el profesor, el maestro

Question

As a math teacher in a school where spanish at home is the norm. I have to call home. When I introduce myself to parents which word is more appropriate? El profesor o el maestro?

I say something like, Hola, soy el professor de matematicas por tu hijo. Te Ilamo porgue _________.

Is maestro more appropriate for middle school?

Buenas tardes, soy el profesor de matemáticas DE su hijo. Lo llamo porque........ - polenta1, Sep 16, 2017

si, profesor esta bien. Hola, soy el profesor de matematicas de su hijo, lo llamo porque - Dana Paola2594, Sep 16, 2017

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Sep 16, 2017

Answer 1

I agree with polenta and this is how we address these professionals in Mexico as well. Also you must speak to the parents with usted - not tú, unless you are a friend.

Additionally, we use the title of Maestro(a) as respect for anyone who is very good at his craft (not people who have their own titles such as "Ingeniero, Licenciado",etc), ie: a very good carpenter, mechanic, etc.

True. for example a musician we consider exfellent would be addressed as "maestro" - polenta1, Sep 16, 2017

Así es, Polis, además en cuanto al director de una orquesta creo que todo el mundo en varios idiomas le dice "maestro" ya que muchísimo de los términos musicales vienen del italiano - 005faa61, Sep 16, 2017

we use maestro in music for excellence but I assumed it was Italian like we use diva which is Italian though it can now sound negative - Mardle, Sep 16, 2017

Probably Italian used in Spanish. - Polenta, Sep 17, 2017

Answer 2

In my country we call elementary schoolteachers maestro/a.

When you are a highschool teacher it's profesor/a.

It could vary in other countries.

At the university it's definitely profesor.

We don't say Sra. Rodríguez or Sr. Pérez. to speak to them,

Yes, eso coincide con lo que escribí antes. En la primaria son "maestros/as. - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Sep 16, 2017

I susbscribe to this. - Gekkosan, Sep 16, 2017

not here...Spain is different :P jeje, we hardly ever use maestro at all, maybe in parvularios - 006595c6, Sep 16, 2017

¿A los docentes de enseñanza primaria le dicen profesor/a en España ? - Polenta, Sep 17, 2017

Answer 3

Kevin, I would probably use “Buenos días”, or “Buenas tardes” instead of “Hola”. I would also use “profes-sor” instead of “maestro”. I am a native speaker of American English. That being said regarding “professor”, I think that “maestra” is better than “profesora” when the instructor is female. I can’t explain why. It just sounds better to me.

I’m starting to think about “Mr. Tibbs”. I want to watch that movie again.

lovely movie, I love old films... - 006595c6, Sep 16, 2017

Answer 4

.

say something like, Hola, soy el professor de matematicas por tu hijo. Te Ilamo porgue

So this would be something like:

Buenas tardes/buenos días: Soy Peter Smith, el profesor de matemáticas de su hijo/hija. Le llamo porque....

Don't forget to say your name.

Julian who is from Mexico didn't say if they use maestro or profesor, I guess it is maestro. Here in Spain it would be profesor, maestro is very old fashioned.

Es verdad. A veces en alguna región se pueden usar términos antiguos. Creo que pollera o frazada. - Polenta, Sep 17, 2017

Nosotros los usamos normalmente. - Polenta, Sep 17, 2017

Answer 5

Wow, so many nuances... hmm It does seem better to begin with buenas tardes, because when I hear people call in on spanish radio in this area that is how they begin... usually. The host normally says, bueno... and the conversation begins.

There seems to be a clear distinction between professor and maestro but depends largely on the country. Most of the answers also separate elementary from high school. So, my question now, especially for Mexican spanish, how is middle school grade 6-8 regarded?

Answer 6

In Mexico it would be much more common to use maestro, look at Julian Chivis answer, he is from Mexico.

In my country we call elementary schoolteachers maestro/a.

He agreed with this answer, from Polenta, also a native speaker, from Uruguay.