Chapter 5 Inquiry

In chapter 5, Michael Stubbs explains the basic sociolinguistic concepts that impact the relationship between language and the classroom. He talks about the tendency for teachers to view a child’s language in a stereotypical perspective. A teacher may think the way a child speaks in class is the way he or she would in any other situation. According to Stubbs, “many teachers maintain the fiction that there is only one ‘best’ English for all purposes, and that this is the only English proper to the classroom. Yet a moment’s thought or observation will convince any teachers that they themselves use many varieties of language throughout the day, depending on the purpose or context of the communication.” This quote points out the main issue we have with language: judgment. Even the bible talks about not trying to remove the speck from another’s eye before you have removed the log from your own. The story of the teacher who told her students dropping the “aitch” from the beginning of words was a “lazy way of speaking,” is the perfect example of this.

The definition of Standard English is very broad and subjective, which makes it very difficult to define what is correct and incorrect. Reading about so many problems and controversies surrounding the English language has made me wonder what I will do to improve these issues when I become a teacher. Until now, many of the solutions to so many problems, seemed to be either too narrow or too broad. One of the concepts Stubbs addresses in this chapter is the concept of correctness and appropriateness. Hypothetically, if a student is writing a letter to a prospective employer, he will need to know the standard forms and conventions of English to be used in this type of writing. “It is not that such forms are wrong in any absolute sense, but that they are considered inappropriate to this social occasion.”

I like the concept of appropriateness in speaking and writing. We all code switch depending on the situation we are in. Even the most intelligent person will have his own variation of language in formal and informal situations. Teachers should tell their students that there is no superior language or one correct way to speak and write. It’s important to address beliefs and stereotypes and explain why they are wrong. We should acknowledge there is a difference between formal and informal language. But we should also let students know that in order to be successful in many formal situations, they need to speak and write in a particular way. In my opinion, this would be a good method to apply in our classroom. Do you agree or disagree? If you do not believe this would be beneficial and help close the achievement gap, what do you think would? What method or way of teaching do think will be most effective in your classroom for the small amount of time you have with students? Do you think the main focus for teachers should be changing people’s attitudes towards language?