Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: SPEAK ENGLISH! I am a Kindergarden teacher that has a big group of hispanic students in the classroom. Many of them do not know how to speak English and thus makes it very complicated and frustrating to communicate. What is even worse, is that these students tend to speak Spanish when they are amongst themselves. Clearly, as a teacher I want them to be able to Participate, however, I am not sure whether or not I should separate them and forcé them to leave their native tongue at home. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) It seems as though the most difficult part of your situation is the in ability to communicate effectively with your students. With students so young who are not able to speak English, asking them to abandon their language entirely will not work. As long as they are within their own group and are not trying to create a disruption, I say let them continue to speak Spanish (you will probably find them trying to help each other, figure out assignments, etc). I would encourage you to try and find the student who speaks and understands the most amount of English and use them as an interpreter to create a communication link. When it is appropriate, tell your students you would like for them to try and speak English. When doing group work, put your Spanish speaking students in groups with the English speaking students to help them improve their English speaking skills. In these groups, require the students try to speak English so they can work on improving their language proficiency. More than likely your English speaking students will start picking up on some basic Spanish to make communication more effective. After group work is over, allow the Spanish speaking students to move back into their groups and communicate in Spanish if necessary. Trying to work in a different language is difficult and tiring, and it will allow students a mental break and allow them to work on their school work in a language and context in which they are more familiar.