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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 18:22:46 GMT
I had a professor of education who only spoke German at home with his children. He prescribed to the idea that his kids would learn English once they began school. Yikes. That just seems to put a child at an unnecessary disadvantage. Good luck with this student merge. Sorry for the derailment. |
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Dani-Mani
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Post by Dani-Mani on Nov 11, 2014 18:22:49 GMT
I had a professor of education who only spoke German at home with his children. He prescribed to the idea that his kids would learn English once they began school. And many do. |
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Post by librarylady on Nov 11, 2014 18:23:11 GMT
I'll agree that the screaming for 2 hours indicates something else going on. It may be just too much change at one time for the little boy. My last 4 years were in a school with many very new immigrants from various places around the world. Most children sit quietly (while terrified) and observe until they figure out some things.
If I were the school admin, I'd strongly encourage (require) the parent to stay with this particular child for a day or so and interpret for him etc. If the child has never been in a school situation that is another layer of trauma. Perhaps the child has never been away from the parents... All sorts of possibilities as to the cause of the screaming for so long (including autism).
I doubt any parent thinks, "I'll make life difficult for my child," but sometimes the decisions do just that. Example: We had kindergarten children who had NEVER had a babysitter, never been away from one parent or the other and then the child is put in a school situation. Not pleasant for the child and not pleasant for the adults.
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Aug 18, 2025 21:08:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 18:28:33 GMT
I had a professor of education who only spoke German at home with his children. He prescribed to the idea that his kids would learn English once they began school. Yikes. That just seems to put a child at an unnecessary disadvantage. Good luck with this student merge. Sorry for the derailment. Well, our son did not speak a word of Spanish before he started in a dual language program in kindergarten (last year), and now he's grade-level fluent in Spanish (and well ahead of grade level in English). Kids have an amazing capacity to learn language. |
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Post by whopea on Nov 11, 2014 18:35:11 GMT
I am surprised if the parents are fluent how the child didn't pick up some English, unless they never spoke it around him. Could it be he is just scared of the new situation and therefore can't use the English he might know? I am too. I thought you typically find kids that don't speak english well have non-english speaking parents. |
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pudgygroundhog
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Nov 11, 2014 18:35:21 GMT
They actually may have given him the best chance to become fully bilingual. One of my favorite classes in college was linguistics. It's not uncommon in other parts of the world for children to have one language that they speak at home and another in school/public. If a child is immersed in a second language before the age of eight, they are more likely to become fully fluent in that language. Interestingly, the second language gets processed in a different part of the brain than the first language. As a result, there's no inner translation going on as there is with languages learned later in life. These children also have an easier time learning third, fourth, and even more languages. Here in America, we do our children a huge disservice by not teaching foreign language starting in kindergarten. This boy will have an advantage that other ESL student don't have in that his parents are educated and speak English. They will be able to help him. His situation is far different than the situation Maryland described. My grandmother's parents came to America from Germany. She was born here, but only spoke German until she started school. When she was in school, the children were taught in English, no German allowed. The only language they used outside of the home once they started school was English. In their home, they still spoke German. My grandma doesn't even have an accent. As an adult, she eventually forgot how to speak German because she never used it. (I think she may have been lying about that because I don't think you really can forget your first language.) You don't know what this family's situation is. You don't know why they moved here or how much time they had to prepare. Maybe they tried to teach him a few things and it didn't work. Maybe where they come from, children aren't given special consideration if their families speak a different language at home. Give the boy a few weeks, he'll be fine. His language centers are young and malleable. I agree with all of this (and wish we had an immersion program here - we are just monolingual), however I think the little boy screaming for several hours is not an ideal way to learn a new language.  Maybe the parents couldn't predict that would happen, but I think most parents by Kindergarten have a general idea of how their kids react to different situations. Maybe he would've felt more comfortable knowing some key English phrases or having a parent/somebody who could translate be with him the first day or two. Hopefully he will adjust quickly - it is amazing how resilient kids are. |
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Post by auntkelly on Nov 11, 2014 18:35:31 GMT
I'll agree that the screaming for 2 hours indicates something else going on. It may be just too much change at one time for the little boy. My last 4 years were in a school with many very new immigrants from various places around the world. Most children sit quietly (while terrified) and observe until they figure out some things. If I were the school admin, I'd strongly encourage (require) the parent to stay with this particular child for a day or so and interpret for him etc. If the child has never been in a school situation that is another layer of trauma. Perhaps the child has never been away from the parents... All sorts of possibilities as to the cause of the screaming for so long (including autism). I doubt any parent thinks, "I'll make life difficult for my child," but sometimes the decisions do just that. Example: We had kindergarten children who had NEVER had a babysitter, never been away from one parent or the other and then the child is put in a school situation. Not pleasant for the child and not pleasant for the adults. I agree that one of the child's parents should be at the school to comfort the child and try and figure out what is going on. I feel sorry for the child who is screaming and it must be unbearable for the teacher and other kids. |
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Post by LauraTen on Nov 11, 2014 18:37:39 GMT
My family lived in Mexico for one year when I was 5 years old and in Kindergarten.
It was a great opportunity for my father.
I did not speak a word of Spanish.
I remember not understanding everything, but participating in all activities.
I was also well behaved.
Now, 40 some odd years later I have empathy for others without judgement.
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Dalai Mama
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Nov 11, 2014 18:43:46 GMT
I had a professor of education who only spoke German at home with his children. He prescribed to the idea that his kids would learn English once they began school. I know a couple with a toddler son - at home, Dad speaks only French, Mom speaks only Hungarian. I'm pretty sure they are planning to send him to an English school. |
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Post by Merge on Nov 11, 2014 18:56:05 GMT
Thanks for all the input. We get lots of ESL kids here from a variety of backgrounds. Typically when the kid has no English, though, it's because the parents don't speak English, either. We have lots of families whose primary language is something other than English but they make a point of using some English at home so the kids aren't completely lost at school. I'm also well aware of how quickly the kids learn new languages.
I still think it was irresponsible for the parents to bring this child to a foreign country and not introduce him to the language at home when they both speak it.
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Nov 11, 2014 19:23:22 GMT
Definitely sounds like there's more going on here than a language barrier. Poor kid. I have to agree, though that if the parents' speak the language, they did their kid a disservice by not introducing him to it sooner. Good luck to you & your fellow staff members, Merge! |
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PrettyInPeank
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Nov 11, 2014 19:41:24 GMT
How frustrating and sad for the boy. Do you have an iPad or iPhone? My husband has an app like this for translating. It's cheaper than Advil and wine.  |
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Post by alittleintrepid on Nov 11, 2014 19:52:28 GMT
I understand the comment. My impression of scrappower is that she tries to see things from both sides. Considering I was just blasted in another thread for stating my opion I am not so sure. But either way I still find it rude to be pulled into a thread like this. It did not sound like a complement with saying "sorry to pull a scrappower". Oh well. But thanks for your opinion of me, that is what I try to do, I fail at times of course. But we are only human. I'm not sure if Amaltrice meant it as a compliment or not but when I read her comment I thought "good for scrap power!" And that "pulling a scrap power" equated standing up for those whose voices are not heard! Take it as a compliment! |
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Post by maryland on Nov 11, 2014 19:55:07 GMT
My husband grew up with Spanish speaking parents (they also speak French (mil) and German (fil)). They are Americans, just love languages and both taught Spanish (mil - taught HS and fil taught college). But my husband didn't learn Spanish until high school. I was surprised they didn't teach him both English and Spanish as a toddler. My kids think it would be so neat to grow up speaking multiple languages!
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Post by Miss Ang on Nov 11, 2014 19:58:20 GMT
No, Mom says they never spoke English at home, only at work. He really doesn't know any. It is our job to teach them but mom and dad have made it unnecessarily traumatic for him.  That is so sad. When a parent shows so little compassion in a situation like this, doesn't it make you wonder what kind of life this child has? |
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IPeaFreely
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Jun 26, 2014 8:32:27 GMT
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Post by IPeaFreely on Nov 11, 2014 19:58:30 GMT
I would have jumped at the chance to make my kids bilingual. Even if we were never planning on moving anywhere. Learning and knowing another language makes your brain more smarter.
(I, obviously, am monolingual.)
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Nov 11, 2014 20:39:35 GMT
I understand the comment. My impression of scrappower is that she tries to see things from both sides. That's how I read it too - that scrappower often says: "well, maybe it's this way...." I didn't see it as a negative. At all. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:08:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 20:58:00 GMT
I understand the comment. My impression of scrappower is that she tries to see things from both sides. That's how I read it too - that scrappower often says: "well, maybe it's this way...." I didn't see it as a negative. At all. If I was wrong I do apologize but after the beating I just got I'm thinking not. |
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Nov 11, 2014 21:02:39 GMT
If a classroom is not by design a bilingual program, the ease of learning the language is harder. Those that enroll their children in a dual language program and have great success is because the classroom is "set up that way". Having a child without any language trying to "catch on" as a solo is much different. Yes, children can learn the language quicker than adults, but measuring success of students in a dual language class compared to a student who is "flying solo" is different.
Obviously, there is a lot going on here...kindergarten age, cross the globe move, whole new environment, lack of language, <maybe> difficulty in native language communicating needs, <maybe> other roadblocks, etc....I hope the child and classroom teachers get the resources they need.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Nov 11, 2014 21:05:31 GMT
I hope things get better for him.
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Post by utmr on Nov 11, 2014 21:08:55 GMT
The screaming for hours would concern me more than the no English. Is he a young kindergartener? Maybe this is a child who would benefit from an extra year of pre k, regardless of language.
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Nov 11, 2014 21:16:25 GMT
Why would his parents so that?! Poor little kid |
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Post by SabrinaM on Nov 11, 2014 21:19:32 GMT
What is pulling a scrappower? No clue but I find it extremely ride to pull me into a convo where I am not participating. I don't ger why some people feel that is acceptable. I've been at 2peas for years and have posted and contributed, laughed, cried, etc. But I guess some just can't accept that. So nice. I see it quite frequently on the political threads. Usually lynlam and a few others are "baited" with nasty remarks. So, scrappower, it's not just you. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:08:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 21:24:05 GMT
No clue but I find it extremely ride to pull me into a convo where I am not participating. I don't ger why some people feel that is acceptable. I've been at 2peas for years and have posted and contributed, laughed, cried, etc. But I guess some just can't accept that. So nice. I see it quite frequently on the political threads. Usually lynlam and a few others are "baited" with nasty remarks. So, scrappower, it's not just you. It's wrong no matter who is called out. I've been vocal about that when I see it happen. |
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Post by moveablefeast on Nov 11, 2014 21:26:09 GMT
To me it sounds like there is more going on there. We have lots of native Spanish speakers at DS's school who do not know ANY English when they start kindergarten. That kind of reaction is not the norm. I'm not at all condoning the parents' failure to equip this boy with some basic communication tools in English, but still... That reaction is extreme. My experience is that it's not extreme. In my school, about 70% of families are internationals and of them about half come in with absolute beginner English skills. I would say about six kids a year (out of 125-150) have a very difficult adjustment to an American school where we speak only English. Prolonged crying and screaming being one of the things we deal with for weeks on end with some of them, mostly the 3's and 4's but if a kiddo is coming in for the first time in kindergarten, it's not unheard of there either. This is not out of the realm of normal for us. We deal with it every single year, with a handful of kiddos. We just do the best we can with them but I have three this year still having a hard time. Just today I spent a long time in a classroom holding a little guy on my lap to soothe him. He was angry to be away from mom and in a different setting and he has very few words to explain how he feels or advocate for himself. I feel bad for them in that scenario. It's hard. Some are more adaptable than others. |
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caro
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Post by caro on Nov 11, 2014 21:29:02 GMT
No, Mom says they never spoke English at home, only at work. He really doesn't know any. It is our job to teach them but mom and dad have made it unnecessarily traumatic for him. That is so sad. When a parent shows so little compassion in a situation like this, doesn't it make you wonder what kind of life this child has? This happens a lot in my preschool. Parents teach the mother tongue and expect the child to pick up English in the classroom. It makes for a long several weeks the first of the school year. Our policy is give the child 3 weeks and if the child doesn't settle in then parents have to remove the child. We are a private school so we can do this. I always feel bad for the child because they are so bewildered and lost. I have a child this school year who does not speak English We finally told the parents they have to work on English at home because the child is very disruptive in the classroom. I know the reasoning behind the parents hoping the child picks up English and I have seen it work but it sure is tough in the beginning. |
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Post by M~ on Nov 11, 2014 21:48:41 GMT
Hey, this happened to me. I was in 2nd grade. My family moved from Nicaragua to Kentucky and we did not speak one word of English. My sisters and I were put into a regular class and received extra tutoring after school. I was fluent in six months. No trauma here.
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 11, 2014 21:52:25 GMT
I grew up with the embassy kids in DC, and they came to high school speaking no English, but all learned very quickly. I was involved with AFS so I spent alot of time with the international students.
My kids had several friends who came to elementary school speaking no English and they had a hard row to hoe the first few months, but then caught on and went on to do very well in school.
The little guy just needs some time.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 11, 2014 22:07:36 GMT
My father arrived in the US at age 9, knowing NO English. His parents had been here a few years and spoke English outside the home and French in the home. My father failed his subjects in school and had an awful time. My grandfather was embarrassed and made the decision: We are in America, we want to be Americans, we will speak only English from now on. My father quickly was fluent, as were his siblings. Their cousins--no so. My great uncle and his family continued to speak French at home and English outside the home.
Total immersion in another language will make a person bilingual, but the "getting there" might be difficult.
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Post by christine58 on Nov 11, 2014 22:13:34 GMT
No, Mom says they never spoke English at home, only at work. He really doesn't know any. It is our job to teach them but mom and dad have made it unnecessarily traumatic for him. Any chance you have someone in your community that speaks Hebrew that could come in to school to help?? I feel so bad for him! |
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Maybe the parents couldn't predict that would happen, but I think most parents by Kindergarten have a general idea of how their kids react to different situations. Maybe he would've felt more comfortable knowing some key English phrases or having a parent/somebody who could translate be with him the first day or two. 
That is so sad. 
