First, let me give you the dynamics of my class. I have 24 students. They are between the ages of 5 and 6. My class is 88% Hispanic = 21 students, 4% African American = 1 student, 8% Other (Asian & Indian) = 2 students.
At the beginning of the year, the majority of my students do not speak english and I do NOT speak spanish. I bet you are wondering "How do we communicate?" Well children that young can easily adapt. The best time for a child to learn a second language is when they are very young. By the end of the year, 100% of my children are bilingual. The children that do not speak English, speaks and understand it. The children that do not speak Spanish, are not fluent but they understand and speak a little of Spanish. It is truly amazing. Me as the teacher also pick up on some words.
I sit and listen to the children speak in their native tongue. Even though I don't speak spanish I can understand their conversation. I know when they are saying things that they are not suppose to say. I do have bilingual children that come on the first day. It is usually because they attended Pre-K. Sometimes they also have 1 parent that speaks English.
Language is a BIG challenge in my job but it is a GOOD challenge. I wish I was a fluent spanish speaker because I can't communicate with the parents like I want to without a translator. A lot of non-verbal communication is lost in the translation. I am in the process of learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone but learning a 2nd language at my age is a challenge. I can understand it, but I am not able to speak it.
At the beginning of the year, the majority of my students do not speak english and I do NOT speak spanish. I bet you are wondering "How do we communicate?" Well children that young can easily adapt. The best time for a child to learn a second language is when they are very young. By the end of the year, 100% of my children are bilingual. The children that do not speak English, speaks and understand it. The children that do not speak Spanish, are not fluent but they understand and speak a little of Spanish. It is truly amazing. Me as the teacher also pick up on some words.
I sit and listen to the children speak in their native tongue. Even though I don't speak spanish I can understand their conversation. I know when they are saying things that they are not suppose to say. I do have bilingual children that come on the first day. It is usually because they attended Pre-K. Sometimes they also have 1 parent that speaks English.
Language is a BIG challenge in my job but it is a GOOD challenge. I wish I was a fluent spanish speaker because I can't communicate with the parents like I want to without a translator. A lot of non-verbal communication is lost in the translation. I am in the process of learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone but learning a 2nd language at my age is a challenge. I can understand it, but I am not able to speak it.
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