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An Open-Letter to Gravesend’s Ethnic Community
Synopsis: Are you worried that you do not understand the education system your children and being put through? Are language barriers stopping you from learning about the syllabus? The Extra Tuition Centre sends out an invitation to Gravesend’s ethnic community, in a bid to help the non-English speaking parents of our pupils be a more active participant in their child’s learning.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Extra Tuition Centre is familiar with the growing number of parents who feel they have a language barrier preventing them from playing a role in their child’s education. In areas like Gravesham, the number of children whose parents do not speak English as there first language, has risen considerably. This highlights the struggle of children who have to balance more than one language. Therefore with major examinations such as the Eleven Plus and GCSEs only a few months away, the ETC feels it is an ideal time to invite those parents to become actively involved with their child. In a bid to combat this issue, the ETC has planned an afternoon meeting for parents and their children.
The reason for this meeting is simple; it is to tackle the language difficulties facing many parents today. It is to help parents who want to be active participants in their children’s lives, but think they do not have the right knowledge – or language, to actively participate. From around the age of three the world of learning is open to children, but knowing how to tap into their brains can be a struggle.
As a parent I am sure this is easy to understand. Many parents know that the education children receive today is extremely different from what they learnt when they were a child. But if like you, parents have studied in another country, not only do they have to grasp with their child learning a distinct set of rules, but they have to overcome the additional challenge of the English language. And whilst children are happy to learn essentials such as English verbs and decimal points, parents are often left wondering how they can assist, support, and most of all, understand what is being learnt.
The worst thing perhaps, is that children are expected to explain to their parents in their own language what the ‘x’ in algebra means. It becomes a child’s job to translate for their parents and to help them understand what is going on. Children have to explain to their other siblings the mathematical equation in ‘their’ language, which only an hour before had challenged their own understanding. Here is what we call the ‘child-translation’ issue, or the pressure children have in educating themselves, and the people around them. The demands of children having to translate to parents can also be reflected in their school work, especially in English. If a child doesn’t have the tools at home to enhance his English through conversation, reading and writing, and instead spends time translating into another language, how will he or she ever practice English to make it perfect?
There is never a harder time for a child than when examinations creep up on them. If a child attends tuition courses, much of the benefit of the tuition lies in the ability to go home and show what they have learnt to their parents. But if the child has to yet again duplicate the ‘translation’ process (explain to their parents what they were supposed to learn, and then demonstrate how they have excelled), then this defeats the object, and in some ways the happiness limited. The only ‘job’ a child should have is to learn with confidence and assurance. The Extra Tuition Centre, which is an organisation that helps children to succeed in Maths and English, recognises these difficulties. While one of their tasks is to tackle common mistakes in children’s Maths and English, they are now attempting to lend a helping hand in ‘family translation relations’.
On a Saturday afternoon, parents of children involved in ongoing tuition are invited to the centre in West Mill, Imperial Business Park. They will be able to participate with their children in a seminar where a teacher will explain and translate to parents in their first language, the work their child is currently studying. Parents can also have an insight into the ETC assessments and the lesson plans their child follows each week. Parents will be able to understand what the ETC is doing to help their children and can explore the range of textbooks their child uses. What’s more, they can also be guided in ways THEY can help their child go further. The ETC understands the barriers between parents, children and their education; which is why the session is to clarify these things. The aim is to prove to them, their skills as supportive parents are important to their child, when more difficult subjects are going to be tackled in the future.
So if you are a parent who feels that language barriers have stopped you from knowing what your child is studying, then the Extra Tuition Centre can help. The Extra Tuition Centre is reaching out to the foreign speaking community, and hopes to acquire as many parents as possible to further this initiative. As one of the longest established private educational bodies, the Extra Tuition Centre is able to use their expertise and professionalism to welcome parents to their child’s world of learning. The ETC will tackle all language barriers and looks forward to working with you and furthering children’s education.
Yours Sincerely,
The Extra Tuition Centre Staff
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