5 Typical Spanish Classroom Quirks

Teaching in Spain has given me a fascinating peek into how students in another country go about their school day -and the typical Spanish classroom quirks that I’ve seen repeatedly. 

Just as there are some behaviors that are very much American (prom, homecoming, etc.). I’ve also noticed a few Spanish classroom quirks that are specific to my students, and the schools I’ve taught at, in Spain.

For those of you who have taught in Spain, or are thinking of doing so, these customs are pretty hard to miss.

Take a peek at the list of typical Spanish classroom quirks below to see if you agree.

The One-Finger Hand Raise

This one seemed silly in the beginning, but now I’m so used to it I’ve caught myself doing it as well.

In the US, we raise our hand by extending our whole arm -and all five fingers- in the air. Spaniards typically raise their arm and just one finger -their index finger.

In my 5-plus years here, I’ve very rarely seen any students raising their arm and all five fingers.

The Middle-Finger Point

Americans use our index finger for pointing.

We reserve our middle finger for more hostile -and adult- encounters.

It’s particularly jarring to watching students, teachers (and anyone, really!) use their middle finger. It’s all innocent though, so don’t assume that one of your students is being cheeky.

Affection in the Classroom

American teachers are explicitly told not to be affectionate. Hugs are limited. Some teachers go as far as only giving side hugs for fear of being reprimanded by administrators or parents.

Culturally, Spaniards are much more affectionate than Americans and that transfers to the classroom.

You can expect to see teachers and students hugging and giving and receiving kisses on the cheek. A kiss on both cheeks, for example, is a culturally expected norm on a student’s birthday. This is seen as completely normal – and it would be odd not to do it.

In fact, I’ve seen American teachers and teaching assistants get (very nicely) reprimanded for not being affectionate enough!

It’s pretty sweet once you get used to it. Most kids want that affection, and if a kid is asking for a hug, there’s no reason to deprive them of it.

Referring to Teachers By Their First Names

Teachers, from infantil to bachillerato, are referred to by their first name. And, in many cases, not even referred to by name at all. I’ve been called teacher, profe, and seño.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this lack of formality. In fact, I think it helps maintain a focus on building strong relationships (another pillar of Spanish culture) instead of creating distance between student and teacher.

Less Respect Towards Teachers

That being said, kids are allowed to be kids. There is no rigid structure to the day.

I’ve worked in schools in the US where we planned our days down to the minute -and were expected to keep to that schedule.

However, this informality and less structured environment does lead to a phenomenon where students aren’t as respectful of their teachers as they should be. That shows itself in talking over teachers, talking back to teachers (even innocently), and going so far as telling teachers “no!” (in elementary!).

This is the reality in many classrooms. It’s often seen as “just the way things are,” instead of a problem that needs fixing.

Conclusion

It’s been a privilege to have worked in both American and Spanish schools. I love to see the differences and similarities between students -just like the quirks I’ve run into above.

What to know more about teaching in Spain? Click here to read What Schools in Spain Do Right and my top 5 Reasons to Teach in Spain.