DD and her Spanish teacher. GRRRR!!!!

[drivinmecrazy]

DD speaks (almost) fluent spanish (Murcia). she's in yr7 and her Spanish teacher seems to really dislike her. We (her & I) accept that her accent is regional but everyone else in her class is learning Spanish from scratch. Rather than praise DD for what she does know, teacher is forever putting DD1 down for her accent (knows the right words and verbs but tends to drop her sounds because of the regional accent she has developed). DD has won her school entry for the national Spanish spelling Bee but teacher still will not give her any credit.

When, in class, they have certain exercises the teacher will constantly make DD repeat and repeat her sentences til she sounds out every sound whereas another student can stumble through with (really bad) annunciation and get loads of praise.

Is this a case of the teacher pushing DD or does she really dislike her for her already formed accents and idea (as in practical rather than text book spanish)

DD started this school 3 weeks into term, and as soon as the teacher knew DD knew some spanish she seemed to immediately challenge her

[Bonsoir]

Contrary to what you wrote in your second to last post, there is an awful lot of research out there comparing MFL teaching methods and outcomes. You don't have to invent your own baby experiment you know!

[LoopsInHoops]

Yes, you're right. Care to find something that proves one of your points? My point about comparing a specific UK school with a French one was to highlight that you were comparing two entirely different things, not to actually create a 'baby' you are in a bit of a mood, aren't you?! experiments. Clearly you're struggling to understand.

And yes, actually I am dying to know about your international MFL teaching/learning experience. I did a quick search and can only find you wittering about your DD's experiences. Pray, tell us of your wealth of experience.

[Biscuitsneeded]

I teach MFL and have one or two children who are bilingual, or more or less bilingual. I wouldn't dream of correcting their pronunciation, and in fact when they are confident and happy to do so I use them as a sort of unofficial language assistant within the classroom. However, it is often the case that although they SPEAK the language very well they do not write it nearly as well as they imagine they do - they write down the words and sounds they hear in their head but with very little regard for grammatical accuracy! Those children sometimes need to work harder than other naturally able children to get the written side of things right. So it may be that the teacher feels threatened and is bullying your daughter, or it may be that the teacher sees both the potential and the disadvantages in your daughter's situation and is trying to get the very best out of her. However, forcing her to repeat the same phrase over and over in front of her classmates doesn't sound good unless she is modelling good pronunciation and your daughter has misunderstood her intentions? I would email the teacher, be very positive and say how pleased you are the DD can learn Spanish with a native speaker, ask if there are specific sounds she needs to focus on, and depending on the response you get you should be able to determine whether you are dealing with someone with high standards and expectations or someone with regional prejudice and an attitude problem...

[Bonsoir]

Learned 5 MFL, all of which I studied in several countries and school or university, both with native speakers in their own countries and outside. Family full of multilingual people. Currently board member of association in MFL field. Loads of stuff. Don't want to out myself.

[LoopsInHoops]

Come on Bonsoir, still waiting for your credentials. I'm intrigued!

[LoopsInHoops]

ah, xposts.

"100% certain that my experience of MFL teaching methods across countries and generations is a lot greater than yours"

Not from the sound of it. :)

[Bonsoir]

Then tell me!

[LoopsInHoops]

7 MFL studied
Current HoMFL in international school, previous HoMFL in UK school, plus years of other MFL teaching experience - primary and secondary, UK and abroad.

Undertaking PhD researching modern MFL teaching methods

So, basically, you learned some languages and know some others who have, and think that qualifies you to talk with authority on teaching methods?

[LoopsInHoops]

ha ha! told

[Bonsoir]

If you were doing a serious PhD, you wouldn't have made that clanger about the silly baby research project to assess methods. You would know all about the research.

[JenaiMorris]

snigger at the battle of the MFL giants. Fierce

[LoopsInHoops]

she started it!

[Bonsoir]

You certainly rose to the bait

[tribpot]

Fierce and yet - so far - conducted entirely in English. C'mon ladies, we can use Google Translate to keep up if you wanna slug it out multilingually.

[JenaiMorris]

YES! A multi-lingual bunfight!

[Summersbee]

"¡Bueno, aquí estoy mirándoles!"

Going back to the original thread ...
From personal experience I would recommend switching to another language in school in order to be appropriately challenged and develop good learning skills.
Longterm I would strongly encourage DD to take up Spanish again before she leaves school - she might feel scared to if she has left it for a few years, but it will come back in a flash, and she will need to study it again to turn it into a really good skill for life.
To cheer DD up, and help her with her accent, she might like to look at 'Hola, me llamo Billy' online ...