General Chat

There have been increasing numbers of Polish children attending my daughters school over the past two years. Most of them speak no English and so interpreters are being used. Class is obviously disrupted as a result of all the extra time the teachers are using to sort out the non English speakers. I have just had a letter home from school telling us about an after school club where English kids can learn Polish. I am of the opinion they have it the wrong way round. What do you think? Should I say something?

i am not sure about this. perhaps a word to the head to find out the facts. i know that there quite a few polish/russians in scarborough at present and from first hand knowledge the polish that are emplyed by my f i l are taking english lessons (they are adults). my daughters boyfriend (russian) is interpreter for his friends who are doing their best to learn english. perhaps it is the schools way of helping the polish pupils and english pupils get on. after all french is taught in schools why not polish (i know you are more likely to need to speak french than polish, but it is just a thought) tina x

Surely a new language would be beneficial to the children. However, as you say there should be an after school for English too.

it might not be 'politically' correct to say some thing but I would say yes they have it wrong. What country are they in??? Jacqui

Hi Tinkerbell. I have had an informal chat with the headmaster about it and it appears it is a directive from 'above'. I just feel that owing to the disruption caused by the lack of English being spoken, a conversation class where polish kids were taught English would be far more advantagious. I have nothing at all against the kids learning any other language - I just feel that the impetus should be on the Polish kids to learn English for the sake of the school rather than the other way around.

if your in england then you should speak that language if you dont know it then surley it should be the peeps who dont know the english language that needs to learn (if that makes sense ) all this rubbish does my head in Rosex

Hi Muffy, i think it should be Englsh, two reasons the 1st cos its the language of this country 2nd it would just get out of hand due to so many different speaking nationalities living here in England the cost would be far to high. In realiity yes it would be good for the English to learn more language's just impossible due to cost. Lilx

i agree that english should be taught FIRST to the polish children, i didnt make this clear in my original message. polish should be a second language if english pupils WANT to learn it not part of the nornal lessons as compulsary. tina x

The mother tongue should be taught first and Polish second in my opinion,Muffy Caz xxxx

Hiya Muffy I worked in a school and have seen many non speaking english kids come and go. I have noticed that within mths they have picked the lingo up really quickly with a big northwest accent as well...

Hiya TInkerbell. The after school class is not compulsary, I have to make that clear I just feel the resources used to man that class could be better deployed in teaching the Polish English. I would happily help out after school hours as it would make the teachers jobs much easier if the kids all spoke the same language. Hi Hayley. I hear what you are saying. There is a girl who couldn't speak a word in reception who is fluent in year two now however, I just wonder what on earth chance we have as I hear their parents chatting away to their kids in the playground in Polish. I don't think the majority can even speak English. Just makes life so difficult xx

I agree I know a family of Pakistanies who have lived here for over 30 yrs...Mum still cant speak much english now ...

i think it's more important that the children learn to speak another language. My friend's mother who is Chinese cannot speak English very well but she understands most of it. However, her sons speak perfect English and cannot speak her language (but understand it when she speaks)

The Polish or any other nationality should be taught to speak English if they are living in this country. Does that mean if Welsh speakers moved to another country the schools would have to teach all the children to speak Welsh, I can't see that happening. When in Rome do as the Romans do, whether it is us going to a different country or other nationalities coming into ours. Jackie

When the Gurkas moved to their new base near Folkestone, their children were entered into several schools in the area. My friend taught in a reception class, where 13 of these children attended. That was quite alot for one class. Not many of them knew any English and communication with their mothers was through an interpreter, (if the fathers were away on exercise), as they too had little knowledge of our language. Resources were provided to teach the children English, within the school day and it wasn't long before they were speaking English and teaching their little English friends special Nepalese dances and songs. At no time were the English children disadvantaged because any teacher now has to differentiate in any school and set work suited to an individual child. I would imagine that an after- school class would not be funded out of the school's education budget and as it is not compulsory it could provide a way of integrating the Polish children quicker. The Polish childrens' English lessons will probably be part of their overall education during the school day. Gwyn

Hi Gwyn. The classes would not be funded out of the schools budget because it takes place after school I agree with you about that but that isn't the main issue I have with this. If you are going to pool resources to teach the English kids polish, surely. when you are paying for interpretors which DOES come out of the schools budget, it would be more prudent to have English conversation classes after school than Polish. That was the point I was trying to make. xx

Hi Muffy I think I would need to say something! I think the Polish children should be having English lessons after school. Saying that, I do think it's good for children to learn different languages and, therefore, would probably send my children to the after school classes. There are, however, quite a few languages I would rather them learn before Polish, but it is a good opportunity for them. AL

Hiya AL nice to see you hon. If she wants to do it, I am happy for her to attend the after school classes. Though because of Dora the Explorer I suspect she is more keen to learn Spanish lol xx

i agree muff spanish french german could even do thre for a weekend (duty free an all ) polish no coz if they dont wanna be in thier country why would we just my wooden leg of course Rosex

Who will teach Polish at the after-school club? Maybe one of the Polish parents will be doing it and be paid very little...- or nothing. In your position, I'd want to be clear about a few more facts. After hours classes are 'extras' and won't interest all, but just as some would have no interest in eg. Chess, that shouldn't bar others from having an opportunity to learn. I would have no problem with these voluntary classes as long as the over all resources for the education of the majority of the children in school did not suffer because of a lack of funds. Gwyn