Cohort groups speaking foreign languages.
I’ve had experience with many different types of cohort groups. I’ve been able to control most of them but I’m having difficulties controlling cohort group that communicate with one another in a foreign language. I’ve tried many scenarios to handle the situation such as having an “English only in class” rule, assigning seats, private verbal warnings, etc. My attempts have not been successful yet and I’m open to ideas and suggestions.
Thank You,
Elizabeth
I agree with you in setting the rule the first day of class. I always emphasize to my students that it is not polite to speak in their native tongue since there are other students in the classroom. I call their attention privately one by one and ask them a question that what if you were in that situation that everybody around you is speaking their language that you donot understand. And I am mostly successful in these cases.
I've had this experience many times over the years. We have a strict "English Only" policy, In the beginning I had a problem with it for the cases stated earlier, i.e. a fellow student clarifying what I said in a native tongue, however, how do you know the interpreter understands the point or theory correctly? He may have misunderstood you, or misunderstood the thoery. Not knowing the language myself, I can't correct or modify the interpreters discussion. This is an example I give to the class as to why we have an “English Only” policy. It generally helps to state this early in the course – First Day!!.
I have found that if you have students that don't speak English very well, but have a common native language, they will naturally fall into speaking their language (with each other). That automatically gives them something in common, and as you stated, it is their "comfortable" language.
Seems like a hard job to get the students to speak English all the time. Is it a matter of them not knowing English? Or do they just naturally speak their "comfortable" language? You may have to learn some of their language, I tried that and it seemed to help.
I agree completely that many times students are using their native language to clarify concepts presented in class. If they are simply chatting among themselves or using another language to exclude other members of the class, one way to disrupt this is to call on one of the clique members to respond to a question. I have found this technique very effective.
as an ESL instructor myself I strongly encourage english to be used in my classrooms. However understanding that individuals may have difficulty understanding the cirriculum in english one or another may utilize their native speaking to clarify points to one another. Realize that not all, but most times students are not talking down or inappropriately speaking on the whole. they are generally trying to clarify points about the class or topic being discussed to one another. As long as they aren't disrupting the class I would encourage them. Manage it by monitoring their grades and lab activities. This will demonstrate as to whether or not they are discussing current topic or not.
Either try to learn another language, or just blow it off and pretend in your own mind they're actually complementing you... unless it gets out of hand, then talk to your education manager. Maybe they can put someone/another instructor in your class who's bi-lingual to truly identify if the're conversing inappropriately.
It sounds like you've tried many good ideas to get this group under control in the classroom. Could you try to do some type of assigned group activity in which you put these students in seperate groups? Then maybe they will feel more comfortable interacting with other members of the class. You could also make it a requirement for the group activity to give an oral presentation to the class, therefore the presentation must be in English.
