In my job, I am constantly coming up against troublesome terms that send me on wild goose chases to find out exactly when and where one can use them. Most people are aware that there are numerous differences between Englishes, and the English language texts that come across my desk can usually (but not always) fall into one of two categories: British or American. Simple enough. Generally, a text should stick to one form or the other throughout its entirety, and should be consistent in spelling, punctuation, and terminology. The trouble comes when, for example, an author is writing in American English, but wants to talk about a term that doesn’t exist in an American context. Today’s rabbit-hole journey was sparked by one such problematic term: class teacher.
To understand my dilemma, know the following:
- In Finnish elementary schools, a class will have one teacher that teaches their students almost every subject. In my experience, in the first two or three grades, this teacher will even handle what was known in my own schools growing up as “activity” subjects, which include music, art, and PE. (In my children’s elementary school there is a separate music teacher at some point, but anyway…) The term for this person is luokanvalvoja, which is often translated into English as “class teacher” (even though the valvoja part actually means “supervisor”).
- In the U.K., the term “class teacher” is apparently also used in this way, too.
- I had never heard the term “class teacher” before coming to Finland. The closest term to it that sounded right to my ear was “classroom teacher,” which does not capture the responsibility aspect of “class teacher”—“classroom teacher” to me would just mean a teacher who works in a classroom”
Now, you may be thinking at this point, “Ah! She’s talking about a “homeroom teacher!” And I would agree—sometimes. “Homeroom teacher” is the obvious choice for the American English alternative…except when it isn’t. According to forums I have read, English speakers outside of the US may not recognize this term. They may associate it with homeschooling or a teacher who makes home visits.
I should say that I encountered this little pickle as I was proofreading an academic article, written in American English about a Finnish study, aiming to be published in an international journal. So, the intended reader could be anywhere in the world, and therefore, have one of many understandings of the terms in question.
For my clients in these situations, i.e., using terms that can have different meanings in different Englishes and different cultural contexts, clear explanations of terminology is key. So, by all means, write about your football, pants, biscuits, chips, and even class teachers; just stick to one form of English and keep the reader and context in mind. When in doubt, define!
!
Leigh Ann Lindholm 