Language Barrier Even With Body Language???

[Unregistered]

I am a regular that has logged out.

This question is for those of you that have experiences working with children that speak little to no English in your care.

I have a dcb that is almost 3. He comes only 2.5 days a week, which I do feel is part of the issue, plus the parents do not choose to speak English to him at home, so this may also be adding to the problem.

My question is, do you think that people that do not speak the same language can understand body language and should be able to communicate this way?

Reason that I ask, is because DCB mentioned above cannot. For example I will tell him go get your shoes and point to his shoes. All of the other kids will go and do it, even ones that are too young to speak at all. He will just stand there or will be off in outer space. He will not follow what he sees others doing and follow along. NOt with anything.

He has been with me now for almost 8 months. He does make progress with repeating words. He sounds like a parrot, however is not able to communicate anything ever.

[Angelsj]

I would learn as many words as I can in his language, and use both. However, it is not at all unusual (though it is frustrating for the adult) for a child who is spoken to in two different languages to pause in their listening, and even "zone out." The child actually is listening, but is too busy trying to figure out what you are saying that they are not paying attention to your body language.

They can only attend to one or two items. Imagine if you were learning a language you had never really heard before and the people around you ONLY spoke that language. As you are trying to understand the language, they keep pointing at...well something..the shoes? the coat rack? the floor? the wall? my feet? WHAT?????
It will come with time and patience, but it will take both. Meanwhile, could you learn a few things in his language? Perhaps things like coat, shoes, socks, books, toys? He might come around a little faster if you were doing both.
I speak to ALL my children in both English and Spanish. They then learn that both have value to me, and are more willing to attend to my speech.

[daycare]

I would learn as many words as I can in his language, and use both. However, it is not at all unusual (though it is frustrating for the adult) for a child who is spoken to in two different languages to pause in their listening, and even "zone out." The child actually is listening, but is too busy trying to figure out what you are saying that they are not paying attention to your body language.

They can only attend to one or two items. Imagine if you were learning a language you had never really heard before and the people around you ONLY spoke that language. As you are trying to understand the language, they keep pointing at...well something..the shoes? the coat rack? the floor? the wall? my feet? WHAT?????
It will come with time and patience, but it will take both. Meanwhile, could you learn a few things in his language? Perhaps things like coat, shoes, socks, books, toys? He might come around a little faster if you were doing both.
I speak to ALL my children in both English and Spanish. They then learn that both have value to me, and are more willing to attend to my speech.

english is also my second language. But I began to learn it when I was in the first grade and studied it every day for at least 2-3 hours. When I got a little older, my classes were both in English and in Arabic. I can not recall being so confused as a child with this and I have also never had a child so confused. I actually have had 19 kids come through my care in the last 9.5 years that English was their second language. None have ever done this. AND none of them spoke my native language either.

It has been 8 months and I can honestly say this child cannot do anything that they are asked or told to do. Even a simple command like sit does not work. They see all the other kids sit when I say it, so why don't they?

I feel that it may be time to tell the parents either you need to speak english to him at home, go full time or find another daycare. You may think that it is not an issue, but it is. This child is almost 3 and has the abilities of an infant. I just honestly think that if we can't see some progress, then this child is not the right fit here.

I do feel bad for the child that they are here all day and can not communicate to anyone.

[sharlan]

I feel so bad for the child. I can't imagine being confused, unable to communicate, to interact all day.

What is this child like at drop off and pick up?

My eldest grandson goes to a Chinese immersion K class. He speaks English the first half of the day and is learning how to speak and write in Mandarin the last 3 hrs of the day. In less than 2 mos, he will often start to do his English homework in Chinese. Sometimes he will even answer his mom in Chinese.

[Angelsj]

english is also my second language. But I began to learn it when I was in the first grade and studied it every day for at least 2-3 hours. When I got a little older, my classes were both in English and in Arabic. I can not recall being so confused as a child with this and I have also never had a child so confused. I actually have had 19 kids come through my care in the last 9.5 years that English was their second language. None have ever done this. AND none of them spoke my native language either.

It has been 8 months and I can honestly say this child cannot do anything that they are asked or told to do. Even a simple command like sit does not work. They see all the other kids sit when I say it, so why don't they?

I feel that it may be time to tell the parents either you need to speak english to him at home, go full time or find another daycare. You may think that it is not an issue, but it is. This child is almost 3 and has the abilities of an infant. I just honestly think that if we can't see some progress, then this child is not the right fit here.

I do feel bad for the child that they are here all day and can not communicate to anyone.

For clarity, my first language is English, but I also speak French and Spanish.
However, you are with this child all day. If you feel there is a problem, there probably is a problem.
Personally, I would give this child another 3-6 months. If things don't improve drastically, perhaps encourage the parents to get the child evaluated. Either they will find nothing wrong, but hopefully encourage the parents to use more English, or they will find a delay. Either way, you will be doing the child a favor. Good luck!

[Unregistered]

I have a barely 2 year old whose mother speaks mostly German to him. His father and all of us here at day care speak to him in English. He responds well to both languages, and is beginning to speak to us in both. The other kids and I are picking up some German from him and his mom, and the kids think it's very cool. I'd be more apt to think that your dc child has hearing or delay issues more than language issues.

[countrymom]

sounds to me that there is something else going on. I grew up with english being my second language, but I don't ever recall it being confusing. And as a matter of fact, at a young age they should be picking things up quickly. I would be worried that he's not following, esp. what the other kids are doing, usually its monkey see monkey do.

how does he play with the other kids, does he ingage in play.

[Blackcat31]

I have a little gal who speaks several languages and she is 3. Her mom speaks her native language to her daughter and dad speaks English to her. Both parents speak a third language to her.

She is not at all confused and will quickly go from one language to the next without confusion.

I agree with Countrymom and think that there may be much more going on than just language.

I would give the parents resources as to where they can go to have their child assessed.

[daycare]

Since I already blew my cover....hahah so much for logging out..

No, he does not interact with any of the kids all day long. He is also here the longest. he gets here at 7:15am and leaves daily on the dot at 6pm.

Normally he will sit with a book or a toy and play alone. The other kids used to try to talk to him, but realized that he won't interact with them so they all gave up. They try to help him sometimes, but they get frustrated that he won't answer or listen to them.

I did ask the dcm if the child speaks well in his home language and she said yes. But I don't know if this is true or not.

Also are you ready for the last part. Dad is american, yet mom tells me that he does not play with his child and that he normally spends his nights at work until the kids are in bed and works in his home office with the door shut on the weekends. Again this is what mom says. I have met dad a few times, he's a different bird, but he also has a high profile job????

I decided that I am going to try to talk to the DCM one more time. I think that there is a language barrier there too, and she is not understanding what I am trying to tell her.

I am going to tell the dcm that I am giving him until January and at that point he either needs to come at least 4 days a week or I need to let him go.
Ugh.... I feel so bad

[Blackcat31]

Since I already blew my cover....hahah so much for logging out..

:::: I noticed you answered immediately in the 3rd post and thought "Oh-oh, she blew her cover!" but then thought maybe you meant to.

Silly you!

I agree that you should give her a time line to have the issue addressed. I do think you should have dad or someone who speaks moms language be present so you can know for sure that mom is understanding what you are saying and asking to be done.

I think that you should also consult your CCR&R and see if they have any tips, tricks or tools to help providers deal with language barriers. Perhaps they have some resources they could offer you to help.