Language Learners in Your Classroom

        Our schools and classrooms are growing more diverse each day. It is very likely for teachers to have children who are bilingual or multilingual. Young children may be entering school for the first time without any experience with English.
        In our course last week, we simulated what it would feel like to be child in a class where the language was foreign and incomprehensible. The professor spoke in Spanish only and gave us an assignment in which we had to be able to read and write in Spanish. It was only for a brief period time, lasting maybe 15-20 minutes. Many children have to endure this boredom and frustration throughout the school day. It was difficult to answer the questions our instructor was asking us because we did not understand. Additionally, she disapproved of us speaking in English to each other. It is not uncommon for schools to  forbid foreign language speaking because they believe it is detrimental to the students learning English.
       Our group performed better when we could work together and communicate.We taught each other the Spanish we knew and collaborated. In primary school, the teacher should facilitate language learning and respect the children's culture by allowing them to speak their home language. Complete immersion with no support is beyond most children's zone of proximal development when first learning English.
       Teachers can provide support through outside sources if they are unable to speak the foreign language fluently. They can ask families for resources or look for services in the school that can be helpful. While learning a new language, children may need extra supports
that fits their needs.