What would you have done? Teaching/Cultural Question?

Question

One of my friends just gave out to me for what I did in class or better yet, what I didn't do.

I've just finished teaching an English camp in Spain for a month to students between 16&17. In one of the classes, the topic of gays and immigrants came up. At this point, they started saying nasty things in Spanish, like, "Los maricones son una sunor**les, los sudacas y los putos negros de mier** deben volver su propio país." Something like, (gays are crap and blacks and wetb**ks need to go home.) When they pressed on, I told them, it was THEIR country and if they really felt that way, they just had to vote for the politicians that supported their views when the time came. Then I continued with a grammar lesson.

My friend says I messed up, but I think I was there to teach English, so I did my job, plus I know that Spaniards aren't into political correctness so who am I to correct what they say in their own language?

What would you have done?

Answer 1

A personal opinion is a personal opinion besides if you had done something such as arguing or something like that, it would be a waste of time.

I mean I agree with you

Answer 2

Being a teacher I agree with both points. You are there to teach english, not politics or cultural studies. However, the teaching of a subject is rarely cut and dried. By NOT addressing these statements, as a person in authority (a teacher) you basically gave your blessing.

What you might have done is to point out the way in which such feelings affect people, how in the US (hey, we're learning English here, right? ) feel about such subjects. Not to start a discussion, but to point out that there ARE differences and perhaps that you also do not agree wih the way in which they are addressing the issue. Once stated, you can then take the group back into the subject. Lesson continues, and your ideas and ideals are imparted to the students.

Answer 3

How will they ever learn if no one challenges their views? So ok their country isn't really into political correctness but how can growing up thinking that its ok to be that racist and prejudiced is fine? I'm not saying you did wrong because to be fair you were there as you to say just to teach them the language but if everyone else did the same then bigotry, racism and prejudice will never go away. Maybe next time tell them that you shouldn't judge people by their life style choice or by their race as they wouldn't like it if people thought they were horrid just because they were Spaniards and then say lets get back to the lesson.

Its very easy to say that's what i would do but i wasn't in that situation and you can only do what comes to you at the time so don't stress and just decide how you would handle it next time.

Answer 4

I agree with Marvinator, not making any comment at all was not a good idea. I'm a foreing language teacher myself and I think teaching a language is teaching also ideas etc. In this situation, as a foreigner, you should have shown them other points of view (it could be the only chance for them to hear a different opinion...) Contracting a native speaker as a teacher is a good idea not only because of your native pronunciation and grammar, rich vocabulary etc., with your behaviour, the rules you introduce in class, you teach a lot about your country and make its culture closer to the students.

Answer 5

I taught ESL to immigrants in Canada for 18 years and then taught international instructors the thank you to instruct ESL for 12years. They got here from many international locations and that that they had many perspectives. some we mentioned in college and tried to understand the themes. even nevertheless, I in no way have been given into politics, faith or sexuality. the lecture room isn't the right venue for those matters via fact they engender too lots emotional, cultural and private bias. you probably did the wonderful ingredient, exceedingly for the reason which you have been a customer of their united states of america. opposite to frequently going on ESL ideology of making use of any and all matters to get scholars to speak, a great instructor additionally desires to understand which matters can do extra harm than good. You confirmed superb judgement and your pal is erroneous. playstation - I completely agree that a instructor's place is to show no longer in basic terms instruct a project. even nevertheless, speaking approximately those 3 matters (politics, faith, sexuality) isn't valid preparation via fact then the instructor, who's able to ability and effect, is in basic terms disseminating his/her very own biases. What occurs then, is that the scholars can tend to agree/bend to the instructor's perspectives via fact they decide to get good marks. might make the instructor experience extra appropriate or examined. even nevertheless, a "reversal of place" on a controversy isn't inevitably evidence of a real or valid knowledgeable reversal.

Answer 6

I would have instructed the students to carry on their debate in English, and corrected only their linguistic errors.

Answer 7

You handled it well, you weren't there to teach them morals or ethics, although it would have also been appropriate to demand respect in your classroom. You could have simply said, "In my classroom, on my time, you will NOT speak in such a manner and subject me to your disrespectful words."

Answer 8

I'd have laughed it off. They're just normal teenagers, that's all. It would have been different if their remarks had been personal and directed towards you. Then you could have lectured them on good manners.

Answer 9

ya good for you, just keep teaching the english lesson. Their personal views have nothing to do with you or your teachings.