How children adjust to the school language

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain with school-age children. By the end, you will know what progress to expect at your child's age and when to worry or ask the school for more.

Start with "How long does learning the school language take at each age?" It sets realistic expectations for a young child, a pre-teen and a teenager. From there, move to the article that fits your child: the one on ages 3 to 8, the one on secondary school (ESO), or the one on a child who still cannot follow lessons after several months.

Key rules

• Conversational fluency: Everyday conversational fluency usually takes about 1 to 2 years, while grade-level academic language usually takes about 5 to 7 years.
• When to ask for a review: If there is no visible progress in understanding or participation after about 6 months, ask the tutor for a review, and raise concerns sooner if your child is distressed.
• Silent period: A silent period usually lasts from a few weeks to about 6 months, and it is worth seeking assessment if it goes beyond that with no growth in understanding.
• Support: Support for newly arrived pupils is set by each region, so names, hours and eligibility differ.
• Placement: A pupil with serious gaps can be placed one year below their age group, which leaves less time before the age limit.
• Infantil: Infantil is not compulsory, but almost all children attend from age 3.

How children adjust to the school language: the whole process, step by step

• Expect a quiet first stretch while your child listens: first weeks to 6 months; the article on a child who stays silent in class covers how to respond

• Look for understanding of routine instructions and single words: around 3 months in; the article on how long learning takes at each age sets expectations by age

• Look for full sentences with errors: usually months 4 to 9

• Consider extra language exposure outside school: from about age 6, or when the school flags a gap; the article on children aged 3 to 8 explains when it helps

• Ask the tutor for a review if understanding or participation has not visibly grown, and go sooner if your child is distressed: after 6 months; the article on a child who still cannot follow lessons covers next actions

• Check for the gap between easy conversation and classroom language: from 1 to 2 years in, when everyday fluency usually arrives; the article on a child who sounds fluent but struggles in class explains it

• Plan subject-heavy teaching and any regional language for teenagers: on arrival in secondary school; read the article on how a teenager will cope in ESO

• Expect grade-level academic language to be in place: after about 5 to 7 years

How children adjust to the school language: questions that cross several articles

Is it normal for a child to say little after three months at a Spanish school?

Yes, it is normal for a child to say little after three months, as long as understanding is growing. Many children follow routine instructions and use single words and set phrases by then. Read the article on how long learning takes at each age, and the one on a child who stays silent in class.

When is silence a reason to seek assessment?

Silence is a reason to seek assessment when it goes beyond about 6 months with no growth in understanding. Also act if your child is silent in the home language too, or shows distress or withdrawal. Read the article on a child who stays silent in class, then the one on a child who still cannot follow lessons.

How can I tell slow progress from a learning difficulty?

Slow progress in Spanish alone does not point to a learning difficulty. Warning signs are delays in the home language, little progress over more than 1 to 2 years despite good support, or problems in every setting. Ask the tutor to refer your child to the school's orientation team; the article on a child who still cannot follow lessons explains the steps.

Can a child who sounds fluent still need help with classroom language?

Yes, a child who chats easily can still struggle with reading, writing and subject vocabulary. Falling grades in language-heavy subjects are an early sign, especially for teenagers. Read the article on a child who sounds fluent but struggles in class, and the one on how a teenager will cope in ESO.

Can a newly arrived teenager be exempted from the regional language?

Yes, in regions with a co-official language, late arrivals can get adaptations, but the rules differ by region. Exemptions are usually temporary, and Catalonia, for example, uses a welcome classroom with gradual entry into Catalan. Read the article on how a teenager will cope in ESO, and the one on coping with Spanish, a regional language and English together.