Response to Question 1

1. If you are preparing to teach, what are you taking away from Delpit’s article regarding language and power that might help you as a teacher, and how could you apply these ideas to your proposed level of teaching?

I am pursuing a PhD in Physics. Hence, I will most likely be required to teach at a graduate or undergraduate level, especially if I stay in academia. Delpit's article raised a few concerns regarding how to maintain both an inviting classroom and a productive learning experience for the students. Therefore, I must adapt my teaching styles to the apparent needs of the students. Even though I will be teaching higher level classes than those mentioned in her article, I can still apply the use of different language techniques depending on the situation. For instance, if I am teaching lower level classes than I will have a more diverse audience and will adopt a more direct and formal teaching strategy. Furthermore, if I am teaching graduate course, then I would adapt and create a more process oriented classroom where the students take a more active role in their learning.

Kyle Augustson

Response to Question #2

One student asked, “Why do we have to discuss teaching minority children the language of power? Why not just teach everyone acceptance?” Respond.

I don’t think it’s really about accepting students/people’s race or ethnicity. It’s about giving them the opportunity to make themselves successful in the world. If we continue to hold them back by discouraging them from learning the language of power, with the excuse of preserving culture or persuading them of the lack of necessity, it does nothing but keep them and their children in the same position in society. It locks them out of the class mobility that we as American’s hold so precious. Without that power that could be taught from childhood, they are left thinking that they’re in the position they are because they’re a minority group, and not because someone neglected to give them a tool for success. I should add that this is difficult to say. What it really is, is middle/upper class teachers, who come from middle/upper class families, don’t want to discriminate by enforcing “white” English on their minority students, thinking somehow the act will offend them.

Jennie Bartlemay

baileybr's post, regarding Q #2

Acceptance of cultures other than the culture of power is at the heart of Lisa Delpit's article, but it is only a starting point to effectively teaching minority and poor children to function in the mainstream culture. My own childhood is a good example; when I was little, I lived near my father's mother's relatives in North Dakota, with our extended family as the community I interacted with. They are Metis, and have a very different culture, language and world view than mainstream society. When my mother moved us to Oregon, I didn't understand my other relatives' reasons for doing things the way they did, and when I went to school, I looked pretty much like the white kids, so my teachers assumed I was "being difficult" on purpose when I didn't understand some of their directions and tried to do some things in different ways. I never understood why I couldn't make them happy, and my mother might have assumed I was enculturated by her alone, so she believed I really was just trying to be difficult, even though I was enthusiastic about the subjects I could do well.

Bridgett Bailey

Response to Question #1

I think the most important thing that I will be taking away from Delpit’s article is awareness. Now that I have read the article, I am aware of issues that may come up when I become a teacher. The language of power can affect the way teachers treat different students and the way students react to their teacher. Through my awareness, I will be able to recognize and understand how different cultures have different ways of communicating and I can adjust my teaching to help all of my students, no matter what their background, to succeed in my classroom.

This article has also made me see the importance of feedback from parents and the community about education and getting a new perspective on what will be helpful for students. I want to be open to suggestions and criticisms in my classroom so I will be able to adapt my teaching and be effective.

Melissa Barnhart

In Response to Question #2

2. One student asked, “Why do we have to discuss teaching minority children the language of power? Why not just teach everyone acceptance?” Respond.

Acceptance meaning an acceptance of a minority's rules of grammar? I'm not sure how that could be implimented. All cultures have different ways of communicating, and to try to "accept" every particular localized colloquial dialect in America would cause a lot of problems. Instead of needing to teach one language of power, you'd have to teach every culture's language of power, and how it differed from other cultural languages of power. In trying to make every language equal in the formal, business world of America you'd wind up with a confusing mish-mash of conflicting linguistic rules.

I agree with Delpitt's analysis that local dialects of English are important to culture and can certainly be useful in speaking on an informal basis. However, I think that having one formalized form of English that everyone should learn is also crucial. It allows for anyone, from any culture, to interact more easily in the formal world. The key is ensuring that all cultures actually get training in this language of power.

Welcome

Welcome to your Grammar Blog. Your assignment is to respond to one of the following questions related to Lisa Delpit’s “The Silenced Dialogue.” Aim for about 100-150 words, and post it to your team blog. Please follow the following guidelines:
1. Identify your entry with a title that suggests the content.
2. Sign your first and last name at the end.
3. Single space.

You may respond to other people’s posts through the comment feature. You may also read the blogs of the other groups by going to:
http://writingcommonsone.blogspot.com
http://writingcommonstwo.blogspot.com
etc. through http://writingcommonsseven.blogspot.com

You can add a comment to other blogs by using the comment feature. You can only post to your own blog.

Questions (choose one):
1. If you are preparing to teach, what are you taking away from Delpit’s article regarding language and power that might help you as a teacher, and how could you apply these ideas to your proposed level of teaching?

2. One student asked, “Why do we have to discuss teaching minority children the language of power? Why not just teach everyone acceptance?” Respond.

3. For one of Delpit’s specific proposals (refer to the article), discuss the challenges of implementation. How could these challenges be addressed?

4. If you are not planning to teach, how do issues of language and power apply in the field you plan to enter? Does Delpit offer relevant insight?

Vicki Tolar Burton