Language Barriers

Response to Prompt 6

Today I was able to observe some new cultural additions to my classroom. There was a new kid in class who's mother was also in the room. The teacher informed me that this was his 8th day in America and he had moved here from Iran. She told me that this student was abrasive and had already bitten two students. During class I could tell that he was having trouble paying attention and keeping on-track. I don't blame him for getting lost because the assignment was to independantly work on writing a story to share with the class. He ended up writing a story in his native language of Farsi but was very apprehensive to share it aloud when it came time. With his mom pushing him he finally mumbled what he had written. The kids in the class were in awe of his language and physical written words but didn't seem to be judging him in a bad way.

This seems to be the greatest example so far of my teacher having to find ways to be sensitive to both socio-cultural and linguistic differences. Instead of writing him off to not be able to do the writing she altered the assignment so he could write it in his own language, even though she wouldn't be able to read it he would still be part of the group. Also, during the sharing time only two student had time to present their stories. This particular student was chosen and even though the class couldn't understand what he was saying I think that it is important that he was still included. She even turned it into a lesson for the other students by showing off how he wrote his words in another language and explaining how he is learning English and will be able to speak two different languages. (I later learned this student is also fluent in Arabic as well). Many of the students in this class likely speak or at least hear another language at home as well, as by having her promote that this is a "cool" thing that he speaks two languages I think it reassures these other students as well.