No hablas Espanol

Today I experiened one of my greatest failures as a teacher.

My English classes are very large--the largest has 39 students and the smallest has 31. That's a lot of kids. Needless to say, I'm still learning names and putting personalities with people. The desks in my class are arranged in a T position and the kids on the outside sit near the wall. Most of my students are friendly, warm, excited and ready to get started. Most of them participate on a regular basis. Most of them smile and are really happy about being in the 8th grade.

My classroom is the epitome of multiculturalism. It's like the United Nations had a convention and forgot to tell me that I would be the speaker. Let me break down for you the ethnic backgrounds in my classes: (in no particular order)

Jewish
African-American
White
1/2 African American, 1/2 White
1/2 Philipino, 1/2 Black
1/2 Hawaiian 1/2 Black
Hawaiian
Cuban
Brazilian
Columbian
Puerto Rican
Mexican
Indian
Asian
Native American
Irish
New Yorkian

That's what I remember off of the top of my head. I'm sure there are more. Anyhow, for the most part I absolutely love it. My classes are teeming with ethnic diversity; I feel like I'm becoming a better person because I'm working with so many different kinds of people.

So why do I feel like a failure?

Today, (keep in mind that school has been in session since Monday) I gave my kids their first quiz. It was fairly simple and only 10 short questions. All of the questions we had been going over since Monday. I knew that all of my kids would get an A. I passed out the papers and sighed contentedly.

Then, a small hand raised tentatively in the air. A little boy was trying to get my attention. I recognized him (having seen him all week) and what I remembered was that he was very quiet in class. I quickly walked to his desk to address his concerns. When I got to his desk, he looked up at me:

"I no speak English." Silence.

I said something back (in English, mind you because I speak no Spanish. This was not helpful, because he looked back at me again and said "I no speak English.")

How had I let and entire week go by without recognizing that this child does not speak English in an ENGLISH class? How am I supposed to teach this child English when he knows NONE of the langauge? I am already planning to have my students analyzing writing and begin writing narratives in two weeks! I'm very frustrated and also a bit sad. It makes me feel horrible to know that there is a child in my class that is perpetually lost and confused.

The irony is, the only Spanish I know is: No hablas Espanol.

So at least we can tell each other we can't talk to each other.

Anyone with any suggestions, please share.

*M*

Again, this picture has nothing to do with this post. I just like it. Hey Tam!