Does He Have Right To Do This?

[Babyjustrun]

I've posted on like every BTS thread about how much my first day of school sucked.
But everythings getting better with time.
BUT MY TEACHER WON'T
First thing you need to know, I live in the only official bilingual province in Canada, the same for my city. Well, french is mucho important. You need this language to get a good job.

Now, in kindergarten we were represented with the choice to go into immersion or not.
It was my choice to do so.
Last year, my french teacher was very strict over french in the classroom. She tried everything, a rewards program, nothing worked. So she kind of just used empty threats at us.

This year, my teacher is new to the school. He's the french teacher, and my homeroom teacher.
Number one rule:
You have to speak french as soon as you enter the room. No english at all, not in morning homeroom, after lunch homeroom, or the end of the day homeroom. This morning on the board he wrote something on the lines of this :
This is a french immersion class. You chose to be in this class, you are to speak french. When you speak in english you are affecting those around you learning. If you want to speak english, get out of immersion.

However, this was a threat. Literal. It wasn't like 'oh you know, you should be in english if you don't want to speak french' it was like 'if you don't speak french, you'll be KICKED OUT of immersion'
He looks like one of those guys who had no friends in school, and wants power over someone. He takes this french thing too much to heart. And he's all "If i want to speak english, I'm allowed to. You aren't."
It's pathetic & unjust.
Why?
We were reviewing the Education Act in Tech, and some other things among those lines (it's required) and one of the things was:
Expect from me, what I expect of you.

Well, in this case, my teacher would not be following those rules. He expects us to speak french all the time, he should too. If he's going to speak on and off in french & english, we will too.

does anyone find the fact that he wants to kick us out for speaking english unjust?
I mean, english is our first language. We are going to speak this language, unless we absolutely need to use french (like as in we're speaking to a french person). From what I know, most people in the states only study french in high school, and I'm sure you guys are allowed to speak your mother tongue. In fact, I have the right to speak whatever language I choose.

 

[Lil_Tink]

That is out of control. I would say report him, but I dont know his anger. I understand him wanted you to speak french, but he should have to too, and if you slip out a word or two of english, it should be forgiven.

 

[Krystarella]

That is out of control. I would say report him, but I dont know his anger. I understand him wanted you to speak french, but he should have to too, and if you slip out a word or two of english, it should be forgiven.

you took the words right outta my mouth!

 

[TinkerTracy]

It does seem extreme. Talk to a guidance councler or something. I take French (and have for going on 6 years), and we can speak in English but French is ALWAYS preffered, that's how I believe it should be taught.

 

[Loves Disney]

I think what he said was appropriate and understandable. He sounds like the kind of teacher you WANT. I don't believe what he said was a thread. He simply adviced you that if you'd rather speak English, don't be in a French class. He didn't say you'd be kicked out. That was assumed. Possibly you already have it in your head that you don't like this guy? Sometimes such assumptions can be made through frustration and anger.

I think having everyone speak ONLY in French is very beneficial. During my third year of French, my teacher wrote directions in French, spoke only in French and we had to answer in French. If you couldn't understand what was being asked, you would ultimately do less than well on your paper or whatever the assignment was. This increased my comprehension of the language TREMENDOUSLY! I left the class being able to talk freely and openly in the French language. It wasn't like French 1 and 2 where we had learned the basics such as vocabulary, phrases and tenses. This class was more directed at teaching us more than vocab. and new tenses, but also teaching us HOW to communicate by forcing us to communicate in the language.

I think what your teacher is doing is great and it only proves that he cares about your education of the language. Sometimes, it takes some tough love to get the point across.

In other words, no, I don't think what he said was a threat and yes, I think he has the right to do what he is doing.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I think what he said was appropriate and understandable. He sounds like the kind of teacher you WANT. I don't believe what he said was a thread. He simply adviced you that if you'd rather speak English, don't be in a French class. He didn't say you'd be kicked out. That was assumed. Possibly you already have it in your head that you don't like this guy? Sometimes such assumptions can be made through frustration and anger.

I think having everyone speak ONLY in French is very beneficial. During my third year of French, my teacher wrote directions in French, spoke only in French and we had to answer in French. If you couldn't understand what was being asked, you would ultimately do less than well on your paper or whatever the assignment was. This increased my comprehension of the language TREMENDOUSLY! I left the class being able to talk freely and openly in the French language. It wasn't like French 1 and 2 where we had learned the basics such as vocabulary, phrases and tenses. This class was more directed at teaching us more than vocab. and new tenses, but also teaching us HOW to communicate by forcing us to communicate in the language.

I think what your teacher is doing is great and it only proves that he cares about your education of the language. Sometimes, it takes some tough love to get the point across.

In other words, no, I don't think what he said was a threat and yes, I think he has the right to do what he is doing.

Honestly what I bolded is something we already do. Everything is written in french, we answer questions in french, etc.
But we aren't allowed the freedom to speak english to our friends, or even in homeroom. I could understand it would be okay in the learning environment, but homeroom is too much. It does not seem fair that the other class only has to speak french in french & social studies, but we are forced to speak it 5 times a day.

I know it's beneficial, but we've got most of our french down, and I am plenty capable of speaking to a fluent french person. But speaking in english is something we do, we let it slip. You know, when we hear something absurd we won't say: "OH MON DIEU!" half the time, I don't even hear a french person speak that way. I find it rather retarted that he make us get up in the middle of class and walk through the classroom door when we speak english. It's rather disruptive to what was going on.

 

[Loves Disney]

Honestly what I bolded is something we already do. Everything is written in french, we answer questions in french, etc.
But we aren't allowed the freedom to speak english to our friends, or even in homeroom. I could understand it would be okay in the learning environment, but homeroom is too much. It does not seem fair that the other class only has to speak french in french & social studies, but we are forced to speak it 5 times a day.

I know it's beneficial, but we've got most of our french down, and I am plenty capable of speaking to a fluent french person. But speaking in english is something we do, we let it slip. You know, when we hear something absurd we won't say: "OH MON DIEU!" half the time, I don't even hear a french person speak that way. I find it rather retarted that he make us get up in the middle of class and walk through the classroom door when we speak english. It's rather disruptive to what was going on.

Okay...now I see what you're talking about. Homeroom isn't necessary. That isn't a class and because you're native to English, he shouldn't have the power to tell you no. However, just talk English in homeroom. If he kicks you out of homeroom, explain to administration that you were kicked out of HOMEROOM because you spoke in English sounds rather ridiculuous and you'd probably have the benefit there.

I didn't know he actually kicked you guys out either...I thought you meant he only had it written on the board. Kicking people out during class because an English word is spoken is a bit too harsh...maybe a senior class in college would hold those rules, but what grade are you in??

I agree with you now that you've cleared things up heh.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Okay...now I see what you're talking about. Homeroom isn't necessary. That isn't a class and because you're native to English, he shouldn't have the power to tell you no. However, just talk English in homeroom. If he kicks you out of homeroom, explain to administration that you were kicked out of HOMEROOM because you spoke in English sounds rather ridiculuous and you'd probably have the benefit there.

I didn't know he actually kicked you guys out either...I thought you meant he only had it written on the board. Kicking people out during class because an English word is spoken is a bit too harsh...maybe a senior class in college would hold those rules, but what grade are you in??

I agree with you now that you've cleared things up heh.

Well, it's not quite being kicked out.
We are told to leave the class, and walk in again, and repeat what we said in english but in french. He does this about over and over again.

I'm in grade eight.
Last year I had a similar teacher, but we could get away with speaking english in the back of the classroom, because she pretended she couldn't hear you.
This guy patrols us during O'Canada to make sure we are standing straight enough.
He won't ignore.

 

[minnie_2006]

oh I understand, at first I thought u were just saying that you had to speak French in French classes which I thought was only fair!! But speaking French ALL the time is crazy!! That's weird!! Why does he do that? I mean that is really weird!! I would get your parents to write a letter to your head teacher (I think you call it principal in Canada). Maybe your principal doesn't realise this is going on.

 

[Babyjustrun]

See my parents tell me to cope with it. You know, get over it.
But it's like really annoying.
Like even if he's going to have some rewards program to help us speak french, it doensn't really make us want to speak french more when we know in the end we're going to be watching a french movie. We play tic tac toe or something during those movies.
Our principal hired him for a reason, and all the teachers say he's great. They'll tell me I haven't given him a chance. Which I haven't really, but to have to speak french in homeroom is a pain.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

What bothers me is NOT the fact that you can only speak French in French class, that is understood. I've been taking spanish for 7 years now and my teacher this year only lets us speak Spanish. If you have something that you cannot say, say something else. Eventhough this is her thing, I still really like her. What DOES bother me is that during homeroom, you cannot speak English. I'd actually go to say that it is 'illegal' in a smaller sense of the word. It's not the French class that you are in, it's homeroom, it's a different part of the day.

 

[Loves Disney]

What bothers me is NOT the fact that you can only speak French in French class, that is understood. I've been taking spanish for 7 years now and my teacher this year only lets us speak Spanish. If you have something that you cannot say, say something else. Eventhough this is her thing, I still really like her. What DOES bother me is that during homeroom, you cannot speak English. I'd actually go to say that it is 'illegal' in a smaller sense of the word. It's not the French class that you are in, it's homeroom, it's a different part of the day.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I would get your parents to write a letter to your head teacher (I think you call it principal in Canada).

Just out of curiosity, where do you live where it isn't called a Principal? Everywhere I've ever heard about calls it a Principal.

Random and off-topic but I was curious.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Though, I can see why he wants us to speak french in homeroom:
it's an immersion class.
However, teachers have let it slide forever. I mean they don't care, they just want you to speak french to them because most of them speak french as a first language and prefer that you speak to them that way.

And the thing is, even if we continue french next year in high school, nothing else is in french anymore. Just french.

We have health, math, science, and social studies in french. We are set for failure because we don't know any scientific terms in english. Same goes for math.
But the thing is, my math teacher doesn't care what language you speak to her in. Even if it's immersion, and it's supposed to be french. So why does my teacher care so much about social studies and homeroom?

 

[mojophone]

Ok I am not nor have I been a student in a great many years but I am a parent and as much as I hate to say this, You chose to be immersed in french knowing full well that you were supposed to speak in french at all times. The fact that other teachers "let it slide" is a moot point since as you said yourself "It is in the rules". One thing I might suggest is this "As a class approach this particular teacher and ask him WHY he is so strict about everyone speaking french when so many of the other teachers "let it slide". In my opinioon, His class, his rules, his entitlement to make you speak the language YOU CHOSE to be immeresed in.

Ok Everyone I have my flamesuit on so go for it, give me your best shot for stating what I believe to be an obvious answer.

 

[Loves Disney]

Ok I am not nor have I been a student in a great many years but I am a parent and as much as I hate to say this, You chose to be immersed in french knowing full well that you were supposed to speak in french at all times. The fact that other teachers "let it slide" is a moot point since as you said yourself "It is in the rules". One thing I might suggest is this "As a class approach this particular teacher and ask him WHY he is so strict about everyone speaking french when so many of the other teachers "let it slide". In my opinioon, His class, his rules, his entitlement to make you speak the language YOU CHOSE to be immeresed in.

Ok Everyone I have my flamesuit on so go for it, give me your best shot for stating what I believe to be an obvious answer.

I completely agree with you. In fact, I had this in mind when I wrote my first post.

However, unless she chose her homeroom, I don't think the students should be expected to speak entirely in French during that part of the day. During French class it is completely understandable...From they way he sounds for French class, I think he might actually be a very good and respected teacher. I mean, he is forcing the kids to learn.

But homeroom isn't French class and I don't believe it should be a rule to speak only in French at that time.

Well, it's not quite being kicked out.
We are told to leave the class, and walk in again, and repeat what we said in english but in french. He does this about over and over again.

I'm in grade eight.
Last year I had a similar teacher, but we could get away with speaking english in the back of the classroom, because she pretended she couldn't hear you.
This guy patrols us during O'Canada to make sure we are standing straight enough.
He won't ignore.

Now I agree with my first post. lol. I'm going to say what I know you'll hate to hear but it's the truth... you chose the class, you have to learn to agree with your teacher's classroom rules.

I still don't agree with the whole homeroom thing lol but I DO think he has the right to run his classroom the way he wants. He isn't kicking you out, and I can't see how walking out and into a classroom is a horrible thing? Is it really THAT distractive? I mean, I would love to break up a class for 30 seconds while a student walks in and out lol. I'm not one for the monotoned teacher holding a pointer stick in one hand and chalk in the other while the classroom is set up in rows. It seems like he has his unique way of teaching and it sounds half way descent at that.

 

[dopeygirl156]

I agree with you thats not fair at all. He should be speeking french to, If you have to he should have to as well.

 

[dopeygirl156]

Okay...now I see what you're talking about. Homeroom isn't necessary. That isn't a class and because you're native to English, he shouldn't have the power to tell you no. However, just talk English in homeroom. If he kicks you out of homeroom, explain to administration that you were kicked out of HOMEROOM because you spoke in English sounds rather ridiculuous and you'd probably have the benefit there.

I didn't know he actually kicked you guys out either...I thought you meant he only had it written on the board. Kicking people out during class because an English word is spoken is a bit too harsh...maybe a senior class in college would hold those rules, but what grade are you in??

I agree with you now that you've cleared things up heh.

I totaly agree

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I completely agree with you. In fact, I had this in mind when I wrote my first post.

However, unless she chose her homeroom, I don't think the students should be expected to speak entirely in French during that part of the day. During French class it is completely understandable...From they way he sounds for French class, I think he might actually be a very good and respected teacher. I mean, he is forcing the kids to learn.

But homeroom isn't French class and I don't believe it should be a rule to speak only in French at that time.




Now I agree with my first post. lol. I'm going to say what I know you'll hate to hear but it's the truth... you chose the class, you have to learn to agree with your teacher's classroom rules.

I still don't agree with the whole homeroom thing lol but I DO think he has the right to run his classroom the way he wants. He isn't kicking you out, and I can't see how walking out and into a classroom is a horrible thing? Is it really THAT distractive? I mean, I would love to break up a class for 30 seconds while a student walks in and out lol. I'm not one for the monotoned teacher holding a pointer stick in one hand and chalk in the other while the classroom is set up in rows. It seems like he has his unique way of teaching and it sounds half way descent at that.

I really loved the way that you put this. I had no idea what an immesion (or whatever it's called) was so I assumed it was a...well, I don't know what I assumed. However, if it is part of rules, they are rules. Other teachers gave you a break and if you like that, then be greatful for them but it's them giving leeway, not him being uptight.