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Re: Bilingual 1st grade
Posted by lynne/ca on 6/30/08
If I've understood the situation correctly, the class is
taught in English, and the teacher will only use Spanish in
certain situations (communicating with parents, brief
explanations to students in Spanish if needed). That's how
our ELD classes are taught. In my state we have classes that
are mandated by law to be taught "overwhelmingly in English"
and there are only specific situations in which Spanish is
used during the instructional day - for explanations of
directions and that sort of thing. The teachers use quite a
bit of Spanish during the first few days for getting
routines set up, giving instructions, helping the students
feel comfortable. Later in the year it's all in English.
You'll be fine not knowing Spanish. (We've sometimes had
classes in which neither the teacher nor the para knew
Spanish, and that worked, too. We also usually have a
mixture of languages together, not all Spanish-speakers, and
it's just not possible for the teacher or para to know
everyone's language.)
Have you worked with second language learners before? Speak
clearly, avoid slang or complex vocabulary, and expect to do
a lot of pantomine and gestures at first if you have
students who have had no exposure to English before.
With a first grade class, you'll probably have a mix of
students who had English instruction in kinder, and others
who have not had any English instruction until now. Part of
the day will involve language instruction, and part will be
instruction in other subjects like a regular first grade
class, but probably more emphasis on vocabulary (and more
hands-on activities and visual aids). It should be a fun
class!
On 6/29/08, East End Long Islander wrote:
> I'm going to post this in the Primary board as well -- do
> you folks deal with issues in a bilingual primary class?
> I'll be assisting (as a para/TA) the teacher in a 1st
grade
> class that's all Spanish-speaking children ... it is
> supposed to be taught in English (the teacher is a native
> Spanish speaker; I speak NO Spanish other than a phrase or
> two) ... with her HELPING as need be, and being able to
> communicate with the parents more easily, translate
> worksheets and memos, etc. The intention is that the aide
> NOT be a Spanish speaker, so the kids will NOT be able to
> use me as a crutch, so-to-speak... I'm sure my Spanish
will
> improve (it's been almost 40 years since I took a couple
of
> courses in Spanish in college!)... but I was instructed
> English English English!
>
> Suggestions (besides having my Spanish-English-Spanish
> dictionary close at hand, knowing various web sites for
> translations, and saying ¿Cómo dice usted hola en español?
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Bilingual 1st grade, 6/29/08, by East End Long Islander.
- Re: Bilingual 1st grade, 6/30/08, by lynne/ca.
- Re: Bilingual 1st grade, 6/30/08, by East End Long Islander.
- Re: Bilingual 1st grade, 7/01/08, by esolny.
- Re: Bilingual 1st grade, 7/02/08, by Curious.
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