I commend people in all of their language
capabilities: reading/writing 1337, speaking pig Latin, understanding Morse code,
reading braille, speaking Konglish/Spanglish/etc. I suppose I am highlighting such
accomplishments because, over the course of a few readings for ED409, I
realized how language can make one feel lonely.
As a native English speaker, I do not realize to the full extent the
injustices placed upon people who may not speak the “proper academic English of
the modern world.” In this world, we often
see injustice through the class system (though there are multiple groups it is
often reduced to high wage earners/white collar jobs and the working class/blue
collar jobs), race, gender, and even body type.
Yet we often forget the role language plays in our being judged or
judging others.
Personally I believe that I have an
innate desire to talk and talk and talk as an educator. I am very used to telling others about what I
know… however, I need a constant reminder that everyone has some knowledge to
bring to the table or classroom. As a
future educator in the So Cal area, I will most likely come across students who
have immigrant parents and are immigrants themselves. My innate desire would be to immerse them in
as much language as possible expecting as much response in English as possible…
I have come to find out that a silent period of six months for a child who has
moved countries is not unusual. It also
reminds me of the “silent teacher period” I was warned about and certainly came
across when I first started student teaching.
Even though English is my native language, it was a different type of
English I would learn to acquire after careful observation of my mentor during
her interactions with the students.
On another note, I highly suggest
reading Tongue-Tied. It contains stories and anecdotes related to simply
(or not so simply) language. It reminds
me of a Chicken Book for the Soul feel where people pour in their experiences
and feelings through short stories or poems.
Here are a few excerpts I found emotionally moving i.e. it actually made
me teary-eyed or smile with joy:
- Elena by Pat Mora
-
“I’m forty,
embarrassed at mispronouncing words, embarrassed at the laughter of my
children, the grocer, the mailman. Sometimes I take my English book and lock
myself in the bathroom, say the thick words softly, for if I stop trying, I
will be deaf when my children need my help.”
- From Healing Earthquakes by Jimmy Santiago Baca
-
“the invader’s sword
the oppressor’s language—that hurled me into profound despairthat day Grandpa and I walked into the farm officefor a loan and this man didn’t give my grandpaan application because he was stupid, he said…”
the oppressor’s language—that hurled me into profound despairthat day Grandpa and I walked into the farm officefor a loan and this man didn’t give my grandpaan application because he was stupid, he said…”
- Chief Wachuseh by José Antonio Burciaga
-
“I love words
such as wachuseh as much as the people who use them. The significance of such
compressed words goes beyond their original meaning to say even more. Born in a
bicultural and bilingual world, I have experienced the birth of new words, new
worlds, ideas that came from two languages and two cultures, words that changed
meanings and power…”
As a future educator, I must not forget
the following…
“The most important lesson we can
learn as teachers is that our students have unlimited potential”
- ( Gibbons, English Learners, Academic Literacy, and
Thinking [Kindle Location 222]).
I will not allow myself to fall into
the pit of assuming one’s language represents anyone’s level of
intelligence. Hope and humility is key!
