Are We Speaking the Same Language?

I really enjoyed Sera's visit to class the other day and was interested in what she had to say about the use of different languages in and out of the classroom. I think that it is a smart move to affirm and acknowledge other languages even if it is one you do not understand. Speaking from a standpoint of very limited experience, I think that one of the biggest aspects (and challenges) of teaching, or working with kids in general, is to establish a relationship of mutual respect and understanding. This can be done no matter what language a child is speaking - Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, or even the various versions of English we all already admitted to using a couple of weeks ago. If language is a large part of one's identity then to embrace a student's language is a crucial part of making the student feel like he or she is being accepted and respected. There are plenty of techniques we use as tutors/teachers everyday to attempt to engage a student, and I think that embracing different languages is simply another way of doing this.