CAN'T STOP MANDARIN-SPEAKING AT PAS
By- Blanca and Catrina
Committing to an all-English environment on campus seems to be a reoccurring problem at PAS. Students continuously speak Chinese, the native language for the majority, regardless of the principal rule in the Student Handbook and constant reminders of faculty and staff. This is especially serious among the high-schoolers, as they have “failed to act as role models the little ones” (quote Ms. Sherry Lee). In fact, those in elementary and middle school are much more abided to the rule and have better English speaking abilities than many of their seniors. Not to mention that there are a number of high school students in mainstream, which excludes those who are in the English Second Language program, who do not meet the standard adequate for their age group (compared to that of the the United States.) The practice of English is an essential skill in preparation for life and college in America, should that not be reason enough to make it a habit rather than a chore?
About 20 students and 8 teachers were surveyed regarding to this topic, the former with a varied set of questions from the later. The following responses, quoted anonymously, are then analyzed to understand the motivation behind students’ preference for Chinese in an American school.
According to data, only 1 out of the 20 students interviewed is a not native Chinese speaker, while the rest admitted to have spoken Chinese on campus. They usually use their native language to converse with friends or translate terms and concepts. Sometimes they would also communicate with a faculty or staff in Mandarin. The older students among the interviewees, seniors and juniors, are prone to speak Chinese more often than the younger ones. The majority of the students were busted by Ms. Sherry Lee at least once, and one said to have been caught by Ms. Pamela Chu, the Head of the School. They are most likely caught in the hallway and in the cafeteria at lunch. Though, a little less than half of them were ever caught red headed by any staff or faculty.
We have asked the 8 teachers to explain why it is important to always speak English on campus. 1 faculty simply said that he does, but the rest agrees that it is necessary. PAS is for a fact an “American School”. “…many students’ English skills are very poor, they need practice” “to acquire the language.” It also “provides a great opportunity to understand the English-speaking culture.” “Students are preparing for [AP test, SAT tests,] college [and life] in an all-English environment. They should feel comfortable speaking in English.”
One of the questions provided in the student survey inquires if Chinese speaking should be allowed on campus and their reason. Here are some of the responses as follows:
“No, cause we are America school. But sometimes if you really don’t know how to say it in English, it should be allow to use Chinese” – grade 8, middle school
“Yes, respect indigenous people.” – grade 8, middle school
“No, because we’re here to learn English.” –grade 9, freshmen
“No, but it’s hard to not speak in Chinese especially when everyone around you are all speaking it, but we should.” –grade 9, freshmen
“If they are not fluent than yes, because then they can better express themselves” –grade 10, sophomore
“No, we are here to learn English, but I don’t think it’s possible to control people from not speaking Chinese.” –grade 11, junior
“Better to be not allowed, we should practice our vocabulary from conversation.” –grade 11, junior
“Yes, we speak differently depending on who we are talking to. Of course I’m not going to speak Chinese to a foreign teacher.” –grade 12, senior
“No, because people learn the language more if they use it in daily conversation.” –grade 12, senior
Despite that they “could not control” themselves from talking Mandarin, most of the PAS high school students who answered the survey stated that they genuinely believe or they have conscience that they should be practicing their English routinely. Nonetheless they still made the choice to communicate in Chinese with their friends. To sum up the responses, they generally said that they are more comfortable with their native language. They think using it makes it easier to avoid misunderstanding and seem more friendly to other students who are or not fluent in English; therefore, they could not resist the influences of others. One student made a deep and extensive response saying that Chinese language is part of his culture and identity, so people should not neglect their cultural heritage.
Most teachers are reluctant to turn students in to the office for Chinese-speaking. Constant reminders don’t seem to help improve the situation though. So the survey asked our faculty members what they have to say about students choosing Chinese over English:
“They are lazy. Not enough non-Chinese students on campus, (or students who are not native Chinese speakers) Therefore they do not see it as necessary.”
“It’s a social thing. They enjoy chatting with friends. Also, there are times they don’t know how to say things in English. Also I think they like the fact that they can communicate and not be understood by their teachers.”
The rest gave similar responses saying that the students are “more comfortable with their native language” and they do it so “fit in with peers.”
The review may have given the impression that students don’t find themselves comfortable speaking in English. Ironically, only 4 students admit that they don’t feel comfortable using the English language. Others seem to have no problem conversing in English with upmost ease. While they claimed to not feel perplexed about speaking English, they should use it more often and improve their level of skill in general. Should more students learn to express themselves through the learned language would they be able to influence their peers to do the same. Perhaps when the “little ones” and middle schools become high-schoolers, they will be able to bring a true all-English environment on PAS campus.
May 29 2014
About 20 students and 8 teachers were surveyed regarding to this topic, the former with a varied set of questions from the later. The following responses, quoted anonymously, are then analyzed to understand the motivation behind students’ preference for Chinese in an American school.
According to data, only 1 out of the 20 students interviewed is a not native Chinese speaker, while the rest admitted to have spoken Chinese on campus. They usually use their native language to converse with friends or translate terms and concepts. Sometimes they would also communicate with a faculty or staff in Mandarin. The older students among the interviewees, seniors and juniors, are prone to speak Chinese more often than the younger ones. The majority of the students were busted by Ms. Sherry Lee at least once, and one said to have been caught by Ms. Pamela Chu, the Head of the School. They are most likely caught in the hallway and in the cafeteria at lunch. Though, a little less than half of them were ever caught red headed by any staff or faculty.
We have asked the 8 teachers to explain why it is important to always speak English on campus. 1 faculty simply said that he does, but the rest agrees that it is necessary. PAS is for a fact an “American School”. “…many students’ English skills are very poor, they need practice” “to acquire the language.” It also “provides a great opportunity to understand the English-speaking culture.” “Students are preparing for [AP test, SAT tests,] college [and life] in an all-English environment. They should feel comfortable speaking in English.”
One of the questions provided in the student survey inquires if Chinese speaking should be allowed on campus and their reason. Here are some of the responses as follows:
“No, cause we are America school. But sometimes if you really don’t know how to say it in English, it should be allow to use Chinese” – grade 8, middle school
“Yes, respect indigenous people.” – grade 8, middle school
“No, because we’re here to learn English.” –grade 9, freshmen
“No, but it’s hard to not speak in Chinese especially when everyone around you are all speaking it, but we should.” –grade 9, freshmen
“If they are not fluent than yes, because then they can better express themselves” –grade 10, sophomore
“No, we are here to learn English, but I don’t think it’s possible to control people from not speaking Chinese.” –grade 11, junior
“Better to be not allowed, we should practice our vocabulary from conversation.” –grade 11, junior
“Yes, we speak differently depending on who we are talking to. Of course I’m not going to speak Chinese to a foreign teacher.” –grade 12, senior
“No, because people learn the language more if they use it in daily conversation.” –grade 12, senior
Despite that they “could not control” themselves from talking Mandarin, most of the PAS high school students who answered the survey stated that they genuinely believe or they have conscience that they should be practicing their English routinely. Nonetheless they still made the choice to communicate in Chinese with their friends. To sum up the responses, they generally said that they are more comfortable with their native language. They think using it makes it easier to avoid misunderstanding and seem more friendly to other students who are or not fluent in English; therefore, they could not resist the influences of others. One student made a deep and extensive response saying that Chinese language is part of his culture and identity, so people should not neglect their cultural heritage.
Most teachers are reluctant to turn students in to the office for Chinese-speaking. Constant reminders don’t seem to help improve the situation though. So the survey asked our faculty members what they have to say about students choosing Chinese over English:
“They are lazy. Not enough non-Chinese students on campus, (or students who are not native Chinese speakers) Therefore they do not see it as necessary.”
“It’s a social thing. They enjoy chatting with friends. Also, there are times they don’t know how to say things in English. Also I think they like the fact that they can communicate and not be understood by their teachers.”
The rest gave similar responses saying that the students are “more comfortable with their native language” and they do it so “fit in with peers.”
The review may have given the impression that students don’t find themselves comfortable speaking in English. Ironically, only 4 students admit that they don’t feel comfortable using the English language. Others seem to have no problem conversing in English with upmost ease. While they claimed to not feel perplexed about speaking English, they should use it more often and improve their level of skill in general. Should more students learn to express themselves through the learned language would they be able to influence their peers to do the same. Perhaps when the “little ones” and middle schools become high-schoolers, they will be able to bring a true all-English environment on PAS campus.
May 29 2014