[Publib] Teaching Students W/O English Proficiency

[Michele Haytko]

I've gotten a lot of emails that have focused on bringing in teachers
of other languages or having staff learn other languages.  Does anyone
have any experiences other than bringing in additional language
instructors?  I'm putting together information for my boss and am
trying to get a well rounded sample of answers.

Thanks,
Michele

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(initial post from 10/31/06)
Hi all,

This list has helped me with many problems in the past and I am hoping
that you'll be able to come through again!

My library is located in an ethnically diverse area and our computer
classes draw in a variety of attendance, some of whom do not speak any
English.  We cannot get across that they need to get library cards or
have the proper ID for the cards.

For the instructor, this presents several problems.

*Due to the lack of language comprehension, students do not pass
classes and thus take away a seat from someone who legitimately could
understand the class.

*Students with interpreters interrupt the class and other students and
the interpreters sometimes only speak limited English, leading to more
problems (and still a 0% pass rate for the student) or are students
themselves.

*The proficiency tests are in English and the students must complete
the tests on their own to demonstrate that they do understand the
concepts, something that is impossible.

So, how do you handle these types of situations?  If you teach classes
and a student who cannot register themselves comes in and wants to
register, what do you do?  How do you handle a student who has a
translator register and does the translator have to pay to take the
class?  Do you allow translators in class?  How do you handle the
disruptions?  If a non-language speaking student comes to class and
cannot understand, how do you address the student?

We do not want to limit our courses or screen students, but we are at
a loss for how to deal with this situation, especially when we have to
deny students for classes because we fill up.   Any help you can offer
would be much appreciated.


Michele