Parent's night at Kindergarten
Well, last night was parent's night at Ann-Marie's German kindergarten. What an ordeal! Jake and I went and left Ann-Marie at home with her brother. We got an invitation letter but of course we couldn't read it (except the numbers) and one teacher told us the date and time and what it was. We wondered if we were supposed to bring anything or if we were supposed to bring Ann-Marie or what.
So we go in this place, noticing that most people did not bring their children. We were directed to a back room and figured out that we were supposed to sit in the chairs. So we both sat down in the tiny kindergartner's chairs. The teachers introduced themselves (2 of them first in German and then for our benefit, repeated what they said in English.) Then they gave a powerpoint presentation which lasted for an hour. It was completely in German. Then there was a question and answer session that lasted for about a half hour....again completely in German. You could tell that the parents were concerned and that there were some changes being made in the kindergarten....but we had no idea what. It seemed as if a few people were annoyed and it seemed as if there was a lot of explanation regarding it. Jake and I just sat there. Jake said he was about to fall asleep and I was on 'overload' trying to pick out any piece of a word that I might understand.
After the powerpoint presentation and question and answer session, the parents were directed into the child's particular classroom (mund group). I went up to the director and told her that I speak English and didn't understand anything, but that I had a feeling that there would be some changes. She told me (in English) that (she speaks only a little English) and that she really appreciated that we came and can understand how we feel because that is how she felt when she was in the United States before she knew English. So anyway, she told us that she would provide us with a translated version of the paperwork that they handed out.
So then we went to the mund (moon) group. We listened to about a half an hour in there but there was a nice little video recording of the kindergartners and what they do all day. I heard a lot of English speaking in the video by students and teachers and it was nice to see Ann-Marie interacting with others while there. The language barrier really does not seem to exist for her, to which I am pleased.
While in that classroom, her teacher, Frau Claudia, did translate almost everything that was said for us. They decided on who would be the parent leaders for the group and they wanted to know specifically if I wanted to do it along with them. (((((hell no)))))) I politely declined. The parent leaders tried to translate what they said to us too, saying that they would be a contact person for events, etc. I really have no idea for what, though. I wonder if for things like Christmas parties and stuff.
One interesting thing was when one of the parent leaders was trying to say the words "moon group" in English to us while translating what she had said previously. It was almost cute. She laughed at herself as we watched her mockingly saying "MOOOOON GROOOOOP" a few times, as if she thought it sounded weird or something. Several of the other German parents giggled with her and they even repeated it a few times. Like they all thought it sounded silly. Of course, to us the words 'moon group' did not really sound strange, as we had heard plenty of words that we weren't familiar with this night! But it was a bit endearing or something, to see them struggle to say words when we were used to being the ones struggling and wanting to giggle at what comes out of our mouths.
At the end of it, I was so thankful for all their help and for accomodating us as much as they did. We feel very lucky that Ann-Marie has the opportunity to be a part of this group and she loves it at kindergarten.
The experience of being totally surrounded by 100 people in a basic meeting type format...when almost everyone is speaking a language you don't understand (for 2 straight hours) is exhausting though. Just trying to pick the tiniest bits of words out and trying to look pleasant and interested. But we did our parental duties. I don't want to go again, and didn't really want to go this time either but it wasn't really a choice as far as I was concerned. As a parent with a foreign child in a kindergarten...I need as much information as I can get. But it is a bit stressful at times.
So we go in this place, noticing that most people did not bring their children. We were directed to a back room and figured out that we were supposed to sit in the chairs. So we both sat down in the tiny kindergartner's chairs. The teachers introduced themselves (2 of them first in German and then for our benefit, repeated what they said in English.) Then they gave a powerpoint presentation which lasted for an hour. It was completely in German. Then there was a question and answer session that lasted for about a half hour....again completely in German. You could tell that the parents were concerned and that there were some changes being made in the kindergarten....but we had no idea what. It seemed as if a few people were annoyed and it seemed as if there was a lot of explanation regarding it. Jake and I just sat there. Jake said he was about to fall asleep and I was on 'overload' trying to pick out any piece of a word that I might understand.
After the powerpoint presentation and question and answer session, the parents were directed into the child's particular classroom (mund group). I went up to the director and told her that I speak English and didn't understand anything, but that I had a feeling that there would be some changes. She told me (in English) that (she speaks only a little English) and that she really appreciated that we came and can understand how we feel because that is how she felt when she was in the United States before she knew English. So anyway, she told us that she would provide us with a translated version of the paperwork that they handed out.
So then we went to the mund (moon) group. We listened to about a half an hour in there but there was a nice little video recording of the kindergartners and what they do all day. I heard a lot of English speaking in the video by students and teachers and it was nice to see Ann-Marie interacting with others while there. The language barrier really does not seem to exist for her, to which I am pleased.
While in that classroom, her teacher, Frau Claudia, did translate almost everything that was said for us. They decided on who would be the parent leaders for the group and they wanted to know specifically if I wanted to do it along with them. (((((hell no)))))) I politely declined. The parent leaders tried to translate what they said to us too, saying that they would be a contact person for events, etc. I really have no idea for what, though. I wonder if for things like Christmas parties and stuff.
One interesting thing was when one of the parent leaders was trying to say the words "moon group" in English to us while translating what she had said previously. It was almost cute. She laughed at herself as we watched her mockingly saying "MOOOOON GROOOOOP" a few times, as if she thought it sounded weird or something. Several of the other German parents giggled with her and they even repeated it a few times. Like they all thought it sounded silly. Of course, to us the words 'moon group' did not really sound strange, as we had heard plenty of words that we weren't familiar with this night! But it was a bit endearing or something, to see them struggle to say words when we were used to being the ones struggling and wanting to giggle at what comes out of our mouths.
At the end of it, I was so thankful for all their help and for accomodating us as much as they did. We feel very lucky that Ann-Marie has the opportunity to be a part of this group and she loves it at kindergarten.
The experience of being totally surrounded by 100 people in a basic meeting type format...when almost everyone is speaking a language you don't understand (for 2 straight hours) is exhausting though. Just trying to pick the tiniest bits of words out and trying to look pleasant and interested. But we did our parental duties. I don't want to go again, and didn't really want to go this time either but it wasn't really a choice as far as I was concerned. As a parent with a foreign child in a kindergarten...I need as much information as I can get. But it is a bit stressful at times.
posted by Amy at 8:18 PM
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