Pronouncing students' names - even ones that are tricky for us - is a huge way to honor their identity.
Have you ever been called by the wrong name? Did you correct that person?
What if you were called by the wrong name...constantly? Or your name was never pronounced correctly? In the end, you might just settle for being called something else because you are tired of always correcting people. I've seen it happen time and time again to young students whose names don't translate well into the English language.
Ask students to say their name. Say it back to them, and ask them if you said it correctly. Repeat until you can get it right (which might take place over several days). Saying their name is a simple way of letting them know that they are welcome, just as they are, in school. After you know your students, take it a step further by learning the names of their family members so you can greet them by name as well!
Have you ever been called by the wrong name? Did you correct that person?
What if you were called by the wrong name...constantly? Or your name was never pronounced correctly? In the end, you might just settle for being called something else because you are tired of always correcting people. I've seen it happen time and time again to young students whose names don't translate well into the English language.
Ask students to say their name. Say it back to them, and ask them if you said it correctly. Repeat until you can get it right (which might take place over several days). Saying their name is a simple way of letting them know that they are welcome, just as they are, in school. After you know your students, take it a step further by learning the names of their family members so you can greet them by name as well!