How to Make a Home School Connection With ESL Students
To have a viable home school connection with ESL students, you need to establish a relationship early in the year. This is possible if you are aware of certain factors of culture and socialization. Adhere to the following steps to maximize your experience with ESL students.
Instructions
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Locate a go-between if the parents or guardians are not proficient in English. This could be a sibling, relative, neighbor, family friend, church official (pastor or priest), a friend of the student, or another staff member at the school. He or she should be someone with whom the student is comfortable. You will have to sound out the student or approach a friend of the student. It is important to be very tactful in doing this.Be sure to establish a relationship with the home prior to encountering the academic and/or behavioral problems which will force a contact.
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Prepare carefully for the first meeting. Remember that first impressions in any human interaction are very important. Arrange seating in a circle so the school representatives don't appear authoriitarian. Schedule the meeting so there will be plenty of time even if the attendees are late.
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Plan for initial socializing. Business is conducted differently in different cultures. Some cultures think it professional to get to the point and finish quickly. Other cultures think this is rude, and have a more leisurely approach to business meetings. Having coffee and small snacks to share also helps establish a friendly, non-threatening atmosphere.
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Make an effort to learn something about the home culture prior to the meeting. Different cultures have different views about time and space. In some cultures it is polite to be late. In others, it is rude to be late. Concepts of body space also differ. Europeans tend to sit closer than Americans. Members of one culture might ask questions about issues that other cultures feel are personal. If you know ahead of time what to expect, you won/t make a faux paux.
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Tips & Warnings
The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be.
