun
celebrations in Spain, just like a Spanish teenager!
Spaniards are well known for their love of being outside where they carry out the majority of their social life. Teenagers in
Spain also spend a great deal of time outdoors having drinks and tapas with friends on bar terraces before going out at night.
In fact, there are many dance clubs especially for Spanish teenagers where they can hang out, dance and have fun without
any alcohol served.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Teens in Spain can also take advantage of the many programs and activities offered through the city and specially designed
for adolescents. Spanish teenagers can take up different sports or sign up for crafts, cooking or dancing classes. These
programs are free of charge and are designed to teach Spanish youth how to have fun in a healthy and safe way.

Spanish Education System

Education in Spain. Schooling in Spain is compulsory between the ages of six
years and sixteen. Find out more information about Spanish Education System.

Schooling in Spain is state funded and is compulsory between the ages of six years and
sixteen, given that no courses are repeated. Although non-university education in state-
funded schools is free in Spain, parents must pay for books, materials, and sometimes
uniforms for their children. Once the required schooling is finished, a student can then
opt to continue on to high school (bachillerato) or move on to a vocational school. Only
those who finish high school can be admitted to a university.
There are three categories of Spanish schools in the Spanish education system: public
schools (colegios públicos), state-funded private schools (colegios concertados) and
private schools (colegios privados). Since some private schools are publically funded
the line between public and private is blurred.
Spanish school hours depend on each type of school. Some may run from 9 am through
5 pm with a two hour lunch break. Other schools may begin at 9 and end at 2 pm, the
typical lunch time in Spain. Some schools may have only a one hour lunch break and
may or may not provide a cafeteria for children to eat at the school. For working
parents, Spanish schools offer a paid morning program starting as early as 7 am and an
afterschool program of extracurricular activities, free or paid for, depending on the
activity.
The literacy rate of a country, while not a perfect measure, is often used to rank
educational systems worldwide. According to the CIA World Factbook, 97.9% of
Spain's population was literate in 2003. The figure encompasses a literacy rate in
Spain of 98.7% among males and 97.2% among females. Literacy, in this case, is
defined as a percentage of the population over the age of 15 that is able to read and
write. Other sources indicate that the Spanish literacy rate is actually higher.
The structure of the Spanish Education System follows the Fundamental Law of
Education, known as LOE in Spain.
 SPANISH PRESCHOOL

Preschool in Spain is divided into two cycles, the first cycle is for children between the
ages of 0-3 years old and the second cycle is for children from 3-6 years old. The first
cycle of preschool is not free, although there are aid programs for families in need. The
second cycle of preschool education in Spain is free for all students. This cycle is often
considered as an integral part of the education system. Normally, the first cycle of
preschool is taught in special nursery schools or daycares (colegios infantiles) and the
second cycle is taught at primary schools. However, more and more primary schools in
Spain are beginning to offer the first cycle of preschool as well.

SPANISH PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary school in Spain, often referred to as simply “colegio”, is the beginning of the
government required education in Spain. Primary school is made up of 6 academic
school years from age 6 through 12. The system is divided into three cycles of 2 years
each. Generally, the first cycle is from age 6-7, the second cycle from 8-9, and the third
cycle from 10-11 years of age.
The objective is to give Spanish students a common and solid basic education in culture,
oral expression, reading, writing and arithmetic. Required courses include: social
studies, art education, physical education, the Spanish language and, if different, the
official language of the Autonomous Community, foreign languages and math.
The teaching methodology is directed towards developing pupils and integrating their
different experiences and learning styles. Spanish primary education is focused on
personalized and tailored classes depending on the level of each child.

SPANISH MIDDLE SCHOOL

After primary school in Spain students must continue on to Compulsory Secondary

Education (ESO) which generally lasts from age 12-16. Spanish secondary
education is divided into two cycles lasting two years each.
Once a Spanish student graduates from ESO, students have three different choices:

1. High school known as the Spanish Baccalaureate (Bachillerato)

2. Vocational/Professional training (Electrician, hairdresser, etc)
3. Enter the work force

SPANISH HIGH SCHOOL - SPANISH BACCALAUREATE

The Spanish high school Baccalaureate is non-compulsory free education that consists
of one cycle in two academic years for students age 16-18. The Spanish Baccalaureate
consists of a series of required common classes, elective classes and specialization
classes known as “modalidades”, or concentration in a certain discipline. A student
must specialize in one of the offered disciplines and if the students plan to continue on
to university, certain concentrations may be required in order to be admitted into certain
university programs.
Required classes of the Spanish Baccalaureate include 2 years of both Castilian
language and literature (or the co-official language) and foreign language, and 1 year of
philosophy and civic responsibility, physical education, contemporary science, history
of philosophy and the history of Spain.
Elective courses may include: a second foreign language, information technology,
dance, art, theater, music, or other classes depending on the school.
The specialization part of the Spanish high school Baccalaureate requires a student
choose one of 4 concentrations for which they will be required to take 3-4 classes a
year. Each concentration has obligatory classes and other classes from which to choose
from.
The specialized concentrations and corresponding types of courses:

1. Arts: The arts discipline is divided into two concentrations: art, image and design; or
performing arts, music and dance.
2. Science and Technology: math, biology, physics, chemistry, geology, technical
drawing, etc.
3. Humanities and Social Sciences: applied math, economics, Latin, Greek, contemporary
history, geography, art history, business economics, etc.

Students who successfully complete the requirements of the Spanish high school
Baccalaureate will receive a diploma. They may then opt for vocational training, a
university education, or in some cases both. In order to continue on to the university
they must take an entrance exam (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad - PAU). The test
results together with the student's academic record and grades will determine not only
access to the university but also which degrees the student can pursue.

SPANISH VOCATIONAL TRAINING - FP

There are two types of vocational training in Spain: Middle Grade Training cycles
(Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio) for those who only have their ESO (compulsory
education) diploma and Superior Training Cycles (Ciclos Formativos de Grado
Superior) for those who possess a Spanish Baccalaureate diploma. Those who complete
a Superior Training Cycle may then pursue certain university degrees.

SPANISH UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Spanish University degrees are usually four years long, with the exception of medicine
degrees and some others which are 6 years long. By 2010, in accordance with the
European Commission of Education and Training, Spanish higher education will consist
of: Bachelor degrees (Grado) for four year programs, Master degrees for 2 year post-
graduate programs, and Doctorates for post-masters education.
There are many internationally recognized Spanish universities such as Complutense
University of Madrid, the University of Barcelona, the University of Seville, The
University of Granada and the University of Valencia, among many others. Other
historically important and reputable Spanish universities include the University of
Salamanca and the University of Alcala.