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How can I make teacher understand?

5 replies

Bucharest · 24/01/2012 08:59

Confused

Dd is bilingual English/Italian in 3rd year of Italian elementary school, we speak both languages at home, in an OPOL-ish setting. I speak Italian with dp,though he understands English.

At school, dd does 2hrs of timewasting English a week. Elementary school English teachers have no degree usually,in anything, let alone English, they do a bit of a course and become the English teacher.

Last year's teacher was, obviously, and through no fault of her own, not very good at English, but at least recognised that, and chatted with me, and apologised for her own shortcomings and for the fact that dd was piss-bored in the class etc etc and gave her a perfect 10 mark on all her school reports.

This year they have a new teacher....at the moment they are again doing the alphabet (dd, even if she were not English-speaking, would by now have done 3 yrs of English at nursery, and almost 3 at elementary school, and they are still on the alphabet) dd recited A-Z, perfectly, and quickly, obviously, and got shouted at....and the teacher said "no, no, no, that's no good at all, I'm going to give you a bad report"

I actually, in my naivety told dd I thought the teacher had been joking, but dd was concerned so I grabbed her the next morning and asked....uphot is, the teacher says dd speaks"too quickly" and "too fluently" and "must slow down until the others reach her level". I triedto explain that that ain't going to happen this side of the sun exploding,that dd is an English speaker, but this teacher just didn't get it.

I am actually considering asking if I can withdraw her from these 2 hrs and bring her home and do 2 hrs of French or Spanish with her myself at this point, but I have never wanted dd to be treated differently....

Anybody have any idea how to make this teacher understand without alienating her? (I have also just applied to be the teacher on a course for the English teachers of this school which will be fun if this one is doing itGrin)

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UnsureAndWaiting · 24/01/2012 09:05

No advice I'm afraid but how awful. Have you raised it with those above the teacher? I don't know the system there but like a head of year, head teacher?

It's crazy to me. A child shouldn't be punished for being more advanced than the rest of the class. What if your dd excelled in maths, and was a couple of years ahead of the class would she get marked down for knowing things already or working quickly?

Seems crazy. Definitely have a word with someone. Maybe she can join a different class for the 2 hours.

CupOfBrownJoy · 27/01/2012 20:21

I would take her out. No question. Even if you go round a museum, its got to be more educational than slowly reciting the alphabet 300 times...

Brangelina · 27/01/2012 22:00

Hey Bucharest, how frustrating! I would take her out if you have the possibility.
DD had this last year when she was still in materna, teacher told her off about her pronunciation, but luckily she has a very bolshy friend who told the teacher off on her behalf! Now she is in prima she has a different teacher who is still crap (DD came home talking about "butanolli" who, I later found out were Bud and Holly) and for the first term she copied the teacher's accent so as not to get told off. I did manage to sort this issue out with DD's class teacher ( the English teacher is the compresenza) and things seem to' have improved. Can you not discuss this with a friendlier teacher?
I do despair about these enforced English lessons, the principle may be good but if it's not done well it would be better not to do it at all. DD already wastes 2 hrs a week not doing religion, I'd much rather she used this hour for something else but ho hum. I was going to ask NeXT year if I could send her in with worksheets. She's reading enid blyton stuff by herself, she's going to be' so bored by singing songs about colours and cutting out squirrels.

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dikkertjedap · 27/01/2012 22:07

I would insist on taking her out of that class. I understand that you don't want her to be treated differently, however, this teacher might teach her poor English and on top of that undermine her confidence. Also speak with the Head Teacher if possible.

Bucharest · 28/01/2012 08:34

Thanks for replies.....well, this week was better as apparently they had a supply teacher (I wonder if this teacher is maybe doing teacher training or something as she seems to be "on courses" an awful lot!) who was still crap at English but was apparently nice and friendly and interested in the fact that dd is English.

It's parents evening in a week, so I think I'll 'ave a word then....

Brangelina- lovely to "see" you again! Lol at "butanolli" My friend's son (Italian) did a "rientro" in English last year and his parents were concerned that the teacher seemed to be asking for money because the child kept coming home and saying the teacher kept going on about "i sold, i sold" They were horrified that a) they might have to pay and b)the teacher was speaking dialect....turns out to have been "He is old" Grin

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