Why People Gotta Code Switch Though?
Code switching. We’ve all heard the term, right? According to Google Dictionary code switching is the practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation. For me, code switching has always had a deeper definition. Code switching for me means changing the way I speak and act based on the environment that I am in. For example, when I pull into the parking lot at work I turn my music down really low so no one hears me blasting hip hop. When at work or in other environments I speak differently than the way I speak when I am with my family or friends.
I can remember being younger and my mother constantly telling me that when I was in certain environments, especially those that were filled with “the majority”, I needed to be mindful of the way I acted and spoke.
“Watch how you act around white people. Sometimes they'll judge you just because you are Black. They’ll think you’re some ghetto Black girl.”
I didn’t understand back then why she was saying that. I really don't even think I understood what she was saying. What I did know was that she was not saying it because she was ashamed of our blackness or thought herself that I was some “ghetto Black girl”. Now that I am older, I understand what she meant. What she was saying was that the way that I spoke and acted, as a result of my race and culture, could sometimes put me in situations that were not fair to me, even though there was nothing wrong with the way I was acting or speaking. What she was saying was that because of the way our society is programmed, at times I would need to put on a front and “play the game”, if you will, so that I could prove I was just as good as anyone else. She was essentially telling me to code switch.
We have all seen code switching either in person or in the media. Maybe at times when we didn't even recognize that is what we were seeing. Take a look at this short video from an episode of Key and Peele (You can click on it here in case the video below doesn't work):
Let’s be honest, if you can relate to code switching this was probably funny to you. It's funny to me too. But as I was reading for class this week I started to self reflect, and think about what implications code switching can have on young people.
Code switching has value, but why should I even have to do it?
Code switching has gotten me into, and out of, situations that would have went differently had I been acting or speaking like my normal self. I don't think I would have the job I have now if I spoke to the people interviewing me the same way I talk around my friends and family. In no way, shape, or form do I feel as though there is ANYTHING wrong with the way I speak as a Black woman. I am in NO WAY ashamed of being Black.
However, I am fully aware that because I am a Black woman there are some ignorant, stuck in their ways, judgmental, prejudiced, misinformed individuals that will see the way I act or hear the way I speak and think that I am inferior in some way.
While I was working on this assignment I came across a very interesting blog post. I won’t go too deep into details here, but if you are interested check it out. The author, Jae Nichelle, discusses African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and Standard American English (SAE). To sum it up, AAVE is a dialect used by Black people in social settings and SAE is what is taught in school. Often times AAVE is seen as inferior to SAE. In reality, AAVE is not inferior at all and has a very rich history and connection to Black culture, but society has caused many to think that if someone speaks using AAVE they are uneducated or not as intelligent as those that speak SAE.
What does this mean for young learners?
While reading the Purcell-Gates and Language Diversity and Language (LDL) readings, I realized that young people are taught to code switch more than I thought, and not just black children or children that don't speak English as their first language. It became clear that if a student used language that was different that SAE, just like with AAVE, they were seen as less intelligent. While I noticed that the articles looked at language from different lenses (one looking at the intersections of language, literacy, and power and the other at language diversity and learning), the same thoughts were coming to my mind ( I jotted them down):
- How unfortunate is it that young people are forced to learn in environments that do not always (and often don’t) accept them for who they are.
- How unfortunate is it that students who do not speak English as their first language, or read or write in ways that do not align with what is seen as standard in our educational system, are made to feel that the way they speak is not good enough. Or, that they won’t be able to learn to read and write like other people.
- It is so sad that even though people love to say that classrooms are inclusive, they really aren’t inclusive at all.
- Why do students have to be made to feel as though in order to be successful in life they have to conform into who society thinks they should be?
- What implications do these inequities have for students’ sense of self? Their confidence?
- How messed up is our society (very, I know) that when white adults read the narratives of young black children, they think that those narratives are poorly put together, don’t make any sense, and that those children will have a hard time learning in the future?
While I was reading through the comments of Jae Nichelle's blog that I referenced earlier, I saw comments like this:
Why? Why is this the way people have been programmed to think? Why do people, especially young people, have to feel that if they do not speak like the majority, they are not good enough and never will be?
I am curious to know what you all think. In what ways have you seen the inequities discussed in our readings this week play out in your classrooms? How have you tried to make sure that students that do not speak standard English, for whatever reason, feel included and respected in your classrooms? How have you made efforts to incorporate a student’s culture and language in the curriculum while still making sure they are learning what district and state standards say they have to learn? Why people gotta code switch though?
First let me say that I love the Key & Peele video you included in your post, I can definitely relate to that as a Black woman myself. Growing up I was raised in a predominately all Black neighborhood but I was bussed out to a predominately White school. I definitely know what code switching is and use it on. daily basis. the school I attended K-12 taught me very early that I was different. from my hair to the way I dressed to the way I talked was completely different from my classmates. I was always the 1 of 2 or 3 Black students in a classroom. My mom would also tell me, "hey, sometimes people will look at you or treat you differently for the way you look, talk, dress, etc. it sucks but that's how it is." My mom would always tell me stories from her childhood of racism and discrimination that I think I understand the concept at an early age. Knowing this I did and still do change the way I talk when in certain spaces and while I shouldn't have to, it's reality.
ReplyDeleteNow concerning your question of have I seen this played out in classrooms, definitely. I have not yet been a teacher in my own classroom, I am a year and a half away from receiving my Bachelor's degree in Elem Ed., but I see it in the jobs I've helped within schools frequently. I even catch myself doing it sometimes and these weeks set of readings called me out on it. I love that the readings offer up ways to teach the curriculum while still celebrating and appreciating the knowledge students come in with in literacy. I think one way the articles pointed out was to teach students that language is multi-faceted and serves different purposes in different areas, contexts, type of writing, etc. Allowing students to see and practice the thousands of languages around the world I think would help greatly.
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DeleteHi Alexis. Do you think it would be challenging to use some of the suggestions the articles posed in the classroom as a teacher such as teaching students that language is multi-faceted? Especially if it is something that is not included in the curriculum and you have to find creative ways to incorporate those valuable lessons on your own? I have never been a teacher, but like you have had jobs in schools. From my experience it seemed like teachers sometimes struggled with going outside of the curriculum (especially if they were required to use a scripted one) and connecting what was being taught to each student's individual self. Not because they were a bad teacher, but because they just had so much to teach in so little time. I can remember hearing so often, " I can't teach everything I am supposed to teach in one unit with such little time!" I took a course last semester with several current teachers and we discussed how important it was to take into consideration each student's culture so that they all feel accepted, respected, and that they were cared about. However, they often talked about how hard it was to really do that. When I was reading the articles a lot of what was posed sounded great, but I wonder how "easy" it would be to turn the philosophy or theory into practice. Another thought, what about teachers who are not culturally competent or have not yet realized the value in allowing students to see and practice different languages? We saw examples of this in the readings (and in real life). What are ways you think we can really make changes in classrooms?
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DeleteThis was a very informative and interesting blog post. I do think that education has changed drastically. I graduated high school in 2013 and I don't remember my English teachers ever allowing students to use anything other than SAE. If a student said something that, to them, was not grammatically correct, they would correct us.
ReplyDeleteNow, as an English teacher myself, I am very fortunate to belong to an English department that does not do this. We want students to be themselves in the classroom. Additionally, we want all students to be represented in the class. One small switch we are making in our English classrooms this year is looking at the literature that we teach in each of our classes. We ask ourselves why we are reading them and why are they considered to have enough "value" to teach to our classes.
Unfortunately, a majority of our classes were being taught books from what most people would consider the traditional canon, but we found that to be problematic. Over and over again, the stories were about white people and most of them were written by white males. We have since been going through a switch, replacing these "traditional" books, with books that are more representative of our students. We are hoping to have a diverse selection of texts being taught in our class and we are receiving very positive responses from administration and our students from doing this. (Side note: if anyone else is an English teacher you need to check out #disrupttexts on twitter)
My questions are about writing. I tell my students that we are learning to write using academic English, and I tell them that this isn't something that anyone naturally speaks, but it is the way that people are expected to write in higher education and most work places. Even writing this, I see a problem with it. Why do we hold one form of writing in a higher regard than another? But also, would I be doing a disservice if I am not teaching writing in this way?
Hi MaryBeth. I think it is great that you are fortunate enough to work at a school that is looking critically at the curriculum that is being used in its English department. Like you said, that is not always the case. In regards to your question about if you would be doing a disservice if you are not teaching writing in the way that is expected most of the times in academics, I say yes. Just as you mentioned, I think it is important to let it be known that the expectation is that writing is of a certain standard in academics but also being real about the fact that most people do not speak that way. I think even allowing that to initiate a conversation as to why that is, just as you asked, is a great way to get students to think critically as well.
DeleteAs a Black woman, I believe code switching to be quite real and controversial. I feel as though it causes others who don't relate to it to feel as though they are better in some way or multiple ways. In order to make our students of color understand that there is nothing wrong with code switching we must first introduce the ins and outs of multiple ways to communicate. It is very true that if students don't have or know of other ways to verbally communicate outside of the classroom it causes them to be seen by others as uneducated and misunderstood. Growing up, I was always scrutinized by my mother for speaking in ways that she found to not be accepted by the same society that judged her for being a Black woman. This in turn caused her to us code switching. I can say with total confidence that code switching has made me the Black woman that I am today as well as opened many doors for me that may not have opened up for me otherwise. I am not against code switching if it is viewed as another way to communicate in a way that makes one comfortable. Attending predominately white schools growing up allowed me to enhance my understanding of code switching. I must admit that it was very difficult to fully grasp an understanding of code switching when I had a grandmother from the south, a grandfather who was biracial and a father from Jamaica. I was hit with a triple wammy with learning how to code switch from AAVE and SAE. It is our duty as educators to make our students feel comfortable with who they are while taking the ultimate educational journey that students are required to take that society deems fit. I do this by not correcting students when they speak as well as not forcing code switching on them but let them them know there are multiple other ways to say what they are trying to convey and to just be mindful of it.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany. I think the approach of not correcting students but making them aware of the multiple other ways that something can be conveyed is a good one. I am curious to know what examples, if any, you use to get students to understand or consider in what settings which ways would be appropriate. Maybe not even appropriate, but just how you get them to think of the implications each way has in different situations. Hopefully we get a chance to discuss in class.
DeleteI loved reading your blog post! It was well written while to the point. Something that I really enjoyed is that there were a lot of personal connections that you had to what you were talking about in your post. Having these connections makes you more passionate about the topic which I can see in your writing! It also makes it easier for me to understand in full the issues of code switching and the toll that it really takes on people. I think that the video that you chose to include in your post was great too! It was short and to the point, easy to understand what the message was.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I personally have not experienced having my own classroom yet considering I am only an undergraduate student right now. However, I have gotten experience in the classroom through work I have been doing in my blocks last semester as well as this semester. Not only have I had the opportunity to work in these schools I also volunteer at the middle school that I attended. From what I have experienced, I definitely am able to see the divide in Standard English Education and a students dialect. I grew up in Hamilton County and the schools that I attended were not as diverse as the schools that I am in now in my blocks. Because of this there was no real emphasis on dialect it was all just pure Standard English Education. Working now in urban schools I see that need for being considerate of those dialects students may have because not all students have the same personal experiences. Just because they dont have the same personal experiences does not mean that one student is right and one student is wrong. Every student grows up differently and thats perfectly fine but as a teacher it is our job to be accepting of that as well considerate of that to understand how it may affect their learning experiences.
Last semester I read an article for a class regarding AAVE and SAE. This article informed me that it is very important to take into consideration dialect when a student is speaking. This is because not every language is standard English and it’s not only important to consider AAVE but other dialects and languages as well in a students language. I thought this article was very interesting and wanted to explore the topic more which is why I am glad that I am taking this class to explore the topic more and to ensure that I dont make mistakes as a teacher and am fully aware of the of dialect in my classroom and as a teacher how to respond to that and integrate it into the language lessons.
Hi Maddy. I appreciate the compliments about my post. I am glad you enjoyed it. I've never blogged before so I was pretty uncomfortable to be honest, so thank you! In regards to your experiences I think it is great that you are having the chance now to see more diverse schools than what you attended. I am curious to know if you were completing your blocks in the same county you grew up in or one similar to it and you had not yet been exposed to readings about different dialects, how your perspective would be different. A lot of times people are not exposed to different environments until they are teaching..which is scary. What do you think needs to be done to ensure that all teachers are mindful of different cultures and dialects?
DeleteHey Maddy,
DeleteI really enjoyed your response to this post! I am also an undergraduate so I have not had any experiences in my own classroom. However, I loved hearing about your experiences with the blocks. Also, I agree that it is crucial for teaching to be mindful of their students different cultures and dialects. As a teacher, I believe that it is so important to be self-aware and always keep an open mind. All students should feel respected, comfortable, and appreciated in the classroom. Teachers should also take the time to learn from their students!
Very interesting post and it left me with a question: Do you think there is a certain group who are taught to code switch more than others? I feel that a lot of the time code switching is directed at the black community and therefore some would assume that blacks code switch more than others or are the only ones who code switch. However, in your post under What does this mean for young learners? you said, "I realized that young people are taught to code switch more than I thought, and not just black children or children that don't speak English as their first language." As a white woman I can add to that and say that I often code switch when I am around certain people. For example, I work in an elementary school and at work I have a different tone I use and often time I catch myself sounding more professional/proper by my word choice compared to the word choice I have when I am at home or around friends. At work if I didn't know the answer to something I would say something like, "Well, I am not sure, let me find out for you." but when I am at home and I didn't know the answer to something I would give a brief, "dunno."
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting that we can, in a way, change who we are by code switching. I agree with you on that it is not a bad thing. I personally believe that code switching can benefit people in many ways with one of the main ones being that you are accepted into different classes or races of people. Countless times people get shut down and turned away because of how they speak but I think that being able to code switch and being able to turn off and on a certain type of tongue when you need to is almost a necessity in today's world. Code switching being a necessity in today's world, to me, feels like a slap in the face but when you look at how many people get ignored or not taken seriously because of the way they speak it kind of proves itself to really be an important thing to know how to do.
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DeleteI like your response to this blog post and I am interested in exploring more of the question " Is there a certain group who are taught to code switch more than others?". I believe that this is something to consider especially going into the teaching profession for me. Not only is this important to be mindful of in teaching but in everything in life as well.
For example, even working with children we are code switching because we would not talk to young children the same way that we would talk to an adult and I believe that statement is true for everyone. So with that being said everyone participates in code switching however, coming back to the question I believe that it would be difficult to collect data on if there is a specific group that code switches more than another group. Some people may feel that there is no need to code switch around others while another person may feel like they have to because they may be afraid of being judged or taken advantage of. Overall I believe that it ultimately depends on the person when it comes to the idea if they are code switching or not. We are always surrounded by code switching and I feel as if it has just become a part of human beings nature that it's hard to tell who does it more often than others.
I also do agree that code switching is just the norm in todays society which is sad and I am not saying that it is right but that ultimately is the sad reality we are facing in todays society. It is 100% true that we are able to change who we are with such a simple but so complex idea which is language. This is beneficial for some and hurts others but it shouldn't come down to how you speak to determine if you are a reliable and trustworthy person.
Do you think that code switching has just become our norm in todays society? If so is there any specific example that comes to your mind where you personally have had to code switch because of who you are?
Hey Torri.
DeleteYou mentioned, "As a white woman I can add to that and say that I often code switch when I am around certain people." I would encourage you to think deeper into are you actually having to code switch or are you just making sure that you use professional/proper word choice? Code switching goes beyond simply changing the word choice you use. Oftentimes, it involves looking a certain way or making sure that you speak on things that society deems as appropriate.
When you said code switching is directed at the Black community and Blacks code switch more than others-you're right! Blacks are taught this because white society has ingrained in us that speaking "proper English" will get you that job and white people will respect you more. When Black people don't code switch, they seem less educated. This also goes along with while privilege/supremacy. When a white person speaks improper English, they will still be held to a higher regard than a Black person who doesn't speak properly.
The culture of what is deemed acceptable in the Black community is not acceptable to society. In the Black community, it is ok to use words like "finna" and "gonna." However, when translated into the classroom, many teachers don't allow their students to use those words because "it's not proper English."
When you say, "code switching can benefit people in many ways with one of the main ones being that you are accepted into different classes or races of people," who does it benefit and why do they need to be accepted into different classes? Just because a white person uses slang doesn't mean they'll be accepted into the Black community and just because a Black person speaks properly, doesn't mean they'll be accepted into white society. And who are the people that deem it appropriate? It brings it back to Kayla's overall message of why we gotta code switch in the first place?
I do believe code switching is a norm in todays society and the reason behind it is that you code switch to either not get your feelings hurt or not hurt someone else's feelings. I feel that people will code switch simply not to offend others. I think that code switching to spare someone else's feelings has always been a thing but even more so in today's society. I have seen that people in today's world will often change their tone, their language, their opinion, and so on depending on the people they with. They will say one thing with one group and then the complete opposite with another group. I can recall several times when I was young that I changed who I was around certain groups of people. One example being when Halloween came round. I was never allowed to celebrate this holiday due to religious beliefs. The first time I told someone I wasn't dressing up because I wasn't allowed to celebrate I was made fun of and I got extremely embarrassed. Because of that one time I got laughed at I ended up changing who I was so that I could fit in with my classmates during Halloween time. When the next year came around I watched my peers, I copied their words and their actions. I would tell people that I was really excited to go treat-or-treating this year or how I couldn't wait to carve another pumpkin when in reality I had never done either and would never do either. To answer your question I did have to code switch because of who I was simply because I wanted to fit in with others around me and I didn't want to get my feelings hurt again. I wanted to be like everyone else but it leaves me with another question: when you code switch because of who they are does that mean they have lost what they stand for or believe in?
DeleteHi everyone. This was a very interesting conversation. Tori, to answer your first question I do not know statistically if there is a certain group that is taught to code switch more than others. I do believe that minorities in general have to code switch more than the majority and sometimes it is a matter of life and death...literally. You presented examples of code switching that are very much so code switching. I agree with you, everyone does it. However, I do not think that code switching has the same implications on all groups of people. For example, let's say that a person is brought up to believe that no matter what they should speak their mind and not take any crap from anyone. Now let's say that person is pulled over by a cop. If that person is a minority and they don't code switch, their culture and the way they were raised may cause them their life. However, if that person was a white middle class male it is very likely that if they chose not to code switch they would have a higher chance of survival than the minority. Am I saying that if a minority is pulled over and does not code switch they are absolutely going to die? No. Not at all. Am I saying that if a white middle class male is pulled over and doesn't code switch that he will without a doubt be spared? Nope. I think the point that I am trying to make is that our society is that of such that code switching is necessary for different people for different reasons and that white privilege, as Aleshia mentioned, is very real. Like I said in the post, it is not just a Black thing. People that do not speak SAE, people that are English language learners, people that live in poor neighborhoods, all different kinds of people are affected.
DeleteI think that we also have to understand that code switching, while a routine inconvenience for some, is a method of survival for others. I love how it was differentiated that it's not just language, but other cultural contexts that have to be modified as a form of Code Switching. There is a meme that was floating around for awhile that pictured a split screen of two different images. The top picture was of Dr. King and other community leaders marching during the Civil Rights era and the bottom was a picture of several young Black men standing around, smoking with their pants sagging. The caption of the meme said something to the nature of "Dr. King didn't die so you could live like this". Sigh. This is problematic. It is assumes that young Black men lack value or shouldn't be treated a certain way because of what they look like or how they dress, without addressing the larger, overarching issues of racism and systemic oppression. This is also similarly reflected in the wave of videos surfacing of school policies around hairstyles that, primarily, target Black children. The problem is, while most of us are appalled at the concept of "racism", a lot of us (White people) are far too complicit in allowing people of color to be threatened by forcing the act of Code Switching and compliance by being silent or apathetic to policies and procedures in our working environments. We have to do better. We have to be intentional about reviewing standard operating procedures or school policies to ensure equity is centered. I feel like I went on a whole tangent, but I hope my point was made. :)
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DeleteHey Torri, as I learned more about code switching I wondered if white people could say they do it as well. Because I most definitely change how I talk depending on the environment, people, or situation. I feel like most people do that. But, as a white woman is it our place to say we code switch? I feel like the term is deeper than what it sounds like and taken more seriously for people other than white. We know the reasons why they do it. For us I feel like we have more of an advantage to talk however we want because at the end of the day we don’t have to worry as much about gaining respect and being accepted as if an African American woman might have to.
DeleteThis was a really great start to blogging! Code switching is something that is a battle with Black/people of color and many non-people of color may not exactly understand the internal struggles that go along with code switching.
ReplyDeleteCode switching gets very exhausting when I have to go into my school everyday and speak in a way that I don’t normally speak with my partner and my friends. I’ve been at my current school for 4 years. For the first couple of years I was there, I would speak “very professionally” and I noticed that my voice would be at a higher pitch when I spoke. But when I left school I felt a sense of freedom because I could be myself and use words like “ain’t,” “finna” (about to), “gonna” (going to), and “gotta” (got/have to). Now, I am more relaxed in the way that I speak. So in my day-to-day interactions with my co-workers and even when people from the district comes into the school, I don’t speak in that high-pitched voice that I used to. I’ve realized that the way one speaks does not determine their education level.
That being said, you asked, “in what ways have we seen the inequities discussed in our readings this week play out in our classrooms?” I think it's important to understand the difference between code switching and cultural assimilation. As you stated, code switching is when one changes the way they speak and act based on the environment they are in. However, cultural assimilation is when one tries to hide what is acceptable in their culture in order to “fit in” with another culture. An example of this is when a teacher knows that students like hip-hop music. Hip-hop music is part of their culture. Instead of incorporating that music into lessons, the teacher may say that is unacceptable to talk about in the classroom. The teacher then is having the students assimilate to what is deemed “acceptable.” Personally, I try to discuss things that are relevant for the students that I serve. For example, they find it hilarious that I know about Jordans and use Jordans in a lesson. Or when I make up a rap using songs that they know.
The question, “how have you made efforts to incorporate a student’s culture and language in the curriculum while still making sure they are learning what district and state standards say they have to learn?" is a great question. I struggle with this for my third graders. The teacher in me does correct them when they say things like "is I'm able to..." or “Ms. Smith, is you gonna…” That’s because I want them to say “Am I able to…” or “Ms. Smith are you going to…” But I personally don't mind when they use words like "ain't," "finna," or “gonna.” That’s because I know I use those words. So how can I correct them when I use them? I allow my Black students to express themselves using Ebonics or "improper English" when speaking verbally. For my Latinx students, I encourage them to speak and speak on things that are from their culture. However, when using written language, I make sure that they write in the manner that meets the standard in which I am grading them on in writing.
Hi Aleshia. I really appreciate your post because you are right-there is a difference between code switching and cultural assimilation! A lot of times, I think that line can be blurred very easily. I too have gotten to a place where I am more comfortable being myself in situations I normally would not have. However, I snap back into code switching real quick. For example, I have been in meetings with Chancellors (usually white ) at the University and I'll say something using my normal dialect. Then I'll follow it up with something that "sounds smart" just so they don't get it twisted. Having to always prove I am intelligent is draining like you said. It's really hard to find that balance sometimes. I love your example of encouraging students to include their own perspectives while also making sure they are meeting standards, especially in writing. I think that is a great way to truly give a student the whole educational experience.
DeleteI love this response, Aleshia. There are many times I also find myself correcting my students with "incorrect" subject-verb agreement or even the use of profanity (knowing damn well I cuss like a sailor). I tend to encourage them to understand that in certain environments, like work and school, certain things just aren't allowed. I had one student who was filling out job applications and felt that he had to use his "White" voice in order to be taken serious to get a call back for an interview. It made me angry that he felt he couldn't be his authentic self or that society has engrained in him that talking "proper" was talking "White".
DeleteAleshia, this is a good response! I do agree with you on parts of your response. I also used to talk very "proper" with my coworkers and watched how I talked. I do also now talk very different with them because i have got more comfortable with them. I also don't understand the struggles that come with code switching because I don't do it as much as other races might have to. I believe that I don't speak the same as other people and I am glad that you can let them speak the way they want in their classroom! I hope that when I become a teacher, that I can also do the same and not feel so obligated to correct them when sometimes I don't speak proper english either.
DeleteYour post was so personal and I love it because it helps shed a light on what others can not relate to! My undergrad is in Early Childhood Ed., I have had a few substitute and assistant positions that made me see the unfairness that happens in classrooms. One experience in particular was when I was a substitute at a faith-based child care center and I was in a preschool classroom. The classroom had some diversity…but, these children’s cultures weren’t acknowledged and appreciated like they should had been. I remember an African American child who was new to the classroom had a question about instructions. The teacher “couldn’t understand” so she disregarded it and answered a white child’s question. Soon after the child became upset and the teacher did not approach. What I saw in this situation as it played out was how the teacher’s lack of concern and effort to understand, really effected the child. Afterwards, I talked with the child and I understood fine. I wanted to give him a sense of belongingness from at least one adult even though I was not in there consistently.
ReplyDeleteJust with my small example, we can see how early it can start for children that they may have feelings of not being important, respected, valued etc. in learning environments. Some children after experiences like this may learn to “play the game of school”, while others go against to maintain their identity while at school.
A little off topic but while language is a huge part of identity, so are other qualities that we may not be that aware about. I once read an article in my class last semester about a young child that would get in trouble when he would call out during circle time. Even though his teacher was asking questions, and he answered them, it was not appropriate because his hand was not raised. However, in the African American community it is known as call and response. This is just another example of how a child’s culture is not taken into consideration and devalued. Ever since I heard that story my thoughts have changed a lot on how I handle a situation!!
I loved your blog post! Good job! (since you were one of the first to go). After reading your blog I had a few thoughts. To answer your first question, I see this a lot in classrooms. I work at a daycare with many different races. I see this with the children because you can tell that when they walk in they talk to their parents a certain way, then talk to their teachers another way. I also see this with my coworkers also. They talk to me as if I am their friend and don't try to sound proper or what is deemed to be the right language. However, when they go talk to our boss they use standard english. In our classrooms we are very accepting. We don't really correct the kids as much unless its like just wrong pronunciation.
ReplyDeleteIn your blog you talk a lot about how code switching is a lot more directed towards black people. Being in this world for 20 years, I do believe that is true. I believe that society has made it seem as if white people are the only people that can talk properly. Which I don't believe is true. I have seen many other races talk more properly than some of the white people I have heard talk. I think that they (society) have made it seem like african americans talk "ghetto" which also isn't true for the same reason that I stated above. I also however believe that white people sometimes code switch also. I think they do it more to fit in to other groups that they might be around. I believe that people code switch just really to fit in, because that is what society has made us feel that that is what we have to do. I don't think any language is wrong though and everyone of them needs to be accepted by everyone.
Wow! This blog post was phenomenal! It was very easy to understand and straight to the point. Also, I loved the personal stories and connections that were put in throughout. It put a very clear picture in my mind and allowed me to thoroughly understand this concept of "Code Switching."
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this post, it got me thinking about when I code switch throughout my life. I noticed that I definitely change the way I talk when I am a work because I am a manager. So, I hold myself to a higher standard and I talk more professionally. However, when I am with my friends it is a completely different story. I use dialect that definitely wouldn't be considered professional. I am a White woman so I have not had the same experiences that you have had with "code switching." But, your post definitely gave me a new perspective on the issue and I really appreciate it. I feel like I am much more informed on this issue now.
Now to answer your questions,
1. Unfortunately, I am an undergraduate student so I have not had any classroom experience of my own. Also, I have not started my blocks yet. However, I did go on a school visit so I will answer this question to the best of my ability. I think the biggest way to make a student who doesn't speak standard English feel respected is by not over correcting them. Over correction could make the student feel like they are doing something wrong and make them enjoy learning less. Another way to make them feel respected is recognize that this language they are speaking at home is the language they speak with their loved ones and community. If you look at it from that perspective it makes you realize that it is one hundred percent okay to not speak standard English. Also, get to know the dialect they are speaking. Take the time to learn from your students.
2. I would include culture and language into my classroom by picking a variety of multicultural readings. For example, finding children's book authors that have written social issues books. I want everyone in my class to feel like they are represented. I want my students to learn from each other and myself. Then, I would include different voices and opinions throughout the curriculum. This way my students are learning a multitude of perspectives.
3. I believe that code switching is used because people want to fit in. Society has made code switching normal as sad as that is to admit. Personally, I think it would be great if no one had to code switch. I feel like it would relieve a lot of anxiety and stress.
Overall, I thought your post was great! Thank you so much!
Hi Kayla!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I really enjoyed reading this blog post. You are a really good writer and know how to keep an audience interested. I appreciate the snippet about your mother and showing us a little of your own experience with code switching. Being a white female, this helps me to understand a little more about how my future students may have to endure or experience code switching for themselves. Which is what I do not want.
When you talk about how code switching has gotten you into and out of specific situations, it reminds me of my own experiences with interviews, talking to parents at daycare pick-up (my place of work), and how I choose to present my language with people other than my friends and family. For example, I have to be very careful about what I say and how I say it in front of the parents of my students. If I say one little thing in a manner not suitable for the specific parent, it may end up taking a wrong turn somewhere down the road.
To answer your question about how to deal with code switching in the classroom, and while I don’t really have my own classroom and curriculum, I try to be as inclusive as I can to all of my students. I love talking with each of them and listening to the stories they have to tell me, and I let them tell me in their own way without correcting them. If they stutter, I give them time to get it out, if they speak with AAVE, it doesn’t phase me one bit. I appreciate all of the different cultures that are brought into the daycare that I am employed with and in saying so, I am pleased to say that I haven’t seen a lot of code switching with my 5 and 6 year old students.