I have a very recognizable name in English, so I don’t feel like a great authority on this topic, but I have worked with hundreds of multicultural students who have beautiful names… and so many of those names have been a challenge for me to say correctly at first!

This applies to all learners, but it’s especially important for multilingual learners to feel like they are a valued part of your classroom community *just the way they are* by pronouncing their names correctly.

Here are some do’s & don’ts to consider as you enter the new school year with a list of unfamiliar names:

❌ Don’t replace their name with a similar, “easier” name
✅ Do give yourself grace as you practice saying their name. Ask the student often if you are saying it correctly until you’ve got it!

It disappoints me to think about, for example, the *many* Hispanic students I have met whose names began with “j” and the entire school staff mispronounces their name simply because their kindergarten teacher assumed it was pronounced as we would say it in English. Please, never assume. Instead, ask the student how to say their name first!

❌Don’t do “name drills” in front of the entire class where you go back & forth with the student trying to figure out how to say their name
✅Do give your student opportunities one-on-one to “teach” you how to say their name

Yikes, I have been so guilty of this many times. Is there anything worse than someone who is already aware of their cultural/linguistic differences being singled out for having a difficult name?! I have found that many of those students will eventually give up on teaching me and say “it’s fine, just call me ___ if it’s easier.” But now I know better, so I do better. Now I have these conversations privately, and I find that their persistence (and mine, as well) lasts much longer that way.

❌Don’t wait until the first day of school when you’re calling roll/attendance to figure out your student’s name
✅Do talk to other teachers, parents, etc. to find out how to say their name in advance!

Rather than looking at & attempting their names for the first time in front of the whole class, do you research beforehand– call parents, ask former teachers, look it up online. Eliminate embarrassment for yourself and your student!

Want something to help you remember how to say their names?

Each year, I have students create a video saying the name they want to be called so that I can save it for their future teachers. It has worked really well and I highly recommend!!

Students insert a video (you can use Screencastify Submit or record a video on a chromebook/tablet) of themselves saying their name the way that they want to say it. Then, I save links to the videos in a spreadsheet that can easily be referred to throughout the first few weeks of school! If you want your own copy of the template that I have used, you can get it here.

Our multilingual and/or multicultural students deserve the dignity of being referred to correctly. This can validate their cultural identity and foster a sense of belonging/acceptance in your classroom, too. Is that enough reason for you to try out some of these ideas? I hope so!

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