Linguistic Barriers - Case Study Example

In other words, the issues, in this case, are, in one way or another, directly related to Barbara's attitude towards, not just Sondra, but the teachers she had previously worked with.2) It is difficult to categorically state that the identified issues could have been avoided but one may posit that their consequences could have been minimized had Sondra taken a firmer stand with Barbara. Certainly, she is not in a position to resolve the linguistic advantages which Barbara has over her or, indeed, Barbara's much greater familiarity with the students, the class, and their parents but, at the very least, she could have ensured that neither of the mentioned acted as obstacles to the fulfillment of her own responsibilities towards her class and the students within.

As is evident from the case study, Sondra reacted quite negatively to Barbra, and the personality conflict between the two colored their relationship from the outset. There is little doubt that this is partially due to Sondra's expressed discomfort with working with Barbara. This discomfort has several causes, amongst which Barbara's greater knowledge of the class and familiarity with the students and their parents are very important. Sondra should not have regarded the aforementioned as a threat to her status and authority but should have developed a working partnership, not just a relationship, with Barbara.

Rather than instruct Barbara and have her instructions defied and ignored she should have made an appearance if including Barbara in her decision-making process and, as such, constructively exploited Barbara's experience. Within the context of the stated, it is quite likely that Barbara would not have identified Sondra as a threat and may, very well, have helped her execute her responsibilities.3) While conceding to the fact that Barbara's attitude is very irritating and, in itself, is an obstacle to the development of a healthy working relationship, I would have adopted a less confrontational, more cooperative, relationship with her.

In the first place, I would have tried to benefit from her experience and her relationship with the students and their parents by inserting myself as a party to that relation. In the second place, given Barbara's obvious dislike of the teachers she works with and her evident refusal to concede to her status as a teacher's aide, I would not have initially treated her as such. Instead, I would have sat down with her and charted our responsibilities towards the class and students and, in so doing, treated her as a partner and benefited from her experience with this particular class.

I would not thrust her subordinate status in her face and in so doing, place her in a competitive position. Instead, by charting out our responsibilities I would have allowed the nature of our respective responsibilities to do just that. In other words, I would have worked with and not have confronted her.