School Talk in Spain
Easy Spanish expressions for talking about school years, marks, exams and homework with other parents and your kids.
Spanish children do primaria (6 to 12), then the ESO and bachillerato, ending with the selectividad entrance exam that decides university places. Marks go from 0 to 10, a 5 is a pass, and failed subjects have a recuperación. These cards follow a chat at the school gate, a meeting with the class tutor and an evening with a teenager who has failed maths.
- 1
¿En qué curso está tu hijo?
What year is your son in?
- 2
Está en cuarto de primaria.
He's in year four of primary.
- 3
¿A qué cole va?
Which school does she go to?
- 4
Tiene extraescolares todas las tardes.
He's got after-school activities every afternoon.
- 5
Está hincando los codos para los exámenes.
She's studying her socks off for her exams.
- 6
Es una empollona.
She's a real swot.
- 7
He suspendido mates.
I failed maths.
- 8
Lo demás lo he aprobado todo.
I passed everything else.
- 9
He sacado un nueve en inglés.
I got a nine in English.
- 10
Esta semana está de exámenes.
This week she's in the middle of exams.
- 11
Unos chicos de mi clase han hecho novillos.
Some kids in my class skipped school.
- 12
Y ni se te ocurra copiar en el examen.
And don't even think about cheating in the exam.
- 13
Está chupado.
It's a piece of cake.
- 14
Quiere estudiar Medicina en la uni.
She wants to study medicine at uni.
- 15
Necesita mucha nota en la selectividad.
She needs top marks in the university entrance exam.
- 16
La reunión de padres es el martes.
The parents' meeting is on Tuesday.
- 17
Le cuesta un poco la lectura.
He finds reading a bit hard.
- 18
Está mejorando un montón.
He's improving loads.
- 19
Los deberes me traen de cabeza.
Homework is driving me round the bend.
- 20
Mañana, a por todas.
Tomorrow, go for it!