Job Discussion Forums

[mcsam]

Hello all

I have been pondering something recently. I am known for my strong opinions on things that I don't view to be right, I can be stubborn, unyielding and even a drama queen at times. All of these faults I recognise but.....

Is it ok for me to be asked to write end of year reports in a language I neither speak, read or write?
Is this common practice, here in Spain?

I have only been here a few months and my knowledge of the language is rudimentary at best. I attempted to put my comments through a translator, I know they are not perfect but it seemed the easiest and quickest way but, the person who is insisting on this being done couldn't read them (I'm not sure why but I have my suspicions) and told me to use the translations provided.
That would be nearly 30 pages of stock phrases. Now writing reports for nearly 50 kids is time consuming enough but then to have to find all the translations and replace the English with them is taking a HUGE amount of time and of course, there are things I want to say that aren't there.

I did speak up and say I thought it was ridiculous but my co-workers, who have complained about it, haven't spoken up and I wouldn't presume to speak on their behalf.

Am I being unreasonable?

[spiral78]

Unless fluent Spanish (I presume) was a requirement for the job, they shouldn't demand that you do this.

If they hired you as a native speaker of English, and did not demand that you also have functional Spanish, this should simply not be a requirement of the job.

[mcsam]

Hi

No Spanish or Catalan was required and I only found out about it when we were told we had to write the reports. It was a VERY well kept secret.

[spiral78]

Then your negative reaction to it is NOT unreasonable
Further, I'd say you have grounds for complaint - or at least to be provided with whatever assistance you need to accomplish the task to their satisfaction.

[JacobTM]

After a few months living anywhere, you should at least speak the language.

If you are supposed to be an expert in helping others learn languages, you have no excuse not to learn the language yourself. It is not unreasonable for a Spanish employer to expect their employees to speak Spanish.

[mcsam]

Thanks Jacob TM

I agree that I should have some level of language after a few months and I am learning. However, I have only been here 5 months and one of my co-workers less than 3.
I am nowhere near the level required to write reports and I doubt that many other people would be either. Also, the person requiring this to be done couldn't read the translation I originally did using a translator and they've been here 25 years. Although, they do seem to be fluent in speaking.

[kazpat]

Sure, respect for the culture, making living easier, professional growth, and a line on the CV are all great reasons for learning the language. I often speak to parents in Kazakh out of courtesy. I recently spoke at a graduation in both Russian and Kazakh. If my employer all of sudden said they required it without it being in the job description and or contract I would tell them to pound sand.

IMHO you are not being unreasonable.

[spiral78]

Of course learning the local language is important. But as has been pointed out, report writing is quite advanced. If the OP had been in Spain for a few years, fair enough. But only a few months?? No.

[Perilla]

[Conquense54]

In most job descriptions for teaching posts here in Spain it states quite clearly whether a knowledge of Spanish is "essential", "useful", "desirable", "not required" and so on. So first of all, check yours. What about your contract "if you have one"). Does it mention report-writing is part and parcel of the job? What about attendance at parents' evenings? Of course, it's great for yourself and your day-to-day living in the country if you can learn the language, but there are many foreigners living in Spain who never even attempt to do so (many of whom are "Brits"). I quite agree with you that to ask you to write reports in Spanish is ludicrous, especially after such a short time living in the country. I have a degree and PGCE in Spanish, plus more than 30 years residence, so obviously it's never been a problem with me, but I do recall a very good language academy in Madrid asking teachers for reports. However, what they also said, was that anyone who couldn't write in Spanish should write them in English, and then the academy would translate them into Spanish. So stick to your guns, you are there for your skills as a teacher of English, anyone who says different on this site is living in cloud cuckoo land. PS. I recently returned from a teaching post in South America, where the same thing happened, the Head of Department, in his fourth year there, still couldn't speak any Spanish, so had to write his reports in English!

[DMcK]

You mentioned Catalan. Is it fair to assume you're talking about a position in Catalunya? And can I also assume they want the reports in Catalan?

[DMcK]