TA speaks in a different language to some of the parents

[bunchoftulipsanddaffs]

Some of the parents at school are grumbling that the TA in our class speaks to parents in her/their first language rather than English. I am confused about why they think this is wrong (except of course everyone can understand what she is saying when she is speaking English and most of us can’t when she is not).

Could I have your thoughts please? There is talk of making a complaint and I’d like to hear views.

I used to work with a very huge, international team. There was a strict rules that English was the only language which could be spoken in public areas. British people did complain more then others if this rule was broken. Apparently it makes them feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.

That is probably why they were hired

The one big issue I've always had with the EU is the emphasis on finding a common currency while insufficient attention has been paid to the need to have a common language

The common language in the EU is English. Ironically enough.

dangermouse there is a difference between speaking English as a second language and being fully able to understand and communicate in English as a second language. And let's face it, not everyone has the aptitude for languages. Having a staff member who is fully able to explain complex concepts to parents so that they understand what is going on is helpful, and people who complain about that are ignorant. Integrating into a society does not mean becoming a carbon copy of its stereotypical members.

And as I've said above, I don't think it's just people who are not white who are on the receiving end of xenophobia - it's happened to me too, and I'm white, Dutch and 100% bilingual - in fact, if you were to speak to me, you would not know that I am not British.

My view is that they are a bunch of bigots.

@dangermousessidekick Fuck me, that's a depressing attitude.

I know what poverty is. I grew up in it. Still in it, tbh. I'm still not a racist prick - and neither were the majority of people around me in my shitty sink schools, council housing and fuck all in the way of income. Some were - but they were the ones who would enthusiastically support the National Front, then supported the BNP, would scream abuse at children for talking to a classmate of a different colour, now hero worship the PoS Yaxley-Lennon and complain about foreign food on holiday, funny smells from somebody cooking a spiced meal/a restaurant, learning about Islam - and TAs speaking their home language to somebody who shares it. They were racist pricks then, they are racist pricks now.

Poorer people are statistically more likely to have children of dual heritage than any other socioeconomic group. They are more likely to share classrooms with children of other ethnicities. They are more likely to live alongside people of other ethnicities.

Yes pointy, that's one aspect of using different languages in schools. I said it's a grey area. That is only one aspect. What do you say about the 'traditional communities' being built up in Britain, areas that are becoming no-go areas for white girls, and the 'white trash' insults? That they don't exist?

I can't see why its an issue. There are a few TAs at my school who speak other languages, there are also a few parents whose English isn't amazing so sometimes other classes will borrow bilingual TAs to talk to those parents, especially if its something complicated. We often get the children to translate for us to parents with limited English, which is great if you want to tell them they've grown out of their plimsolls but not helpful if you need to talk about behaviour.

The common language in the EU is English. Ironically enough.

Unofficially, yes. Not officially, and there is plenty of resentment about it and people who refuse to use it. I think it actually puts us at a disadvantage. Ironically enough . Bring back Latin!

If the parents want to complain they should have the courage of their convictions and go straight to the head themselves without dragging you into it. (Unless you are the head?)

Are the disgruntled parents EAL? Perhaps they feel resentful that their kids do not have a TA who speaks their preferred languages? Multilingual school staff are a bonus; at an English-medium school, it is a coincidence if a staff member happens to speak a popular second language. Albeit, a very pleasant coincidence for parents who benefit from their language skills. x

Didn't they try and invent a universal language at one point?

They're being ridiculous. As long as it was a private conversation there's no need for other people to listen in. I've been theexoat9in this situation and was very grateful the teacher spoke to me on English (although I could just about get by in German it was difficult and slow).

Is this in Wales?

Some parents want to complain because a TA talks to some parents in another language? What would be the actual point of that? Are they scared she’s talking about them? Flaming Nora. I’ve never heard such nonsense. How about you tell those parents to go and do something useful with their lives.

Hmmm... looking at it from a different perspective, if I were living in a foreign country and spoke in English to my DC's TA I would expect other parents to be a bit miffed at me. I would be miffed at me.

We always complain about English going to Spain, staying in their English speaking enclaves and not bothering to learn the language so what is the difference?

Having said that I wouldn't get so fussed I'd report it.

Didn't they try and invent a universal language at one point?

Esperanto. It's still going, albeit in a very niche corner of the internet! The only silver lining in this whole Brexit mess is that EU might be so pissed off with us Brits that they will change their lingua franca to Esperanto. It's quite a nice language and extremely easy to learn as it's invented and has no irregularities.

PigletJohn

No, Midlands. Does it make a difference?

I don't know.

But it fits your descripton.

Piglet you mean speaking English and Welsh? In Wales?

Everyone finds it easier to speak in their native tongue. I don't see the problem if she is speaking to other speakers only. Obviously it would be rude if non speakers were being addressed too, which I doubt is happening.

I have lived in a Spanish speaking country, when we arrived we spoke no Spanish. Teachers at the school spoke to us in English, so did the parents who spoke English.
We worked hard on learning Spanish, it is very hard to learn a language as an adult. We made progress and could understand and communicate in Spanish by the time we left a few years later. By this point teachers would exchange basic pleasantries in Spanish but hold detailed conversations in English because their English was still much better than our Spanish.
It is very hard to learn languages even when trying hard. I would never judge people for communicating in the way that best supports their dc's learning.

I worked in a school that had many Polish children. We employed a Polish TA and she was invaluable as she could translate school letters into English and generally be called upon when basic English wasn't enough.

"The European Commission conducts its internal business in three ‘procedural’ languages — English, French and German."

europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-825_en.htm

I work as a translator, frequently for the EU. The main procedural language, by far, is English.

Such a complaint would be both vile and racist.