fimbo Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 we have recently had a little Polish child start at my setting, they are dropped off and collected by nan -who speaks no English at all, we have been sort of communicating by gestures etc...but thankfully, the child has settled really well -so we dont have any specific issues we need to mention...yet ! But as nan is generally our only point of contact ..and the child speaks no Polish or English, we were thinking about sending an info sheet home with nan everyday...so that mum could see what their child has enjoyed, eaten, any acheivements or concerns etc ( mum speaks English) has anyone done something similar - - i was concidering just a written daily report, but feel a pre-populated form...with a comments section would be bettter...maybe with a section for mum to complete if she had any queries , questions or comments...that nan could bring back for the next session ? we are also planning on learning a few simple Polish words to help the child feel a little more secure ( as he is usually with nan all day and only hears Polish at home) thinking of things like....yes, no, drink,nappy, food, hungry,hurt...any other suggestions ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 (edited) i hope this works never uplaoded anything before!!! Some Polish words for you, how to pronounce in red Lardyladypolish numbers.docpolish words.docx IT WORKED !! Edited February 2, 2013 by lardylady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAR Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Yes the pronunciation is important. I discovered that Polish words are pronounced in a completely different way as how they are written! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 We had a similar situation in that a polish child's nan dropped off and picked up from nursery as parents worked, and she had very very limited English. We spoke with parents when we filled out the paperwork and agreed on a communication book. This way we could communicate with parents ( who could read and write some English) and they with us. It worked well for us. Recently, with another polish child whose mum has fairly good spoken English (in comparison to my polish for sure!) but she struggled to read his end of term summary. . . So we used google translator, which made her laugh a lot as she read it (not great translation apparently!) but it showed we had tried! She did not want us to use any Polish at all with her child but we did at first in an attempt to make him feel less isolated and I think despite the pronunciation tips he didn't know sometimes what we were saying! This same child had been at another nursery before ours and his profile showed he was doing really really well but he had had a worker in the nursery who was Polish and I think consequently he has not until now needed to use English. His vocabulary is really poor. It's difficult when he only hears English when in nursery because although mum does speak some English she does not talk to him in English within our hearing. We are now doing little one to one sessions with the child and giving him books to share with mum at home too. I am also using some SALT strategies to try and encourage speech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catma Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 It's difficult when he only hears English when in nursery because although mum does speak some English she does not talk to him in English within our hearing. It's really important (and a requirement of the EYFS!!) to encourage continued use of the home language - which in this case sounds like that's what the children are getting in the home environment thankfully. The children are learning how language works, be it in Polish or in additional languages...they will have a silent period and they are absorbing english if they are hearing it in context. If english becomes the only medium for communication there is a risk that they do not develop it fluently enough because a)the model they hear at home is not fluent and b)they do not have the linguistic understanding in their first language to transfer to their second so they end up with impoverished language in both. Then when they need to move into the Cognitive and Linguistic Proficiency (CALP) level of second language use they struggle because they haven't got the linguistic understanding to work with less context. It can be upto seven years to develop second language fluency. That would take a child in some cases through Primary school. However with the right support EAL children do as well as the rest...in my LA there is never any significatnt difference between the EAL children and the non EAL at EYFSP level and we have many many languages in every setting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouseketeer Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Thanks for those lardylady...we,re finding it quite difficult to fimbo, but our little one is very strong minded when it comes to what they do and dont want to do (and would be in any language) visual cards or showing are not helping at all, we also never see the parent that speaks quite good English(though that doesn,t necessarily mean the same as understanding), child only attends one session a week and can be absent for 2/3 weeks in a row so add this to holidays it's like starting over all the time which isn't helping....think I really need to invite the English speaking parent in again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAR Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Remember that achievements in Speaking/Communication and Language have to be achievements in English Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devondaisy Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Hi Fimbo, we had a Polish boy recently (he went to school last September) who spoke no English when he came to us as both parents were Polish. They spoke good English though. Mum supported him at pre-school for 2 full terms until he was ready to manage on his own, which was a great help. He then did 3 terms on his own before starting school. We used a photo book of activities, toilet, drink etc at first which worked well. It was on one of those elasticated cords which he clipped to his belt and he loved it. Also lots of basic signs really helped. He was a lovely child, and always so thrilled to be able to make himself understood! It amazed me just how much he had been absorbing during all the settling in sessions with Mum, as his first independent words to me, other than hello, bye and help, was a complete sentence - "No, not finished yet" when I tried to remove his (obviously unfinished) painting! He is now doing really well at school too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 met one of my old pupils who is a polish speaker the other day....she has completey lost her polish accent....wierd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouseketeer Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Well I don't need to worry about mine now......at least not until the sun comes out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Thanks Lardylady - we have a little girl who is Polish and your list of words will help us (and therefore her!) enormously :1b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fimbo Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 Thank you for that, I will copy it off for my setting x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinthinguk Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 just printed out the list of words, I might attempt them lol I have a new little girl who speaks no English and is dropped off my a very stern Granny! lol Mum speaks very good English. have made a little flip book of pictures for toilet, drink, food ect and will be asking Mum to take it home and talk through it with her and granny. Its all new to me, I personally have not supported a non English speaking child before although we have had others in the setting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louby loo Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 just printed out the list of words, I might attempt them lol I have a new little girl who speaks no English and is dropped off my a very stern Granny! lol Mum speaks very good English. have made a little flip book of pictures for toilet, drink, food ect and will be asking Mum to take it home and talk through it with her and granny. Its all new to me, I personally have not supported a non English speaking child before although we have had others in the setting. Try and get the parents to read the list first if possible - they can then check for colloquiums (is that the correct word?) Bit like west country vs north county here. :rolleyes: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catma Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 If your setting can afford it get this http://uk.mantralingua.com/product/penpaland the key phrases chart http://uk.mantralingua.com/products/key-phrases-school-chart-only. Then you can support multiple languages with everyday things. Cx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts