·     Education. Interview your language partner or host family to learn about the education system in Spain and report your findings comparing and contrasting the Spanish system with the U.S. system. Share your opinion based on your experience and findings. Some questions you might ask your host family or language partner:

·        How and when do students choose a major? What is their typical course load? Do they take any courses outside of their major? How many years does it usually take to earn a degree?

·        Where do university students live? Are they involved in clubs or extracurricular activities? What is their daily schedule like?

·        How much does it cost to attend a university in Spain? Are there scholarships available? Do students work while in school?

          The educational system of Spain is vastly different than the American system. First off, students take a standardized test in high school similar to the SAT/ACT. The score they receive on this test determines the type of major they can choose. From the time they enter into college they are put into a pipeline for a career path. This is different than America as many students go into college without a major and may come out of college not knowing what they want to do for a career. In Spain however, students pick a career/major such as medicine, begin that their first year of college and study that field of choice for the rest of college.

          The second big difference between American and Spanish education systems is the difference between public and private schools. In America, private universities generally have higher rankings, better professors, and attract higher achieving students. Students have to pay substantial amounts of money for private universities and it can be argued that a degree from a private American university will translate into higher professional success. In Spain, this is the opposite. Public universities typically have higher standards, and most are free to students. Students can go to the higher quality universities for less money however these schools are more competitive. Private universities are seen as less prestigious as it is thought that one essentially “pays” for their degree and grades whereas at public universities grade have to be earned.

          From my perspective, the Spanish educational system makes a lot of sense. The fact that public universities are free but competitive means that students will gain entrance based on academic performance and not on how much they are able to pay for school. This gives students a more level playing field and also allows students to come out of college and into the work force without debt. While salaries for Spaniards is generally not as high as Americans, the cost of living and education is less expensive, so Spaniards can get a solid education for a low price and enter the workforce as doctors, lawyers, accountants etc. with way less debt than American students. The Spanish education system allows the students with the most merit to enter into and succeed in universities. I prefer this system to American education systems as the focus is heavily on grades and merits and not wealth or ability to pay for a degree.