While reading these articles, I asked myself if I have used this "code switching" concept before. I didn't have to think long before I realized that it took me at least two years before I understood the "southern dialect." As most people know, it is easy to spot a person from another part of the country, let alone from another country. Language has been a huge part of my life because I have had to almost like a child listen to others in order to understand and speak the language. It is not a big deal to me anymore, but I used to call my parents in Wisconsin after moving here and tell them the dumb thing I did that day at school because I had no idea what my students were telling me. It wasn't that I couldn't understand them, although I did have to ask them to repeat themselves several time at first, but it was the vocabulary and the way they stated things that I didn't get. One day after school I saw one of my third graders who was a bus rider still hanging around. I asked her what happened and if she missed the bus? She told me she remembered last minute she had an appointment and that she was supposed to be a car rider. Being the honest student she was, I said ok, but it's now 4:00? I asked her if she called her mom to make sure she was coming and her response was, "Yah, Mz. Boughton I did, but my mama couldn't get her car crunk." I said ok and that I'd see her tomorrow, and walked back to my room and remember just sitting there going, what the heck did she say? Using what I have experienced made me become more aware of what many kids go through that I didn't really understand. Children speak their language and I am so quick to correct them to the "white" language. I try not to judge people who speak with horrible grammar and vocabulary, but it seems first nature to do that. I have become a teacher who wants all my children no matter what color their skin, to speak the best "educated" language and I never realized that it's ok to let them just talk. But, where do we draw the line? I can't go home at the end of the day and feel like I've done my job well if I allow discussions and speaking to be full of incorrect grammar.
Abby Boughton
Comments (6)
You have hit the “nail in the head” with the question about where do we draw the line. I ask that of myself daily. Our students no matter what nationality are in a constant battle to fit in with the crowd. It seems that unless you fit into one mold or another something must be wrong with you. I think there should be times during our school day that students are free to express themselves both in speaking and writing just as they choose, without the fear of being “wrong’ according to our teaching standards, but I also believe it is my job to teach them to write and speak using correct English and grammar. That is my job. But where do we draw the line? I still do not have that answer!
Posted by Tracy Icenhour | June 6, 2010 10:19 PM
Posted on June 6, 2010 22:19
I can relate to your post. There have been times when my ELL children will tell me something and I have to have them repeat themselves a few times before I can completely understand what they are saying. I am always so thankful when the child is understanding and will repeat themselves without getting annoyed, although I have seen them look at me with an amused look on their faces that seems to say, "I can't believe she can't understand what I am saying!" I can see what you are saying also about where we draw the line between using standard English and a dialect. I guess that this may be more difficult when you teach older children. As a first grade teacher, I think that I spend so much time just being excited that my students get something written on a page that I can read, that I may not pay as close attention to the way in which they write. That is definitely something for me to think about in my classroom.
-Elizabeth
Posted by Elizabeth Norwood | June 6, 2010 10:23 PM
Posted on June 6, 2010 22:23
You made me think with your post. Can we teach proper grammar and still let children speak with individuality? I hope we can. I know the rules of grammar very well but I still find myself not using language correctly at times. Why can't my classroom be as popular as YouTube? I bet if LaSarah was teaching language the students would get it.
Posted by Carol Sherrill | June 7, 2010 11:59 AM
Posted on June 7, 2010 11:59
Teaching proper grammar is something we have to do, but the way it is approached depends on how we teach and the students we are teaching. Proper grammar is needed and required to write in an academic way, such as research papers, essays, applications, etc. Writing for pleasure or between friends can be done without correct formation, grammar, etc. Teaching the right way to write and speak is a necessity, but we cannot as teachers beat ourselves up making our students communicate the way we teach, we would be teaching each student 24 hours a day. We can only give the students what they need when they are around us and what they choose to do with the knowledge we give them depends on them.
Meredith
Posted by Meredith Bromley | June 7, 2010 12:35 PM
Posted on June 7, 2010 12:35
Good point, Meredith. "We can only give the students what they need when they are around us and what they choose to do with the knowledge we give them depends on them." I think that is a very powerful statement. However, as a teacher you should always try to model proper grammar and hope your students follow your example outside of class.
Posted by Jennifer Wagoner | June 7, 2010 1:44 PM
Posted on June 7, 2010 13:44
We had a new teacher three years ago from Michigan. I remember her having similar difficulties and I also remember the chidren having difficulties understanding her. It took all of them time to adjust and things worked out well but dialects can make a difference in the classroom. In the long run, probably for the betterment of all involved.
Posted by Christy Findley | June 8, 2010 10:14 AM
Posted on June 8, 2010 10:14