Question for other CHL Instructors

[dbgun]

I should reword my original post, he can speak , read and write English, he just said he was very slow at it.

He sounds like one of my wife's uncles. That's his main reason for not taking his CHL class.

[R_Comstock]

Hey Byron...MY honest opinion is that he should get a bit more comfortable with English before he gets his license. The biggest reason for that is in a confrontation, if he's unable to deter an aggressor using English in a high-pressure situation it could bode badly for him in court.

[SIG-SOG]

Originally Posted by Seabear1500

I got a new question today. I had a potential student call who is slow with reading and speaking English. Luckily I can speak, read, and write in Spanish, so I could posibly write a translated test for him. I looked through the DPS website and a lot of information can be translated but not the actual Test. Anybody else ever dealt with this?

He is a US citizen and a Texas resident, so I see no reason he should not be afforded the same rights the rest of us have to get a CHL. It does however present some difficulties.

Edited to change from "little" English to "slow" with English.

Sure seems like the better path is for the student to learn English. What if he has a gun on him and cannot respond to officers questioning him, maybe in some unusual circumstance say.

[Seabear1500]

Originally Posted by R_Comstock

Hey Byron...MY honest opinion is that he should get a bit more comfortable with English before he gets his license. The biggest reason for that is in a confrontation, if he's unable to deter an aggressor using English in a high-pressure situation it could bode badly for him in court.

I hear ya, I only asked because I hadn't seen or heard of the situation before. He speaks well on the phone, he was just concerned about testing.

How's my old bald headed tattooed buddy of the Reguladores doing? Haven't seen anyone in a couple years since I sold the bike.

[DoubleActionCHL]

I'm going to go against the grain. While I believe it's in the gentleman's best interest to learn English, why should we limit his ability to defend himself based on language? The state requires 30.06 signage posted in both English and Spanish, so there's obviously an assumption that we'll have Spanish speaking license holders. Assuming this guy is here legally (and he must be, or he would be ineligible), I'm voting for teaching and qualifying him.

Do we disqualify the deaf guy or the visually impaired? What about the man who survived throat cancer, but cannot speak at all? Then we can disqualify the little old lady with arthritic hands who can't load her own magazine, can't we? Don't forget the guy who can't shoot quite as well as you think he should. Oh... and you can't have a CHL if you carry anything other than a .45, because if you can't understand the concept of bigger bullet, bigger hole, you don't deserve to carry a gun.

Slippery, your slope is.

[txinvestigator]

Originally Posted by DoubleActionCHL

I'm going to go against the grain. While I believe it's in the gentleman's best interest to learn English, why should we limit his ability to defend himself based on language?

I am with you till there, then we part ways.

As an instructor, my job is to be sure he learns and can pass the material. If he can read, write and understand English well enough that we can communicate effectively and he can be safe and pass both tests, then I don't care if his native tongue is Klingon.

However, if we cannot effectively communicate, or he cannot take the test on his own, then I cannot certify him. It would be unethical, and probably not lawful.

[DoubleActionCHL]

Originally Posted by txinvestigator

I am with you till there, then we part ways.

As an instructor, my job is to be sure he learns and can pass the material. If he can read, write and understand English well enough that we can communicate effectively and he can be safe and pass both tests, then I don't care if his native tongue is Klingon.

However, if we cannot effectively communicate, or he cannot take the test on his own, then I cannot certify him. It would be unethical, and probably not lawful.

That just shows what a patak you are!!!

I never said I'd teach him. If the state wants to provide an interpreter and it's not disruptive to my class, I might go along. Otherwise, he needs to find a Spanish-speaking instructor.

[txinvestigator]

Originally Posted by DoubleActionCHL

That just shows what a patak you are!!!

I never said I'd teach him. If the state wants to provide an interpreter and it's not disruptive to my class, I might go along. Otherwise, he needs to find a Spanish-speaking instructor.

The STATE?

I didn't know we were talking about Fairy Tales.

[DoubleActionCHL]

Originally Posted by txinvestigator

The STATE?

I didn't know we were talking about Fairy Tales.

Yes, the STATE. I'm not sure if they still make the claim, but they used to claim they'd provide an interpreter because of the whole "we can't discriminate against people who don't speak English" thing. I've never tried to take advantage of it, nor do I even know if they still make the offer.

It's probably like everything else they do; long on talk, short on results.

[txinvestigator]

Originally Posted by DoubleActionCHL

Yes, the STATE. I'm not sure if they still make the claim, but they used to claim they'd provide an interpreter because of the whole "we can't discriminate against people who don't speak English" thing. I've never tried to take advantage of it, nor do I even know if they still make the offer.

It's probably like everything else they do; long on talk, short on results.

I have been involved since 1996, and NEVER heard that claim. it is certainly not provided for in 411 of the government code.