Parent/Teacher Conference (Free Choice)
Yesterday (Tuesday) we had parent/ teacher conferences in our district. After speaking with many of the program assistants I decided to go ahead and volunteer to be a translator for the day. This would be my first time translating for the parents because usually I would take this day off and use it for personal appointments. I did not have any so I decided to use this day and also get extra pay (because we all know how much a program assistant makes). I thought why not just do it and so I did.
It was very interesting how their system works when it comes to translators. Our conferences were from 11:30 am-3 pm and 5-7pm. Each program assistant working translation had walkie talkies and we were called at any time to go into certain classrooms. We were just running around going up and down left and right. Believe me when I say this, there were no breaks at all. I never knew how much a translator was needed because of how many parents not having English as their first language. Our district also has a rule when it comes to a translator. That rule is that a parent has to have a translator (If Spanish is their primary language) for their conference regardless if they have a relative or friend with them who can translate for them. They made this rule because in the past sometimes their relative or friend who is translating for them did not tell the whole truth or they purposely left stuff out from the conversation, etc.
It was very interesting when translating for some of the parents because of their emotions they showed when talking to the teacher about their child. Some parents were very open and gave us more information than what was asked or needed and some parents felt a completely different way and non-accepting towards their child's needs. At times I feel that these parents use this time to really vent out about their child and how they feel about their situation and comparing their home life to their school life. The teacher that I currently work with, I did all of her translating for her and it was good to put a parents face next to the child. My teacher also explained that sometimes conferences is the only time to actually see and speak to the parent without any interruptions and can actually give them the time that they need to speak about their child.
Not all parents showed up and our teachers get very disappointed when a parent does not show up for their child conference. In our class out of 12 students only 7 showed up. It was more than half, but the ones that did not attend are the ones that my teacher was hoping to get a chance to speak with. My teacher expressed that even if she could not meet with them on that day she always reaches out to the parent to get some sort of conference from them because she believes it is important to communicate with the parents about their child and about their improvements and things they can work on at home.
It was very interesting how their system works when it comes to translators. Our conferences were from 11:30 am-3 pm and 5-7pm. Each program assistant working translation had walkie talkies and we were called at any time to go into certain classrooms. We were just running around going up and down left and right. Believe me when I say this, there were no breaks at all. I never knew how much a translator was needed because of how many parents not having English as their first language. Our district also has a rule when it comes to a translator. That rule is that a parent has to have a translator (If Spanish is their primary language) for their conference regardless if they have a relative or friend with them who can translate for them. They made this rule because in the past sometimes their relative or friend who is translating for them did not tell the whole truth or they purposely left stuff out from the conversation, etc.
It was very interesting when translating for some of the parents because of their emotions they showed when talking to the teacher about their child. Some parents were very open and gave us more information than what was asked or needed and some parents felt a completely different way and non-accepting towards their child's needs. At times I feel that these parents use this time to really vent out about their child and how they feel about their situation and comparing their home life to their school life. The teacher that I currently work with, I did all of her translating for her and it was good to put a parents face next to the child. My teacher also explained that sometimes conferences is the only time to actually see and speak to the parent without any interruptions and can actually give them the time that they need to speak about their child.
Not all parents showed up and our teachers get very disappointed when a parent does not show up for their child conference. In our class out of 12 students only 7 showed up. It was more than half, but the ones that did not attend are the ones that my teacher was hoping to get a chance to speak with. My teacher expressed that even if she could not meet with them on that day she always reaches out to the parent to get some sort of conference from them because she believes it is important to communicate with the parents about their child and about their improvements and things they can work on at home.
Although I was very exhausted at the end of the day, I had a good first time experience translating and meeting many of the parents and the students siblings as well. There were some funny stories parents shared about their child and how their school life and home life differ. It was also great to hear about how some parents notice a difference in their child since they started school. Their was one family in particular that truly thanked me and my teacher that I worked with because of how well we explained to them about their child and his needs. They felt that by them asking us many (seriously many) questions about their son that we might have felt annoyed, but we were happy to answer all the questions and give them the honest truth about their son when it comes to his potential at school. That made my day because I did not expect to feel needed as much as I did.
Holy cow that was a great story! Congratulations on your first day as a translator. In my building, the parents that showed up typically are the parents whose children are doing amazing and there was really no need for a conference. Was this how your conference was as well or were there any conferences that were badly needed and the parents actually showed up?
ReplyDeleteMy conferences were just like yours. The parents who showed up did not need to have a conference because they already keep up with their child's progress. There were many parents we were hoping to see and my teacher had so much information to share with them and they were a no show. Sucks, but we will keep trying to get in touch with them regardless.
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