Talk

Flip

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Education

Sept 09 term - american teacher accent issue?

8 replies

carocaro · 30/06/2009 20:08

Have just found out that DS1 aged 7 has a new american teacher for year 3, which starts sept 09. (we are in the UK).

Just wondering about her accent and how this may affect his learning as DS1 is dyslexic and needs help with the sounds of letter and groups of letters.

Will this just not confuse him?

Also they have said they are mixing the two classes for 'social and educational' reasons what the hell does that mean?

OP posts:

Report

chegirl · 30/06/2009 20:46

The majority of teachers in DS's school do not have British accents.

DS has LD. He has done very well [particularly] in the last year and his teacher had a strong South African accent.

I dont think it will confuse him IMO. I work with children with multiple disabilities including profound LD. They respond to enthusiasm, kindness, understanding. I have a working class london accent, a lot of the children are used to Bangladesh, south african, african, turkish etc accents but they seem to 'understand' when I work with them.

Report

scienceteacher · 30/06/2009 21:17

Most kids are fine with American accents.

My daughter has an American accent and everyone understands her.

I would say that if she is just off the boat, she will have to adjust quickly to the UK style of education, for example to write in lower case letters and not be super cursive. It won't take her long to adjust and I'm sure she will be keen to fit in.

Report

carocaro · 30/06/2009 21:57

Thanks, I was just thinking that the sounds are so different eg: learning th, ch, ey, ei sounds attached to words, as dyslexia includes how letters and groups of letters sound.

Have just spent a week with my step-brother and his family, his wife and kids are America and they way she and they sounded certain letters was perfectly undertandable in day to day conversation and I was just thinking how this translates into teaching of the english language. Funny that I call it 'english language' but you know what I mean!

I am sure she will be great and a fantastic experience for the children.

OP posts:

Report

chegirl · 30/06/2009 22:03

I think I understand your concerns. I would think that the teacher will be aware of the differences (I hope so) and adjust accordingly.

See how it goes. I am sure it will be fine but there is no harm in keeping an eye open.

Report

Babbity · 30/06/2009 22:07

It's an interesting question. I have a different accent to my children, as we live in England and I'm Scottish. It's actually quite tricky sometimes when my son asks me how you say a word, and I say it in "Scottish" and he doesn't really understand it or can't quite repeat it because he's having to translate the vowels, or I say it in "English" and the vowels come out all wrong...

Report

Clary · 30/06/2009 23:58

Our school has a teacher with a very strong Irish accent.

I sometimes struggle ( @ self) but the kids are fine.

Report

flaime · 01/07/2009 20:25

Hmmm, I'm a northener now living in Devon, but find my kids all speak with quite posh southern accents like their teachers. It's not a local accent like a lot of their friends have, and all three speak the same?!

My mum is ever so impressed as they are only at the local state school!

Report

carocaro · 02/07/2009 19:59

lol flaime, I have it the other way round, I am a Northerner too, moving back after 15 years in London, MiL POSH in Dorset/London, she shudders with DS's say BATH instead of BAAATH. I make them do it on purpose just to niggle her. Imade them say once when she came to stay

'eh up nanan fancy a barmcake'

She nearly fainted.