Hello everyone, my name is Audrey and I'm a normal American girl living in Mexico. This video is all about differences that I've seen in between schools in the US and in Mexico. Number one, culture celebrations.
In the US, a school may have four, five, or six programs a year, like at Christmas, Mother's Day, or have a spirit week with Pajama Day or Crazy Hair Day. In Mexico, we may have special activities for Independence Day, United Nations Day, Revolution Day, Day of the Dead, Christmas, Three Kings Day, Valentine's Day, Candidates for the School Queen, Mother's Day, and I am sure I missed some. These are frequently big celebrations that include costumes, food, music, and lots of dancing.
With celebrations often go parades. Schools usually march in formation in their uniforms. Sometimes schools may get creative with costumes, music, dancing, and other fun stuff.
Number two, patriotism. In the U.S. there is a flag waving in front of the school. Most classrooms have a flag in them. They have the Pledge of Allegiance once a week and you place your hand over your heart. In sporting events usually start with a national anthem.
In Mexico you usually don't see flags flying out in front or in the classrooms. Every school has a color guard, even the preschools. It's considered a privilege to participate.
flag ceremony once a week they sing the national anthem, the state song, and say the pledge known as the juramento a la bandera. Sometimes they play another song while the flag enters and exits. We salute with our hands sideways over the heart except we put out our arm towards the flag during the pledge.
Escolta is what we call the color guard. It's serious business. There are competitions between schools where the groups have to do complicated steps.
Students practice for a week. and it's tough competition. Number three, uniforms.
In the US most schools don't have uniforms. My old school there did, but it was relaxed. Wear pants in either one of these two colors, wear a pillow in one of these four colors.
In Mexico, almost all the schools have strict uniforms, even preschool. Some high schools don't. Usually, it's shirt, cardigan sweater, sweater vest, skirts for girls or slacks for boys, and knee-high socks. Except for PE days, which is two times a week, we wear a uniform of sweats and a school t-shirt or polo. Number four, testing and grades.
In the U.S., there are lots of standardized testing. Like every... Every grade takes them several times each year. Each teacher gives tests just whenever they need to. Grades are usually from A through F.
Although some elementary schools may use a different letter system. In Mexico, there are very few standardized tests at the elementary or middle school levels. In high school, there are more.
For regular classroom tests, the school will schedule and exam week. They occur every month or so. All the subjects have their tests that week. This is common at all levels from preschool on up. Grades here are given on a scale from 1 to 10. 10 being a perfect grade.
grade. Number five, books and I have my bookworm with me. In the U.S. each classroom has a set of textbooks used year after year.
Kids use a few notebooks to keep track of work and teachers copy off lots of worksheets. In Mexico the government issues a set of paperback textbooks and workbooks to all kids grades one to six. Students older or younger like in preschool or kindergarten have to buy their own books each year. We have a notebook for each subject. They are usually covered in coloured paper and then with a clear plastic or contact paper on top.
Each textbook and notebook has a tag with the student's name on it. Number 6. The Library. In the US, most schools have a large library with thousands of books of every kind. At the elementary level, they visit the library about once a week to check out their books. Most students read a lot for fun.
In Mexico, not many schools have library rooms. It's usually just a shelf in your classroom or a cart to choose from. Sadly, reading for fun is less common. Number 7, teachers names. In the US, students use a title like Miss, Mrs. or Mr. and the last name of the teacher like Miss Rogers or Mr. Jones.
Most teachers don't like it when you just call them teachers. In Mexico, most teachers go by their first names using the title maestro or profe for the men and maestra for women. So I would say maestra Monica or profe Gerardo.
It is also completely fine just to say maestra or profe. The exception would be the English teachers. They are called teacher and their first name.
For example, teacher Lisbe. Number eight. Buses.
In the US, it's not uncommon for students that live a long distance from the school to be picked up by a big yellow school bus. In Mexico, very few schools have their own buses. The ones that do, you pay the school to use it. Usually, your parents will take you in their car, on a city bus, or you will walk with them, including middle school and high school levels. Anyway, what was I saying?
Ready? Mhm. Oh wait, it's still going. Yes it is. Hey guys, it's me, Audrey.
Hey guys, it's me, Audrey. I just went on the wall and I'm like, wait a second, what am I doing? Okay. Oh wait.
That works too, you can use that if you want. No! What am I saying? No, I can't.
And... Oh yeah. Weeeee!
One more time? Just in case? Yes.
That's hard. I can't get myself in the middle. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes. Number one. Nope.
Number four. Standard Eye Testing. I said Standard Eye. I said that I said Standard Eye. Number four.
Standard Eye and... There are lots of standard eye testing... standardized test...
Standardized testing! No, no, do it really so I can edit it in... Standard... I can't... Look at the camera and say standard...
Standardized... I can't... I can't, I can't, I can't, I won't do it anymore. Thanks for watching World Audrey!
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