To speak English or not to speak English? That was the question that was brought up by a few of my Spanish speaking students the week before Winter Break.
I have often found myself stating many times throughout the day, “Speak English!” However, when I made that oh so familiar request to two kids who were gossiping about another student in Spanish, during my Language Arts class, one of them, a male yelled back, “No, why don’t you learn to speak Spanish!” My immediate response to him was, “No, English is the primary language used in American schools and on top of that you’re in English class! You’re supposed to speak English.” Another kid, who was just released from jail less than a month ago and who is fairly quiet, chimmed in saying, “Yeah, why can’t you learn Spanish?”
The entire exchange got me to thinking. One of the reasons why I discourage the use of a foreign language in my classroom is because for starters, many of my students use their ability to spaek another language to either start or keep trouble (namely gang/street talk, gossip and name calling) going. Talk, namely gang/street talk and general he said/she said garbage, has been and continues to be the main factor in the majority of fights that have broken out on campus, a few of which involved the police having to come and either take students to jail or issue citations.
Another reason why I discourage the use of using other languages in my class is that, although the United Stated does not have an official language, English is the primary language used during instruction in the majority of American schools. And, although I had to pass three semesters of a foreign language before graduating from college, and although I can read and understand Spanish (and very little French), English is my native tongue and the language that truly understand.
Without meaning to be insensitive to others and respectful of their knowledge of and ability to speak another language, the question that has kept popping up in my mind is, if I should pick up and move to France today, would the French abandon their native language and speak or learn to speak English just to cater to me? Would they do that in Russia? How about Kenya or Egypt? And that raises another issue. Many countries have established an official language. Should we do the same? I’m having a hard time understanding the harm that it would do to establish an official language in this country. I believe that we could still uphold our image of being one big “melting pot” and still uphold our claims of being multicultural, welcoming and tolerant of all, while still having an official language.
My colleague, NYC Educator, posted about the NCLB and ESL students today. I agree with him however this post isn’t so much about the NCLB Act and its affect on ESL kids as it is about how not having an official language can hinder the learning process in this country. I’ve had to use interpreters during IEP meetings and have had to have Spanish speaking staff members make phone calls home to parents concerning their child’s behavior. I’ve even used my students as interpreters to relay messages to their parent who were standing right in front of me due to our inability to communicate exclusively with one another. I’ve even witnessed other colleagues using their limited Spanish speaking and writing abilities to write and send notes home to parents concerning their children who were in the elementary and middle school (junior high) grades.
What has disturbed me the most is that I’ve witness many kids placed in Special Ed. or other classes for “slow learners” simply due to their inability to speak English. I once had to use a bilingual student to relay information and directions to a boy who only understood Spanish. He didn’t understand me when I spoke English, however as soon as he received directions in Spanish, he immediately went to work and knew exactly what to do. A slow learner? I think not. What really dumbfounded me with that particular kid and others since him is the fact that many of them were born right here in the U.S. and had lived here all of their lives. This is something that was mentioned in NYC Educator’s post.
Anyway, what do you think? Should there be an official language here in the U.S.? If not, why? If you are from or are an American living abroad, what do you think of this issue? Is there an official language where you are?
Posted by School Teacher 
Posted by School Teacher 
Posted by School Teacher 
