TeacherServer.com
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 always try to put myself in the other persons shoes. So I would try explain to the students that if you were in another country where your native language was not the language spoken, how would you feel? and would you want to continue speaking English to a friend? I also think it would be an opportunity to suggest to students to learn more about each other's native languages so we all can have a better understanding and communicate better with one another. So I would let the students speak Spanish to each other, but also maybe ask them to translate what they said and share their ideas with others.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: April 24, 2013 3:15 am
Rated By: Elizabeth Powers
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with the solution presented for this problem. It is important the students to speak in their native language but they still need to contribute and share ideas with others in the class that speak English.
Rated On: February 25, 2015 5:02 am
Rated By: uVataS
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I like the tract of empathy used here, because it's true that it may be hard to translate particular thoughts or ideas for non-native speakers. When they are asked to address the class, English obviously should be used, but otherwise if the dialog is on topic, then I don't see a problem.
Rated On: March 6, 2017 5:58 pm
Rated By: jyHyHy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this
Rated On: February 26, 2018 12:26 am
Rated By: DuTepy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: :)
Rated On: March 15, 2018 2:19 pm
Rated By: aJaTyb
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Nice solution that allows for the students to learn a valuable lesson that can be used in our diverse society.
Rated On: October 18, 2019 3:48 am
Rated By: maVeqy