After reading the two chapters and watching the video clip, the idea that most interested me was the concept of “code-switching” mentioned in the Delpit chapter. When I thought about it, I realized we all do some level of code-switching in our lives. For example, I alter certain aspects of my speech from the way I talk with my friends and family for when I go on interviews or have any type of conversation with another professional. I remember having a undergraduate course on classroom management and the professor wouldn’t let us speak if we said the word “like.” It was actually extremely difficult for a lot of people because that word was so engrained in their speaking habits, but she wanted us to learn how to be able to eliminate that word comfortably on command because the general impression is that people who use the word “like” more often than is necessary are less intelligent, which may not necessarily be true. It was obvious she wasn’t trying to imply that we were all stupid because of one word we tended to overuse in our speech. She was trying to give us the best chance of succeeding in the professional world.
The Dowdy article presented an example almost in reverse. She grew up knowing how to speak the “Queen’s English,” and instead of having troubles being successful academically, she had trouble socially. It was when she eventually learned how to code-switch through her knowledge of acting that she was able to be her true self. The Obama video clip also demonstrates an example of code switching when it discussed President Obama altering his language patterns to speak to different groups of people. He is able to speak Standard English to give the impression of being educated and capable of leading the nation, but also able to switch back to whatever original dialect he grew up with.
It is this balance between being able to hold on to your “mother tongue” as well as being able to acquire new dialects that may improve your chances at success that is important. As both chapters pointed out, we need to be sure to respect the languages and dialects spoken in the homes of our students, so that they will respect us and in turn learn from us what we have to teach them. In an ideal world, no one would be judged on anything but what was on the inside; their true value as a person. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world, and many people do still judge intelligence by the way someone speaks. That is the reality of the situation. So, as teachers we have to do our best to prepare kids for success in the real world that is full of people who prematurely and unfairly evaluate others. As Delpit’s daughter says, “you have to be who you are,” but, as seen through the many examples of people who couldn’t get or lost jobs because of dialect issues, it’s also important to learn how to be successful. The balance of holding on to who you are and doing what it takes to be all that you can be in life is the key, and as teachers, it’s our job to help our students find that balance.
Kim Strzelecki
Comments (4)
Hi Kim,
I think it's true that we all do some level of code switching depending on the type of situation we are in. While I've never felt that I have to completely switch my dialect, I have had to be careful as to WHAT I say. A simple example is when I am in the classroom. I speak to students in a different way than I speak to my friends, or principal, or even my family. I think the ability to "code switch" gives you the power to be who you are. Once you have achieved the ability to speak to your own group AND the majority, you are able to convey thoughts to both without offending anyone because you are careful not to cross any cultural boundaries. In that respect, you can be who you are, and everyone will listen.
Posted by Carrie Brown | June 6, 2011 10:04 PM
Posted on June 6, 2011 22:04
I agree with you that as teachers, our job is to help students find the balance between their language and the standard. We must teach them how to code-switch by embracing their interests, backgrounds, and histories. We have to instill self-confidence in them. In order to teach this process more effectively, it may take modeling this code-switching. As a teacher, I've always been self-conscious about my personal dialect and slang when addressing different audiences. For example, I try to always be aware of not saying words like "ain't" within the classroom so that I'm modeling standard English in front of my students. At home, I have no issues saying these types of words in front of my own children. It was the language that raised me, and I feel I've been successful enough in my ability to code-switch. Therefore, could it be effective if teachers model their own dialects and slang within the classroom during casual and social activities and balance this with modeling standard English during more structured instruction? I truly feel that whenever and wherever we choose to model these languages, we need to never discredit our students' "mother tongue" with insults or strict and constant corrections.
Posted by Melissa Riley | June 6, 2011 10:29 PM
Posted on June 6, 2011 22:29
I agree that we, as educators, must prepare our students to be successful in a world that will not always listen to what they say, but how they say it. It is our job to help them find that balance between their home language and their public language without making one seem better or more important than the other. This seems like a daunting task to me when they are likely to encounter those who equate intelligence with only one form of language at every turn. However, if we are respectful of the home languages that our students bring to the classroom, I believe we have a greater chance of helping them acquire the public language they will need to be successful.
Posted by Leslie Rotenberger | June 7, 2011 2:33 PM
Posted on June 7, 2011 14:33
Kim,
You tease out the complexities of this issue so nicely! You point out that code-switching is multi-directional and that there are both imperatives and consequences for how people use language in particular settings. I'm beginning to believe that code-switching might become a skill of the 21st century learner!
Posted by Dr. Jackson | June 9, 2011 10:47 AM
Posted on June 9, 2011 10:47