Question for other CHL Instructors

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  • Seabear1500

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    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.
    Capitol Armory ad
     

    okie556

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    I got a new question today. I had a potential student call who speaks very little English, can barely read and write in 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.


    Wow....I'm not an instructor so I'll refrain.....but have strong opinion on this one.
     

    DoubleActionCHL

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    The state of Texas says they will provide an interpreter, but I've never tried it. A gentleman with the same request called me last week. I was unable to find a Spanish-speaking instructor for him.
     

    txinvestigator

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    I will not allow the student to provide his/her own translator. Too easy to cheat.

    I speak English. If the student cannot comprehend the lessons, read the test and answer on his own, then he/she does not take my class; regardless of the reason.

    He/she may have a "right" to his CHL, but there is nothing that requires I disrupt the class and give special treatment for a student over a language barrier.
     

    okie556

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    I will not allow the student to provide his/her own translator. Too easy to cheat.

    I speak English. If the student cannot comprehend the lessons, read the test and answer on his own, then he/she does not take my class; regardless of the reason.

    He/she may have a "right" to his CHL, but there is nothing that requires I disrupt the class and give special treatment for a student over a language barrier.

    +1000.........That's what I was refraining from saying!
     

    Seabear1500

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    I will not allow the student to provide his/her own translator. Too easy to cheat.

    I speak English. If the student cannot comprehend the lessons, read the test and answer on his own, then he/she does not take my class; regardless of the reason.

    He/she may have a "right" to his CHL, but there is nothing that requires I disrupt the class and give special treatment for a student over a language barrier.

    I agree, like I told him I could not teach a bi-lengual class. He understood and was not asking for one. I was merely wondering how it could be done or if it was possible. You know....the curiosity that killed the cat.
     

    Seabear1500

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    +1000.........That's what I was refraining from saying!

    Okie, I understand where you are coming from . This particular person was not asking for help or favors, he was more concerned with NOT slowing the class down. I appreciated his concern and therefore am checking the possibilities. I should reword my original post, he can speak , read and write English, he just said he was very slow at it.
     

    okie556

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    Okie, I understand where you are coming from . This particular person was not asking for help or favors, he was more concerned with NOT slowing the class down. I appreciated his concern and therefore am checking the possibilities. I should reword my original post, he can speak , read and write English, he just said he was very slow at it.

    Can definitely understand the "very slow" explanation and hope this works out for both of you.
     

    Maxpower

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    I can speak,read, and write German but I am very slow with it - so I can understand his problem
     

    dbgun

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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.
     

    DoubleActionCHL

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    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

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    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.
     
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