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Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I have a student in my ESL class in public school who was thought to be perfectly healthy, but in the last two weeks they have discovered that she is extremely sick and will likely only live a few more weeks. I feel like I have to tell my class, but I'm really worried about things being lost in translation. With her homeroom we are going to bring in a nurse and a counsellor, but that's all going to be in English. Any ideas on how best to take up the topic with students who may not understand everything they are being told? These kids are between thirteen and sixteen years old and in general are considered to be at level two (out of five, so they are high beginners more or less).

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If this is public school, stay out of it. Let the local adminstrators deal with the issue.

I had a class where one boy committed suicide. Nothing needed to be said. The day that most of my students were absent, I suspected it was for the funeral, asked, confirmed, then moved on.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I think the OP is teaching in an English medium country now.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

It's a public school in an English-speaking country. I teach ESL. Admin has told me to plan how I am going to deal with it and present my plan to them before saying or doing anything. They think I should handle the situation because I know the kids personally (it was difficult to convince them that a nurse and counsellor were needed in homeroom). If I don't tell them they won't know until her obituary is published, due to hospital and family cirumstances, plus they won't even be able to read the obituary so they'll hear it third-hand from their classmates, and I've been told by other teachers that is a really bad way to let them find out.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

Dear Jetgirly,

I hope these may be of some use:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DC103AF93AA15750C0A964958260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=all

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:sG3Vpv3TpLAJ:www.u-46.org/sehs/cbgi/student_handouts.pdf+How+to+tell+students+about+the+death+of+a+classmate&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/death.htm

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:qGEwQiEeZy8J:waupaca.uwex.edu/documents/TheDeathofaClassmate.pdf+How+to+tell+students+about+the+death+of+a+classmate&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

Very sorry,
John

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:00 pm Post subject:

Also sorry. In addition to be extremely sad, this is an incredibly hard one to handle.

Is there a nurse, counselor, or other profesional with knowledge of this situation who also knows your ESL students? If so, that person should be available when you break the news. (Admin could resist. If they do, point out that the nurse and counselor are available in the homeroom, and that you think that ESL students are just as important. They'll give in.)

And then plan it.

Plan it like you would anything else communicative. Plan how you'll present the information. Plan how you'll check understanding. Plan for likely questions- and your answers.

One extremely likely question is "What can/should we do?" Obviously, there ain't much. But think of possibilities.

Another question- what are these kids' native languages? Are there language assistants/translators/interpreters who can help you with this? Use whatever you can get.

And best of luck in this difficult situation.

Justin

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Admin wants you to plan how to break the news to them? Sheesh! How are they handling the native English speaking students? Here in Japan, there would be an assembly and a short story (sometimes a lie).

I'd get together with admin pronto and have a powwow. Why should the burden be on you? Bring in the trained pros.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

I'm with Justin, if you can, get a translator in to help with this one. That way they will understand, and be able to ask questions.

Good luck,
Lozwich.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Thanks for those links John. I haven't read them but I'll bear them in mind.

I have a kid from a small private group that I teach who has leukaemia. The language isn't an issue and the others in the group will know before I do, but I'd still like to be prepared if the worst happens.

Lhenderson · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 135 Location: Shanghai JuLu Road

Ive been in similar situations.

I found it was a good chance to teach medical vocabulary and role play hospital, funeral, visit a doctor, etc.

Lots of good medical word sites online.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

The OP said

yaramaz · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject:

The OP said

Madame J · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:29 am Post subject: