AIBU to expect my kids to not to told off for speaking English in a welsh medium school?

[Hairyfairy01]

I have 2 dc in year 3 and 6 who attend a welsh medium primary school and have been taught in the welsh medium since they started school. However both dc are brought up in an english speaking household. English medium education at primary level is not available in this area of wales. Both dc have reported to me that they get told off for speaking English in the classroom, corridors, lunchtime and playtime by both teachers and pupil members of the school 'welsh' council. Now I have no issues with encouraging the welsh language and totally support their scheme of rewarding pupils for speaking welsh in social situations. However I do have an issue of telling kids off for speaking english, not so much in lesson time, but more at lunchtime / playtime. Surely at these 'downtime' occasions kids should be able to speak whatever language they like, be it French, Chinese or whatever. I can only imagine that this is what happens in other primary schools where children's home / first language is different to the main language of the school occurs? Are they all told off for speaking French / Chinese etc? Feeling furious but not sure if iabu?

I know (some) primary schools in England do discourage other languages, especially if it's the majority language. My friend was worried because they were allocated a school with a large Pakistani intake, but it's been fine, everyone was asked to be polite and speak English at break time so everyone could understand. By and large, pupils stuck to this

At my DB's school they did stop children speaking Urdu in the playground. I think if it was to their brother/sister or something as a quick thing it was fine, but they were finding that some were doing it specifically to exclude others, and of course the teachers couldn't understand what had been said.

I suppose it's a bit different here that most children will speak and understand both, so perhaps it is just to prioritise Welsh.

YABU. I attended Welsh medium schools from nursery to 6th form and got told off for speaking English. I come from an English speaking family and the idea is to immerse you in the language. If you don’t like it, send your children to an English speaking school...

Fyi Muslims speak Arabic.

Good for you ChiefClerk. I think many talented people have left Wales. It’s a recognised fact that the education there isn’t as good as elsewhere in the Uk. You are, of course, welcome to your language and you would be welcome in England as many Welsh people have found.

YABtotallyU, it's language immersion... It's vital if you are going to achieve fluency to make the chosen language the sole means of communication. After all, how much do children really speak aloud in the classroom? Standard practice in Gaelscoileanna and summer camps.

My point was that not all Welsh medium schools are shit, as is shown by the wealth and breadth of success of the people I know who undertook it have achieved. Perhaps not on a par with the best schools in the country but ime it produced clever, successful people who have good careers and are proud to speak their native language

Because it apparently needs saying . “Muslim” is not actually a nationality.

Cat Stevens and Muhammad Ali for example, spoke US English. The population of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia do not, for the most part, speak Arabic.

@Tinyhandprintseverywhere are you serious? The three countries with the highest Muslim populations are, I believe, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh. None of those are majority Arabic speaking. There are many muslims who would speak hindi, though it's a bit of a random choice.

OP it's difficult: Welsh is a minority language in the UK, so it's hard for you when you're being stuck in this situation but ultimately I do see the merits of encouraging welsh all day if it's welsh-medium. But they should be a bit less harsh about implementing.

My kids go to a gaelscoil(Irish speaking school) and are expected to speak as gaeilge all the time except in English lessons. This happens from the minute they enter school. I completely support this and neither of them have any issues with it and neither of them would attempt to break the rules.

I don't know what age your kids are because I don't know the whole year 3/6 thing but mine are 8 and 11 now and there is no reason they would have to speak English. Their Irish flows naturally when they are at school. Even when they see their friends out of school their instinct is to speak Irish.
The methodology works. I sent them to a gaelscoil knowing what it entails and what the rules are.
Neither me or their dad speak Irish but we fully support their education as all parents should.

I work in a British school in Spain. 95% of our students are Spanish and the rest come from anywhere in the world such as China, Russia, France, Brazil, Turkey, and Bulgaria. All students must speak English at all times during the school day and are reminded and punished if they don't. Their reports also include a grade for use of English.

OP, YABU, and would perhaps do well do read up on the school's mission statement or similar.

I don’t understand why you would send your child to an ‘insert language here’ school and complain when your child is expected to immerse themselves in that language as much as possible in order to learn it

Interesting that most people have guessed this is about Gwynedd :-). Don't get me wrong, I am extremely proud that both my dc can speak fluent welsh and are fully immersed in our welsh speaking community. I will therefore largely ignore the 'fuck out of wales comments'. My dc were born here and very much see themselves as welsh and can speak far better welsh than the majority of people living in wales. However I do not feel it is right to tell off a child for speaking English outside of lessons in any school,should they wish to do so. As another poster mention can you imagine the outcry if we stopped Indian kids speaking their native language etc at playtime? I have no issue of my dc having to speak welsh during lessons, after all it is a welsh medium school. However what they speak during dinner / playtime should surely be their own choice? Encouraging welsh though tokens, points, rewards etc yes, but not punishing / telling off kids for speaking english (or presumably any other language). If I had a choice of sending my dc to an english speaking primary school I might not mind so much, but there is no choice in Gwynedd.

@ChiefClerkDrumknott what would your delightful comment be in Welsh??

I lived in Wales for a short time and experienced a lot of racism towards me for being English. I wasn't there by choice so was quite glad to "fuck off" back home.

I don't know what age your kids are because I don't know the whole year 3/6 thing but mine are 8 and 11 now and there is no reason they would have to speak English. Their Irish flows naturally when they are at school. Even when they see their friends out of school their instinct is to speak Irish.

Yeah, I agree. Bilingual children tend to use the language of the area they are in naturally when not dealing with their parents specifically. And even then frequently respond to their parents in the other language. I don't how it works in Wales as I don't really understand the dynamics of how and when English and Welsh are spoken but I find it a bit odd they were speaking English unless trying to exlude or wind up the teacher?

If you want your children to converse in English send them to an English speaking school. All Welsh schools expect their pupils to converse in Welsh. That's the whole point of Welsh schools...

Daboch Literary 🤭

Exactly Puddles Why would you enrole your child in a school that uses a specific language then complain when said child is expected to use that language a primary means of communication 🤔

Yet again, there are no English schools here. If they were I would gladly send them to one. Dc are 8 and 11 and 100 % fluent welsh (more than can be said for the majority of 'welsh people'). Yet again I am very proud of them speaking welsh however I do not think they should be told off for speaking english in the playground. Anymore than I think any child should be told off for speaking their own language in the playground, wherever that's Hindu,Russian, polish or whatever.

I will reiterate that my mother tongue is English and I was placed in Welsh medium education from an early age, with a similar experience to OP’s children (told off for speaking English). I survived and completely understand why this happened. If you want your children to be immersed in the language it’s probably best for them to take all opportunities to speak it (not that I spoke Wenglish on occasion, obviously )

Hairy Having been that child I disagree. It’s annoying at the time but I completely understand why the teachers insisted upon it. Coming from an English speaking family I now understand that they were trying to immerse me as much as possible in the language. I survived, I’m sure your children will 😊 They should be encouraged to speak Welsh as much as possible whilst at school. If they’re taking their exams in the language then it will benefit them in the long run

I totally agree with my dc being encouraged to speak welsh as much as possible both within the classroom and the playground. What I don't agree with is being 'punished for speaking English.