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Language barriers
This isn't a rant about people not learning the language of the country they live in. Please don't make it one, there are a few threads I saw with that subject. This is just my rant about how difficult it is to communicate over the barriers.
I live in a predominately hispanic area and most parents that come to register their children aren't native English speakers. This is fine since I know enough Spanish to get by and they usually have a translator with them. I just find it so frustrating to try to get through to them sometimes.
I have had to raise my voice and speak so slowly to some of them to make them understand (even if I am speaking Spanish to them). I don't know if they really just don't know what I am saying or if they are just being difficult.
I went to our resident Spanish speaker and asked her if it's a culture thing. I was curious because most Spanish speakers want to talk to someone who speaks their language (even though they speak English beautifully). The woman told me it's just that they figure that since they speak the same language, maybe this woman can do something else to help them. Not the case.
I'm finding it so darn frustrating and it takes up so much of my time to try to help these people. I am not comfortable talking shop with a four year old, but that's the only one in the family that can translate.
I ranted to some of my friends and family about this only to be met with the whole "America = English" mindset. As a native speaker of English I can say that it is a very difficult language to learn. I give everyone a chance to be helped because it's not fair to push someone away due to their language.
I am open to suggestions on how to make communicating easier in these circumstances. I don't want to tell these parents that I can't help them because they don't speak my native tongue. I want to make sure that their children are able to get into school and get the education that they deserve.
I live in a predominately hispanic area and most parents that come to register their children aren't native English speakers. This is fine since I know enough Spanish to get by and they usually have a translator with them. I just find it so frustrating to try to get through to them sometimes.
I have had to raise my voice and speak so slowly to some of them to make them understand (even if I am speaking Spanish to them). I don't know if they really just don't know what I am saying or if they are just being difficult.
I went to our resident Spanish speaker and asked her if it's a culture thing. I was curious because most Spanish speakers want to talk to someone who speaks their language (even though they speak English beautifully). The woman told me it's just that they figure that since they speak the same language, maybe this woman can do something else to help them. Not the case.
I'm finding it so darn frustrating and it takes up so much of my time to try to help these people. I am not comfortable talking shop with a four year old, but that's the only one in the family that can translate.
I ranted to some of my friends and family about this only to be met with the whole "America = English" mindset. As a native speaker of English I can say that it is a very difficult language to learn. I give everyone a chance to be helped because it's not fair to push someone away due to their language.
I am open to suggestions on how to make communicating easier in these circumstances. I don't want to tell these parents that I can't help them because they don't speak my native tongue. I want to make sure that their children are able to get into school and get the education that they deserve.
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