This blog will allow us to communicate about topics covered in class. We will be able to share ideas, collaborate on various theories studied, and work on projects together.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Blog #5 - Cultural and Language Differences
This
week listen to a person with cultural/language differences from you.Did you understand everything they said, even
the nuances?How did you feel when you
did not understand some or all of the conversation?
I have a few different students that have cultural language differences. When I interact with these students I do find it difficult to understand what they are saying. There have been a few times where I have to ask another student what he/she is saying. That child would talk in their native language and the other child would translate to me. When situations like this arise I feel bad for the child and I feel like I am unable to help them learn. This does not happen often but when it does I will place the native speaking student with a child that is able to translate my directions and any questions the child might have.
I recently had a paraprofessional working in my room that was from Jordan. She has a very strong accent and can be very difficult to understand. In Jordan, she explained that the letters of the alphabet and many words are pronounced differently than how we pronounce them in America. At times, when I couldn't understand her I felt a little bad because I felt like I should know what she is trying to say to me. I even thought "I wonder if she thinks this when I'm talking to her too." I wanted to know what she had to say though, so I would ask questions to her that would help me to understand what she was trying to say to me. I saw how she worked with students and she is a very compassionate woman that enjoys working with children. She was recently reassigned to work in another classroom to support a student and has approached me saying she appreciated how I would listen to her and try to understand what we she had to say. She said in her new classroom she feels like she is being judged and looked at as incompetent because of her language barrier. This made me feel sad because no one should feel like they don't deserve to be heard because of a language barrier or if they have dialectal differences.
Many parents of my students are bilingual. There are times when I'm communicating to the parents and we have a language barrier. I know I'm a fast talker and I have tendency to ramble off things too quickly. I learned I have to slow down for the parents so they can understand me. Today I was talking to a parent regarding our breakfast and lunch order forms. I had to ask the parent to repeat her statement twice so I can read her lips to help me understand what she was trying to convey to me. I find the the most helpful when I'm speaking to someone with a language barrier. Sometimes it is frustrating when you can't understand them or respond to their questions. I imagine they feel the same way as well. They may not understand me when I'm speaking. When I feel they are not understanding or I'm not understanding I will get one of of the ELL teachers or bilingual paras to help translate. We need to be patient with adults of different cultural background just like we are with our students.
I listened to a brief conversation between a mother and her son during pick up at my school this week. The family is of Middle Eastern origin, and I had no idea what the mother said to the child. He answered his mother, and when I addressed them with a greeting he responded to me in English without any problem. He then went back to talking to his mother in Arabic. I found it interesting that a child can go back and forth so easily from one language to another. I hoped that the son had told his mother what I said, because she did not appear to understand. It was only a simple "stay safe with all this snow", but I enjoy the end of day interaction during pick up. I not only wished that she understood me, but I wished I understood them.
This week, as with other weeks, I spoke with a boy in my class who is from Africa. It is not listed in his records as having another language spoken at home but I have also spoken with this student's mother and her accent is quite heavy. I have spoken to on the phone as well as in person and I can say most definitely that in person conversation is easier to understand than on the phone. Looking at someone's lips as well as body language was helpful in understanding her. She too could probably tell when I was having difficulty understanding by my facial expressions. When I speak with her son in class, he is easier to understand, as he really doesn't carry an accent but the language he uses when he is frustrated or anxious is unintelligible. This I can only assume is because of the mix of different languages or dialects. It's frustrating for me so I can only imagine how it is for him.
At my school I encounter a lot of faculty members and students who have strong accents due to English being their second language. At this time, there are two aides who come to mind when thinking about how communication can, at times, be difficult. Both of them speak Arabic as their first language. When speaking to them, I often have to ask them to repeat what they stated due to their heavy accents. They are both wonderful people, who work great with the students. They are also an asset to have in the classroom, because the school I work at has a high Arabic speaking population. I feel bad when I do not understand them. I even find myself nodding my head and smiling when they are telling a story, even though I am not always quite sure what they are saying. If I approach them to speak with them first, the communication is often easier due to me starting the conversation, and therefore, establishing the context of the discussion. It is much easier to communicate with them, and understand them when I know what topic we are focusing on. If I were to ask them, “how was your weekend”, it is often more difficult to understand them, because I do not know how they are going to respond, and typically they share something that they are excited about, which, like most people, causes them to speak at a faster rate.
I have a few different students that have cultural language differences. When I interact with these students I do find it difficult to understand what they are saying. There have been a few times where I have to ask another student what he/she is saying. That child would talk in their native language and the other child would translate to me. When situations like this arise I feel bad for the child and I feel like I am unable to help them learn. This does not happen often but when it does I will place the native speaking student with a child that is able to translate my directions and any questions the child might have.
ReplyDeleteGood idea.
DeleteI recently had a paraprofessional working in my room that was from Jordan. She has a very strong accent and can be very difficult to understand. In Jordan, she explained that the letters of the alphabet and many words are pronounced differently than how we pronounce them in America. At times, when I couldn't understand her I felt a little bad because I felt like I should know what she is trying to say to me. I even thought "I wonder if she thinks this when I'm talking to her too." I wanted to know what she had to say though, so I would ask questions to her that would help me to understand what she was trying to say to me. I saw how she worked with students and she is a very compassionate woman that enjoys working with children. She was recently reassigned to work in another classroom to support a student and has approached me saying she appreciated how I would listen to her and try to understand what we she had to say. She said in her new classroom she feels like she is being judged and looked at as incompetent because of her language barrier. This made me feel sad because no one should feel like they don't deserve to be heard because of a language barrier or if they have dialectal differences.
ReplyDeleteSo true- everyone deserves to be heard.
DeleteMany parents of my students are bilingual. There are times when I'm communicating to the parents and we have a language barrier. I know I'm a fast talker and I have tendency to ramble off things too quickly. I learned I have to slow down for the parents so they can understand me. Today I was talking to a parent regarding our breakfast and lunch order forms. I had to ask the parent to repeat her statement twice so I can read her lips to help me understand what she was trying to convey to me. I find the the most helpful when I'm speaking to someone with a language barrier. Sometimes it is frustrating when you can't understand them or respond to their questions. I imagine they feel the same way as well. They may not understand me when I'm speaking. When I feel they are not understanding or I'm not understanding I will get one of of the ELL teachers or bilingual paras to help translate. We need to be patient with adults of different cultural background just like we are with our students.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you pointed out the importance of being able to communicate with our student's parents as well.
DeleteI listened to a brief conversation between a mother and her son during pick up at my school this week. The family is of Middle Eastern origin, and I had no idea what the mother said to the child. He answered his mother, and when I addressed them with a greeting he responded to me in English without any problem. He then went back to talking to his mother in Arabic. I found it interesting that a child can go back and forth so easily from one language to another. I hoped that the son had told his mother what I said, because she did not appear to understand. It was only a simple "stay safe with all this snow", but I enjoy the end of day interaction during pick up. I not only wished that she understood me, but I wished I understood them.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if we could all understand each other.
DeleteThis week, as with other weeks, I spoke with a boy in my class who is from Africa. It is not listed in his records as having another language spoken at home but I have also spoken with this student's mother and her accent is quite heavy. I have spoken to on the phone as well as in person and I can say most definitely that in person conversation is easier to understand than on the phone. Looking at someone's lips as well as body language was helpful in understanding her. She too could probably tell when I was having difficulty understanding by my facial expressions. When I speak with her son in class, he is easier to understand, as he really doesn't carry an accent but the language he uses when he is frustrated or anxious is unintelligible. This I can only assume is because of the mix of different languages or dialects. It's frustrating for me so I can only imagine how it is for him.
ReplyDeleteIt is so true that in person is much easier to understand than via phone because of the ability to read lips and body language.
DeleteAt my school I encounter a lot of faculty members and students who have strong accents due to English being their second language. At this time, there are two aides who come to mind when thinking about how communication can, at times, be difficult. Both of them speak Arabic as their first language. When speaking to them, I often have to ask them to repeat what they stated due to their heavy accents. They are both wonderful people, who work great with the students. They are also an asset to have in the classroom, because the school I work at has a high Arabic speaking population. I feel bad when I do not understand them. I even find myself nodding my head and smiling when they are telling a story, even though I am not always quite sure what they are saying. If I approach them to speak with them first, the communication is often easier due to me starting the conversation, and therefore, establishing the context of the discussion. It is much easier to communicate with them, and understand them when I know what topic we are focusing on. If I were to ask them, “how was your weekend”, it is often more difficult to understand them, because I do not know how they are going to respond, and typically they share something that they are excited about, which, like most people, causes them to speak at a faster rate.
ReplyDeleteEstablishing the context of the conversation is critical for understanding.
Delete