School assuming things about my mixed race son

[TulipDragonfly]

DS (5) has come home today. I'm white, his dad is British born Chinese (ie, his parents came over from China, he looks Chinese but was bought up in the UK has never been to China and can't speak Chinese)

Mummy did you know I can speak chinese?

No darling, you can't

Yes I can, my teacher told me I could

But you can't sweetie!

Yes, she looked in her book and told me I could! And so I can!

She got him to speak a bit of Chinese to the whole class - hes such a little people pleaser that he said" I tried to speak Chinese" (he just made some noises mi Ka la ta do hi sa - what he thinks Chinese sounds like) and then she said 'well done'

Wibu to go into the school tomorrow and clear up that he can't speak Chinese, and I'm slightly concerned that they've just made an assumption he can because of what he looks like?

I would check with the office that there hasn't been an error on any forms, then arrange for a chat with the teacher. Your son sounds lovely, I would teach him to say 'I don't speak Chinese' in Chinese

At first I thought this was a really cute and funny story but actually I think the teacher needs some diversity training!

Muddling up ethnicity and languages spoken is unacceptable in my opinion.

It's a fairly basic difference. If it is true that EAL data was in the past taken from ethnicity forms I find that shocking. Is it really so hard to understand that someone could be non-white (mixed or otherwise) but the family only ever speak English at home.

I do hope it's just an admin error in her "book"

The thought of the little boy making strange noises and everyone buying it is hilarious! Seriously you need to have a word.

The teacher doesn't sound too bright, let's face it

I too have the opposite. My mixed race dd is convinced she can speak dh's language, despite knowing only about 10 words. But no-one has made that assumption on her behalf. Did you DS actually say he couldn't speak Chinese or even question it. It's not impossible that she asked if he could and he misunderstood?

Surely this would have happened:
“oh, you’re half Chinese? It says here you are half Chinese...”
“Oh really teacher? It says I can speak Chinese?”
“Can you speak Chinese?”
“Yes it says I can speak Chinese!”
“Show us something!”
“Kim cha wa wa”
“Excellent, lovely Chinese”.

Totally ridiculous people are blaming the teacher - children often say they can do something they can’t. Year 7s often arrive saying they can play an instrument. We can all play an instrument, ie run the bow along the strings of a violin. Doesn’t mean we sound good. I can speak Japanese. I can count to 3. Those are 3 words I can speak. This is just a case of a child’s perspective on a situation that’s probably incredibly nothing!!!

We get given a list of EAL children (English as an additional language).
My children are marked as EAL, even though their second language was almost non-existent at the point of school entry, having regressed just to a couple of words. At no point has the school asked me about languages spoken at home, just made an assumption. I understand that the school (a) gets extra funding for EAL children (b) progress for EAL children is tracked separately, compared against a lower base and OFSTED is very interested in this metric (c) EAL children are allowed extra time in SATs, which may improve the overall performance.

MissEliza exactly!
Where has the joy gone in life!!

I have a major issue with EAL tbh.
EAL is English as an additional language. It therefore ASSUMES that another language is spoken at home and that language is the primary language for the child (so they need support blablabla)

In reality, a LOT of those children will be 'bilingual' aka will speak two languages at home or sometimes will know only a few words of the 'other' language, as it is very often the case with bilingual children.
But more importantly they will have learnt BOTH languages simultaneously. English isn't an add on.

So whilst I fully agree that children who do not speak English at home at all need support, I'm not sure that any child on the EAL register does. Nor should anyone assume they have a perfect handle of that language (more likely they don't at all).
There is so much assumptions and prejudice associated with EAL.

The thought of the little boy making strange noises and everyone buying it is hilarious!
It is until this is your language that is represented as 'strange noises'.

Imagine, you are in and the same situation happens. A child is then speaking in 'English' by making a carricature of English and everyone buys it. Wouldn't you find that an insult somehow or at least extremely rude?
Add to that racism issues and the fact some people find it OK to laugh at lets say Chinese People by doing exactly that (Ching Chong ka la...).

It doesn't look something to laugh at tbh.
(Even if it is OBVIOUS that it was never the intention of the child in the OP. He did his best after been put in an awkward situation. Im not criticising him AT ALL)

So whilst I fully agree that children who do not speak English at home at all need support, I'm not sure that any child on the EAL register does. Nor should anyone assume they have a perfect handle of that language (more likely they don't at all).
There is so much assumptions and prejudice associated with EAL.

That is one hell of an assumption that you are making saying that no child who is listed as EAL only speaks in their parents language at home.

OP Did you speak with the teacher? Was it an admin error?

Sounds just like a misunderstanding, might be worth mentioning (particularly if China is to be an ongoing topic in class) but not worth getting offended over.

Totally missing the point Tulip but your post made my heart melt

^This. I'm loving the image of your ds standing up at the front of the class being proud as punch at his new found skill.

I think this is a mix up, I really don't think it requires blazing guns and I would imagine a Chinese person would find it quite amusing (rather than offensive)

Chester I didn’t say that. Quite the opposite actually.
I’m saying some children only speak another language at home, some are fully bilingual and others Again are able to speak only very few words of that language.
My issue is about making the assumption that ALL children are part of those of those category. Usually the first or the second

I doubt it’s an admin error. More likely the whole class have been taught to say ‘Happy New Year’ in Chinese and that’s what he was supposed to be saying. I imagine a few children were asked if they could say it or if it was just your son it was because they were using some random lolly stick system to choose children to speak rather than the teacher thinking ‘he looks like he can speak Chinese’.

Not surprised - some teachers are unbelievably ignorant.

Sad all the same.

You’re fighting a losing battle though. I wouldn’t speak to the school, instead use it as an opportunity to give your son a little
moral story.

Good luck 👍🏼

I think it's probably that they've talked about home languages and your son has said that he can speak Chinese - I wouldn't go in all guns blazing - 5 year olds can be very creative.

Schools just LOVE 'diversity'. They like putting up displays saying how many languages are spoken in their little world. Your boy looked like he could score them an extra point. Just put it down to over-enthusiasm
What a great lad for coming up with the goods anyway! He'll be telling the story for the rest of his life :-)

We had to tick if another language was spoken at home. At the time, yes, as GP's were with us but DT's spoke English.

Your DS sounds like a realy sweetie! It is a bit of a shame that he doesn't know a few words of Mandarin though. Imagine how proud he would be.

Not really the same thing but this reminds me of the time DD came home from reception and told me she was a Christian because she had blonde hair and blue eyes...

Missing the point completely...

Ds LOVED the Chinese gran who sat in back of local takeaway. She would come out and speak to him in Chinese and it was his happiest moment of the day.

I love your ds's iniative! Good on his feet thinking! He will be successful in his endeavors.

I'm interested to know what this teaher say