Kaplan College Instructor Tells Students They Can't Speak Spanish In Class

Kaplan College in California has apologized to students after one of its instructors told students they couldn't speak Spanish in class earlier this month.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports:

Jonathan Cedeno said he was in two medical assistant classes that day in which instructor Patricia Dussett said a school policy prohibited students from speaking anything but English at the campus. He said he confronted the teacher, who told him speaking Spanish could affect his grades and that students who ignored the rule might not get much-needed letters of recommendation.

"I told her that it wasn't right, that she was violating my rights, that we could speak whatever we wanted," Cedeno said.

The only reference to language in the school catalog states: "All courses are taught in English. Students must be able to speak, read and write English fluently. English abilities will be determined through the college administration's test and interview and completion of necessary documents."

According to one student, Dussett told them they could only speak Spanish "during breaks."

Kaplan has declined to comment on Dussett's status at the college, but students told the Tribune that she was absent for a few days and has since returned.

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