Cultural Knowledge
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In the Spanish culture, they treat the word freind differently than we do. A freind in our culture doesnt have to involve a deep freindship. Deep freindship is called a best freind. We rarely use the word aqqauintance, especially among adolescnces. So we will usually have many, many freinds, some we may keep for life, some for only a few years. In the mexican culture, an amigo <freind> is referred to as a freind for life.They dont move around much so they know people for a long time. A conocido <aqquaintance> is someone you might get along with well, but it isnt a deep freindship.
Mexico schooling is alike to the US in some ways but in many ways, its not.
These are strictly generalizations of the differences and similiarities.
| Mexico | United States |
| Primary School<1-6> | Elementary School<Varies 1-5> |
| Middle School<7-9> | Middle School<Varies 6-8> |
| Uniforms required 4 days a week | Varies-some schools have them-some dont |
| Students stay in the same room
teachers go from class to class |
Varies-generally in 5/5th garde you start switching classes |
| When a teacher enters room, students stand | Does not happen. Respect isnt on our list of piorities. |
| The teachher calls students by last name. | Occasionally happens-most teachers use first or first and last. |
| The students address their teachers as maestra or maestro without last name. | Teachers are called Mr/Mrs/Ms followed by last name. |
| More class time is spent on teacher lectures than group discussions. | More time spent on group activities/discussions than teacher lectures. |
| Students spend from 15 to 30 minutes per class on homework each night. | Students are *supposed* to spend from 15 to 30 minutes per class on homework each night. |
| Teachers collect the homework the next day rather than reviewing it in class. | Sometimes homework is reviewed-sometimes colected. |
|
Hora |
lunes |
martes |
miercoles |
jueves |
viernes |
|
7:00-7:50 |
Espanol |
Ingles |
Dibujo tecnico |
Teatro |
Teatro |
|
7:50-8:40 |
Matematicas |
Espanol |
Dibujo tecnico |
espanol |
Ingles |
|
8:40-9:30 |
Teatro |
Ciencias naturales |
Laboratorio |
Matematicas |
Espanol |
|
9:30-10:20 |
Ingles |
Ciencias naturales |
Laboratorio |
Taller |
Taller |
|
10:20-10:40 |
Receso |
Receso |
Receso |
Receso |
Receso |
|
10:40-11:30 |
Ciencias sociales |
Matematicas |
Espanol |
Taller |
Taller |
|
11:30-12:20 |
Ciencias sociales |
Ingles |
Ciencias Sociales |
Taller |
Taller |
|
12:20-1:10 |
Ciencias naturales |
Libre |
Ciencias sociales |
Educacion fisica |
Educacion fisica |
|
1:10-2:00 |
Ciencias naturales |
Libre |
Libre |
Ciencias sociales |
Ciencias sociales |
<this was adapted from Paso a Paso, pg. 74>
At recess <receso>, students play games or sports, mostly soccer<futbol>, or they can just chat in the schoolyard. They can buy sandwiches, popsicles, ice cream cones, popcorn, sode, juice, etc.
Mexican schools also issue report cards, although a bit different from ours.
In the United States, we base ur gardes on tests, quizzes, class participation, projects, homework, portfolios, etc..In Mexico, gardes are based almost entirely on tests and homework.
Grading Scales:
| Mexico | USA |
| 9,10 | A |
| 8 | B |
| 7 | C |
| 6 | D |
| 5 or lower | F |
Students in Mexico may also be graded on behavior, responsibility, cooperation, and appearance.
| Mexico Letter Scale | US Translation |
| S-sobresaliente | |
| MB-muy beano | Very Good |
| B-bueno | Good |
| R-regular | Regular |
| I-inuficiente | Insufficient |
This park, located in Mexico City, is one of the largest city parks in the world.
It has many things, including:
castle
zoo
botanical garden
several museums
<inculding world famous Museo de Antropologia>
aumsement park
<many rides-roller coaster, Ferris Wheel, bumper cars, etc.>
Families often spend an entire Sunday afternoon at the park.