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No
Spanish? No Problem!™
Do
you teach English language learners but
don't speak Spanish?
If
you work with English language learners and don’t speak Spanish,
click here to find out how you can communicate
effectively with Spanish-speaking parents!
The
growth of the English language learner population has increased
exponentially in recent years. Educators are scrambling to meet the
needs of newcomers and find culturally-appropriate techniques of
effective communication with Spanish-speaking parents. Districts
have responded with Spanish for Teachers courses, English as a
Second Language classes for parents, cultural diversity seminars,
and workshops on how to overcome communication barriers.
Effective Communication with Spanish-Speaking Parents and Students
Effective communication with English language learners and their
Spanish-speaking parents means getting your message across and
spurring someone to take action. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?! Yet we
know from experience that it’s not simple at all due to differences
in the cultures of those communicating. Whether or not you speak
Spanish, you can still communicate effectively with parents and
students by learning about Hispanic culture. This is the key to
overcoming communication barriers and building rapport.
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One major source of misunderstanding is the difference in the
cultural values and norms we acquired growing up compared to those
prevalent in Hispanic cultures.
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We are immersed in our own way of life and send messages from our
individual perspectives. We assume that everyone “thinks” like we
do.
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We neglect to shape the message in a culturally-appropriate way,
the way in which the listener can understand, digest, and be
motivated to act upon.
Remember the old adage to “put
yourself in someone else’s shoes? This is still valuable advice,
whether for a parent-teacher conference or an intercultural business
negotiation.
 
When talking about
the Hispanic population,
it is easy to stereotype inadvertently. There are complex and subtle
differences, so be careful about making assumptions or over generalizing. Latino
cultures include millions of individuals from different countries, generations,
socioeconomic levels, literacy levels, with various dialects, abilities and
disabilities, personalities, learning styles, likes, dislikes, and
idiosyncrasies—not to mention our own perceptions and biases. This cultural diversity
means it is important
to maintain perspective and not jump to conclusions. Effective
communication depends on taking these factors into consideration.
Find out how culture affects communication!
Bentiva
Education Solutions is an independent publisher of bilingual teacher
reference materials. Founded in 2002, Bentiva helps educators
strengthen parent-teacher communication and supports student
academic success.
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What’s the Diferencia? Demystifying the terminology
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Hispanic Heritage Month and Intercultural
Communication |
Calling
California Educators!
The Parent/Teacher Kon-ver-SAY-shun Kit is on the