Quick Question

[Guest]

how would you answer the following question:

 

how would you communicate with someone whose first language is not english.

 

thanks

 

alison

[Upsy Daisy]

I would find a language they do speak and find a person to translate for me. If this were not immediately possible I would use an internet translation resource in the interim.

[Guest]

I have a parent in my seeting whose first langugage is russian and she speaks very limited english. When i am speaking to her i use visuals as much as possible and try and demonstrate as much as i can

[Guest]

Talk slowly

 

Emphasise key words

 

Use lots of tone

 

Use lots of hand gestures/signals

 

Use pictures/images

 

Find a translator

 

The wording is ambiguous, though, especially if it's an essay question? Don't assume that just because their first language is not English, that doesn't mean they don't have it as a fluent second, third or fourth one!