I just had to smile today when I saw this happen in the gym: One of my little guys from my classroom was having a great time. He was bouncing around in his gait trainer (walker) laughing and vocalizing. A little girl from the other classroom came running up to him smiling and talking to him (we think she may have a bit of a crush on him...she LOVES talking to him!).
She suddenly stopped and looked up at me, "But, when will he TALK to me?" "Well," I said, "he IS talking to you! Listen...see, he says he's happy you came over to play with him! Look at his face, he's smiling at you!" I was waiting for her to question how I knew all this or to question my translation skills, but, she just stopped. She looked at him, looked back at me and smiled a huge smile, as if to say, "Oh, NOW I can hear him! I just didn't understand!"
Just then another child ran up and overheard our conversation. "HEY, he just said Wally!" he exclaimed! "That's her brother's name! How did he know that?" And for the next few minutes they insisted that the little guy from my room KNEW the little girl's brother and was calling out his name!
I love seeing the children develop friendships and love seeing them enjoy playing and talking with their friends! These children just viewed the translation process as a fun part of the interaction! They were quite sure that this little guy was speaking his own language, and all they had to do was figure out what words he was saying! I'll just bet you that they will run back up to him next time they see him and ask him who else he knows. And, I'll just bet that he knows SOMEONE from their family and, of course, he will tell them all kinds of cool things he has done and how he knows the person! They, of course, will listen and translate and enjoy hanging out together with a good friend!
She suddenly stopped and looked up at me, "But, when will he TALK to me?" "Well," I said, "he IS talking to you! Listen...see, he says he's happy you came over to play with him! Look at his face, he's smiling at you!" I was waiting for her to question how I knew all this or to question my translation skills, but, she just stopped. She looked at him, looked back at me and smiled a huge smile, as if to say, "Oh, NOW I can hear him! I just didn't understand!"
Just then another child ran up and overheard our conversation. "HEY, he just said Wally!" he exclaimed! "That's her brother's name! How did he know that?" And for the next few minutes they insisted that the little guy from my room KNEW the little girl's brother and was calling out his name!
I love seeing the children develop friendships and love seeing them enjoy playing and talking with their friends! These children just viewed the translation process as a fun part of the interaction! They were quite sure that this little guy was speaking his own language, and all they had to do was figure out what words he was saying! I'll just bet you that they will run back up to him next time they see him and ask him who else he knows. And, I'll just bet that he knows SOMEONE from their family and, of course, he will tell them all kinds of cool things he has done and how he knows the person! They, of course, will listen and translate and enjoy hanging out together with a good friend!
That is amazing and what amazing students you have! I am really enjoying learning from you.
ReplyDeleteDeborah- I think they're amazing also!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :-) that's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVery Sweet. Thanks for sharing!
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