Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! Each month we'll send you an email filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now Date: 2/2/2007 1:02:00 PM Author: Narelle Subject: Non english speaking families We have very simlar issues in Australia, and it is very temping to say if you do not speak english then leave BUT i think you have to consider what the family has been through before coming to a new country. We have a support service provided by the government for inclussion - weather it be children with disabilities or non - english speaking. I think it is important for the children to learn english to get the most bennifit from an english speaking school - of course you can provide temporary services while the family adjusts - but at some stage it becomes their responcibility. Teachers can learn a few key polite phrases and use posters/interpretation services. But when the teacher has to speak 5 different languages to hold class - to suit families that dont wish to speak english - it is not possible. We had a very sad incident in Australia (Perth) where the father of a non english speaking family killed the children and himself while his wife was shopping - it was awful to see people trying to comfort her but no one able to speak to her - then at the end of the story they said the family had been in australia for 15 years! (how could you not speak english after that ammount of time) then the following week another non english speaking Australian killed his real estate agent over a rent dispute - again he had lived in Australia for 10 years. I just think it is really sad - to live in an world where you can not communicate with your neighbour or teacher? Name: Email: Subject

© 2007 Excelligence Learning Corporation, All Rights Reserved.