School & Education
El instituto y la educación
⏱ 45-60 minWhat you'll learn
- ✓ Describe school subjects and give opinions on them
- ✓ Talk about teachers, rules, and school facilities
- ✓ Compare the Spanish and British school systems
- ✓ Discuss school uniform and daily timetable
- ✓ Express plans for future education
Grammar Focus
Essential grammar for this topic with exam tips and links to full explanations.
Expressing opinions
Use a variety of opinion phrases to talk about school subjects.
Examples:
Creo que las matemáticas son útiles
I think maths is useful
En mi opinión, la historia es interesante
In my opinion, history is interesting
Me parece que el profesor es estricto
It seems to me the teacher is strict
Pienso que los idiomas son importantes
I think languages are important
⚠️Exam tip: Vary your opinion phrases - don't just use "pienso que" every time!
Comparatives with subjects
Compare school subjects using más/menos... que and tan... como.
Examples:
El español es más fácil que el francés
Spanish is easier than French
La química es menos interesante que la biología
Chemistry is less interesting than biology
Las matemáticas son tan difíciles como las ciencias
Maths is as difficult as science
Mi asignatura favorita es el inglés
My favourite subject is English
⚠️Exam tip: Using comparisons shows you can do more than basic descriptions!
Learn more about Comparisons →Talking about school rules
Use modal verbs and impersonal structures to discuss rules.
Examples:
Hay que llevar uniforme
You have to wear uniform
No se puede usar el móvil
You can't use your phone
Se debe respetar a los profesores
You should respect teachers
Está prohibido correr en los pasillos
Running in corridors is forbidden
⚠️Exam tip: hay que, se puede, and está prohibido are key structures for discussing rules!
Learn more about Modal Verbs Obligation →Future plans and education
HigherDiscuss future educational plans using the future tense and conditional.
Examples:
El año que viene estudiaré el bachillerato
Next year I will study A-levels
Me gustaría ir a la universidad
I would like to go to university
Espero sacar buenas notas
I hope to get good grades
Si apruebo, estudiaré medicina
If I pass, I will study medicine
⚠️Exam tip: Mixing tenses (present, future, conditional) shows good range!
🔗 Key Verbs for this Topic
Quick Reference
Giving Opinions
Structure opinions as: opinion + porque + reason. Use a range of opinion verbs for higher marks.
Me encanta el español porque es útilI love Spanish because it's useful
Odio las matemáticas ya que son aburridasI hate maths since it's boring
Comparatives
más/menos + adjective + que to compare two things. Use mejor (better) and peor (worse) as irregulars.
El inglés es más fácil que el francésEnglish is easier than French
La historia es menos interesante que la cienciaHistory is less interesting than science
Verb Conjugation Tables
estudiar
| yo | estudio |
| tú | estudias |
| él/ella | estudia |
| nosotros | estudiamos |
| vosotros | estudiáis |
| ellos/ellas | estudian |
aprender
| yo | aprendo |
| tú | aprendes |
| él/ella | aprende |
| nosotros | aprendemos |
| vosotros | aprendéis |
| ellos/ellas | aprenden |