Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: English Only! We recently finished reading and discussing The House on Mango Street in my 7th grade English class. Students had mixed reactions to the book, but they were really into discussing the issues in the book. Last Tuesday, I assigned my students to small groups to discuss Esperanza's (the main character in the book) experiences in her new school. Two of my Hispanic students in one of the groups started speaking Spanish to each other, but it was obvious that they were talking about Esperanza's experiences. So, I did not mind this. However, some of my other students started staring at these students and two of them said "English, please! You are in America." I told my students that it was okay for them to speak Spanish because they were on task. Then, some of my other students protested my position and said "if all international students speak their native languages, then how are we English-only speaking students going to understand anything?" How should I respond to this situation because it seems like I will have this issue again? Should I not allow any other language in the classroom? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I feel that you did the right thing by allowing the students to speak in their native language...especially if it was apparent that they were on task and talking about the book. This would be a good time to teach/explain the way an immigrant student feels coming into an English only speaking classroom. Also, how would the English speaking student feel if he or she went to another country and were told they couldn't preserve their own culture by speaking to each other in English. I believe English speaking students feel that their culture is "the culture" in America and what they need to realize is that we are a country made up of many cultures and languages. Yes, English is our primary way of communicating but why shouldn't other cultures be allowed to still speak in their own language when it is appropriate, especially if they are speaking to their friends.