Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

I asked both of my contacts different questions to get more of an idea on the differences among the countries. One contact is Mrs. Lisset Noles who is currently living in Venezuela (South America). My second contact is Krystel Theodore which lives in Trinidad and Tobago. Both of the contacts are eager to answer my questions and in return I let them know how things are done in the United States.
Both my contacts answered the question about the issue of play. I explained to them how play was not included in the curriculum like it used to be, and she explained to me how play is viewed in South America.

Mrs. Noles Response:

In my country, the students are allowed and encouraged to play because we believe that builds skills, relationships and helps them socialize. They play different games such as: Hide and Seek, Circle Tag and some others. They also have Physical Education as a subject and they play different sports which help them learn how to work as a team.

 Ms. Theodore Response:

In Trinidad play is very much encouraged and included in the daily lessons. Play is a huge part of our culture and students can gain information from each other. Parents encourage play more than the teachers. For example, when children get home they are to do homework and then go out and play. Students can’t watch television and go to events until the weekend.

 I also asked her if she could explain the procedure on how schooling works in Trinidad, in regard to the age they start and etc.

Re:
Children usually begin formal schooling at the age of 4½ -5 years old.  As a member of the United Nations we have also adopted the E.C.C.E curriculum as well as standards. Children then move on to Primary School. In Trinidad and Tobago we have government schools as well as religious based body type’s schools that are usually government assisted as well as private schools where parents pay fees yearly or by the term for their children to attend.  In the Primary school system you begin from infants I to II then move along to STD 1 through 5 preparing for S.E.A (Secondary Entrance Assessment). To you that would be high school to us it’s called Secondary school. It is the same as primary school in terms of government, religious and private. In Secondary school in your fifth year you write an exam (CSEC) OR GCE which is kind of like S.A.T however it deals with all subjects areas taught in school. (math, language arts, sciences, -bio, chem ,physics, integrated science,  agricultural science, social-studies, history, Spanish, French, literature, art, physical education etc. technical education (wood work, technical drawing and many other. After examination which is a Caribbean examination done by students of the Caribbean you graduate with your certificate of subjects passed with their respective grades and move on to tertiary education.