Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (Summer 2011)

Karen,

I also think that we are all code switchers. I definitely speak differently at home than I do at work, school, church, etc. My question is when did we become code switchers? How did we know that one dialect is appropriate here, but not there? I mean,we aren't really taught to talk this way here and that way there. I guess it's just something that a person picks up on as they grow and mature. I can't even imagine having to code switch in middle school, or even elementary school, like many minority students do. Code switching is a skill that I don't think you should have to master at such a young age. Why can't we all be accepted for who we are and the way we talk? This has been an issue since the beginning of time, and I don't foresee it being resolved anytime soon.

Karen,

I agree that we are all very adept at code switching and the children that we teach learn this at an amazing rate than many things that we teach with direct instruction.They are code switching when they enter school! I marvel at how often they code switch in any given day, from their language exchange with the principal in the morning, a friend on the bus or the language of the playground.It is exhausting to think about. We too play this role as the educator.

Of course people around me always discuss how I sound different coming from the UK and my use of different words. However, apparently now, having been here a while, they tell me that I have a hint of the south- especially when I am frustrated with an issue! I think half the time we are code switching without even realizing it.

I agree we all code switch in our daily lifes. Code Switching is natural to us all. I'm from the North and when I move to NC peopel always called me a Yankee cause I sounded different. This offened me. I didn't walk around saying that people from the south sounded country. Was I expected to develop a southern accent? I didn't just like our kids don't often know to code switch. It doesn't make we us different rather it defines our culture and being. As a teacher it is our role to embrace student differences along with helping them to grow and mature as you stated in do good citizens.

Karen, I agree with you completely that everyone code-switches, whether we realize we are doing it or not. You wouldn’t use the same language to talk to a complete stranger that you would if you were talking to your best friend. The points of comfort and feeling accepted were raised in both chapters. We all tend to relax and talk more like our true selves when we are around those by whom we don’t feel threatened and judged. That is the ideal situation we should all try to provide for our students in order for them to grow both socially and academically.

I agree - we do all code-switch, and I don't think it is just minorities, although perhaps they make "the switch" more often than some...and it is kind of intriguing to think about how we learned to do that so well, without any formal training! How remarkable that feat is! I am not sure that I think it is a negative thing, though. I kind of feel like it is an indication that we realize that different types of speech/behavior are appropriate in different situations. I do realize, however, that I am speaking from the perspective of an educated white woman, so my perspective is most likely different from someone such as the authors of the articles we read.

Lisa,
I really did not know that much about dialects until Dr. Gill's class and that has made me look at the role society plays in who determines who speaks in a dialect. Yes, I do think we should be more sensitive and accepting of others.

Karen,
This is an intriguing start! I am curious about your statement "I was not surprised by the readings as I have heard my colleagues speak of talking white or sounding white as something they learned to do." I would like to know more about these examples!

The example I was referring to, was a time that I asked two Black teachers that I work with to read a book on tape fo rme becuase I wanted it to sound as authentic as possible. I think the book was "Freedom Quilt." They responded by saying that I might be disappointed because they had been told they sounded White. I had never heard that expression before that.