Información general

¡Leamos!

El sistema educativo in Mexico is basically the same as ours, but does contain some surprises. The following chart shows the seven basic divisions.

As you can see, Jardín de niños through Preparatoria is basically the same as our school system. One difference, of course, is the names. The nivel Jardín de niños corresponds to our pre-school and kindergarten. The nivel Primaria corresponds to our grade school. The nivel Secundaria corresponds to our junior high (grades 7 - 9), and the nivel Preparatoria corresponds to our high school (grades 10 - 12).

¿Recuerdas?

1. Which level in the Mexican school system corresponds to our elementary school?

a) jardín de niños b) preparatoria c) primaria d) secundaria

2. Which level in the Mexican school system corresponds to our junior high?

a) jardín de niños b) preparatoria c) primaria d) secundaria

3. Which level in the Mexican school system corresponds to our high school?

a) jardín de niños b) preparatoria c) primaria d) secundaria

¡Leamos!

One very interesting difference is that the government of Mexico requires the students to attend through secundaria only. Even more interesting is that this law is not really enforced. In other words, children can be in the work force at a very early age.

picture of young girl selling papas fritas

Preparatoria is equivalent to our high school in that students receive a certificado upon completion. At this level, students escogen un dirección. They can choose a general direction, a technical direction, or a humanities direction. Students choosing a general direction usually do not continue their education at the nivel licenciatura. Another interesting difference is that students only work on a major. There are no minors. Also, the classes at this level are intense in order to better prepare for the nivel licenciatura.

In conversation with Mexican students two confusing words come up a lot: certificado and diploma. The certificado is the official document issued by the Mexican government upon successful completion of jardín de niños, primaria, secundaria, and preparatoria. There is a difference between the certificado and the diplomas that many students receive. Diplomas are papers printed by sources other than the government and can be given by anyone to anyone for any reason. For example, diplomas can be awarded for placing first or second in a class, or for just completing a workshop. Certificados are official documents issued by the Mexican government.

¿Recuerdas?

Directions: Read each statement/question below. Choose the most correct response(s) in the word bank that follows. There may be two or more answers
for each.

1. Ricardo is 15 years old and has just successfully completed his school program. What level did Ricardo just complete, and which type of paperwork did he receive?

a) jardín de niños b) preparatoria c) primaria d) secundaria e) diploma f) certificado

2. Carlos is 12 years old and has just successfully completed his school program. His test scores ranked him first in his class. What level did Carlos just complete, and which type of paperwork did he receive?

a) jardín de niños b) preparatoria c) primaria d) secundaria e) diploma f) certificado

3. Juan is 18 years old and has just successfully completed his school program. What level did Juan just complete, and which type of paperwork did he receive?

a) jardín de niños b) preparatoria c) primaria d) secundaria e) diploma f) certificado

¡Leamos!

The superior or nivel licenciatura is equivalent to our Bachelors degree. At this level students graduate as professionals in medicine, law, teaching, etc. The level of study is so intense that students don’t have to attend a separate medical school after graduation. In fact, there is a special program for medical students within the nivel licenciatura. Within this level, students attend 1 year of Propedútico, 5 years of Medicine School, and 1 year of Social Service. Then, they graduate as médicos (generales), or as we commonly say in the United States, doctors (general practioners). In Mexico the term doctors refers to people who have successfully completed the Doctorado nivel. In English, we refer to this as having earned the highest university degree, the Doctorate. In English, we often refer to our medical personnel as doctors even though they don't have a docorate.

The Post Grado levels are equivalent to our University Masters and Doctorate degrees. It's at these levels that médicos can specialize.

As in the U.S., there are escuelas públicas and escuelas privadas at all levels, both of which include escuelas técnicas at the secundaria level.

¡Escribamos!

Actividad

1. Cluster diagrams are a useful way to organize ideas before you begin writing. Using the information you just learned, draw a cluster comparing and contrasting the Mexican school system and the USA school system. Use the example below to help you begin. Remember, the more details you have now, the better prepared you will be for the next part of this actividad.

2. In Spanish, write a short paragraph comparing/contrasting the Mexican school with the American school. Explain through our high school level, but do not go beyond our high school level. Include the names of the levels, the years attended, the ages of the students, and the type of documentation earned. Your paragraph should include a topic sentence at the beginning and a concluding sentence at the end. Successful closing strategies may include one of the following: summarizing the supporting details, stating a personal opinion, asking a question, or restating the topic sentence in other words, or stating a logical conclusion.