RES 5535: Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (summer 2010)

In reading the articles for this week, I made many connections between the Delpit article and the Dowdy article. Although both articles discuss many different aspects of language, they are common due to the struggle that both authors faced in order to better themselves. I feel very fortunate about my up-bringing. I was always at the top of my class but I could still relate to my peers at multiple levels. The only time that my language or the way that I spoke became of interest to others was when I went up north with a friend to visit their family. People where she was from did not make fun of me, instead they were curious about the way that I pronounced particular words and would just listen to me talk.

In the Dowdy article, I found it interesting when she spoke at the beginning of wanting to blame her mother for the way that she spoke and her need to find a balance between proper English and her native tongue. The first thought that came to my mind was of my former school and the students that I had in my classroom. Most of my students were from other countires where English was not their native language. Although most of my students were born in America, their "home" language was typically spanish or hmong. Many of these children struggled with the issue of balance between their "home" language and the more formal English language used at school. I found that the hispanic students struggled more with balancing their native language and English. The more that they were emersed in English, the less they used spanish. Some students even spoke a mixture of English and Spanish. I think as educators, we must encourage our students to learn English while maintaining their native language. One professor I had in my undergraduate experience discussed the importance of distinguishing between formal language and informal language in the classroom. In one class he spoke of teaching his kindergarten students when they needed to use formal language. He would tell the students that it was time for market talk (meaning it was time to use formal language) and also give his students time to use informal language during the school day. I believe that this is a wonderful way to help students learn to use proper English while still embracing their native language or more informal speech.

In the Delpit article, I also believe that people are stereotyped due to the way they speak. Living in the south my entire life, I have seen many examples of this as well. Several years ago, I worked part time as a waitress in a bar. Many of the customers were from upper middle class lifestyles. The assumption was that I was under-educated. People would speak to me as if I were slime. I was not one that would allow people to speak to me or treat me as if I were ignorant, so I was quick to inform many that I was a college graduate with another job. You would not believe the difference in treatment once they knew I was educated. I have always hated the stereotype placed on certain people based on the job they work, the place they grew up or the way that they speak. What a wonderful world we would live in if people were judged on their character. For me, this article addresses this. I think that it was a wonderful idea to learn about the way language was used in the students home so that the teacher and students could understand and appreciate each other more. I can also see how understanding each others language, provided the students with the confidence and ease to want to learn and use proper English in the classroom.

The link that I found with the Obama's is how they could appear segregated from other African Americans because of the way they use language. I am still amazed today at how people stereotype African Americans as being uneducated. There have been many African Americans across history that have excelled at various careers. I think that the attempt of Obama to reach out and encourage African American students to rise about the stereotypes is amazing!