English as a second language

[George Roberts]

My granddaughter started public school this year. (She loves the school bus and really loves to read and practice her letters.)

There is a questionnaire that asks "Does anyone in your household speak a foreign language?"

Simple question. Most people would answer "yes." My granddaughter's mama and grandmother on the mama's side speak Chinese. So the answer given was "yes."

Based on this question my granddaughter is given a test (that no one ever passes) and is classified as English as a second language. She uses words like "expeditiously" and even uses "well" where a lot of people would improperly use "good."

To get out of this classification requires taking a $130 test and getting a score of 48. The problem being that it is not until 3 grade that a score of 48 is even possible. (Grade K has a maximum score of 36.)

So many complaints after people are proud that their children can mimic Dora the Explorer's Spanish that parents are allowed to correct the answer to the original question - then all the English as a Second Language paperwork vanishes. So much for a permanent record.

[Ian McColgin]

The idiots who designed the questionaire need remedial English (not ESL but good old remedial) to learn how to ask a question that gets the answer they (at least think they) need.

[Tom Robb]

And we wonder why America is losing its ability to compete.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

This all seems horribly familiar.

[outofthenorm]

I sympathize, of course, but does this have something to do with boats?

[Sam F]

Ah... here's the problem:My granddaughter started public school this year...
I hate to say it but, get used to it - there's always more on the way.

[George Roberts]

outofthenorm ---

Opps...

[dmede]

you guys are in the wrong forum. You'd probably get more of the kind of responses your looking for below decks, up here we like to talk about boats :p

[botebum]

Boats, language, politics, dogs ... what's the difference?:rolleyes:

Doug

[Steve Lansdowne]

I work in the public schools and know of the Texas version of this. There is no downside to being classified however she is classified that I know of. In Texas we ask specifically what other languages are spoken in the home, what the child's first language is, and so on. There is some legal requirement to do this so that students of limited English skills are not penalized for this. This is an attempt to protect students having limited English skills who may otherwise have normal langauge skills in another language. The test may be passed, by the way.

FYI - Language is more than using big words, as you seem to imply. If her parents are really concerned about this, I'm sure that someone at the school could explain it further to them.

[George Roberts]

Steve Lansdowne ---

In my post I said there was a solution that took 30 seconds - the answer to the question was changed.

There are certainly skills other than using big words involved, but space limitations often leads to us making cartoons of complex processes. My granddaughter certainly pauses when her language skills are not on the tip of her tongue. Pauses as she works out a solution. (It is much more difficult for me to push her skills than it was in the past.)

The purpose of the question and the reason for its (note: it is not it's) phrasing is to obtain federal funds. The question is determined by the state board rather than the local school. But the local school did a good job of handling the "error."

The downside of being classified is that each year those classified as English as a Second Language are required to take a 2-1/2 hr test. In addition, teachers are instructed to speak slower and louder to those so classified.

You might notice that at no time did I jump on the bash the public schools bandwagon. The local school does a very nice job with my granddaughter. This year she has started to read real books - much more space with words rather than pictures, she has started to spell more, she practices her letters and writing words. Most of this is due to attending school. (Some has to do with her mom reading to her for an hour each night.)

My granddaughter complains that her name, Alexandra, should have a "z", Alex(z)andra.