Reflection 3: Response to a question about English teaching

http://www.everythingesl.net/askjudie/?i=11062&n=0

Contacting Families of ESOL students

by Mandy on Oct 14 2008 2:17 PM

I am an education student at Florida Gulf Coast University. I have noticed throughout my classroom observations the difficulty teachers have communicating with parents - specifically ESOL student's parents.For example some parents do not have telephones and if they do, there willingness/ability to communicate seems limited. I am wondering if anyone has advice on effective ways to communicate with ESOL families.

Re: Contacting Families of ESOL students

by Pilar Escalona on Nov 17 2008 9:42 PM

Usually parents of ESOL students are afraid to experience new traditions and speak a new language leaving theirs behind. Moving to another country to have better opportunities for their families and themselves is a hard decision to make. Parents are usually in culture shock. They take longer time to get use to a new country and a new culture than their sons and daughters. Most of them don't speak English and refuse to learn a second language. I would recommend you to find someone who speaks the parents' first language: a translator; a paraprofessional; or another teacher. Have meetings with them using bilingual support; welcome them to school giving them a tour of the school, and meeting the school personnel. This welcoming process makes parents feel included and willing to participate at meetings and school's events. Help them find resources that they would need such as food; banks; health service; ESL adult classes. They will feel appreciated and comfortable talking with someone who cares. Write them letters and information sheets in their language using translators. If you can't find someone who speaks the language, you can find translators online. Keep them informed about their sons and daughters performance. Make them know that they can talk to you if they have any doubts and concerns; make them know that they can trust you. Keep them engage to school.
I hope this helps.
Greetings,
Pilar.

I believe that including parents into their sons and daughters activities is a good way to promote communication. Helping them to find resources about their daily lives and welcoming them to school are processes that the teacher must do in order to involve the parents with school. Make them feel comfortable and trustful about your actions and opinions creates an open relationship. Having experienced culture shock myself, I think that having the help of a native, especially a teacher, can help you feel more open and comfortable with the new culture and language.
I have seeing this open relationship when we have visited some schools here in Washington, and I think it is the best way to include the family to the education process of the students.
In Chile we don't have as many foreign students as here in USA but the process of including new parents and students to the school is the same. The main difference is that everybody speaks the same language.