SRTOL and Diversity (Blog 3)

I have learned a lot about SRTOL and the controversy in whether or not we should be allowed to write in our primary discourse (language) in our English class. Through the SRTOL readings and the debate we had about SRTOL in our class I learned a lot about how society tends to put one language on a pedestal in America`s English class but disregards other forms or dialects in our English class as not the right or proper way to write. In my opinion I believe that we should have the right to write in our own language or dialects as not only will it allow us to be more open about other people but it will allow us to possibly learn many new things about each other. I feel that allowing different dialects into our English class can make us want to learn new things about each other and will not make us as narrow in our way of thinking towards each other.

In our current society as we start to realize that America is becoming more diverse than ever before, I believe that we also need to start looking at how America is teaching in an English class. The SRTOL definitely helps as a stepping stone for diversity and to allow students to incorporate their own way of writing in an English class. But in order for this idea to work, society needs to be willing to change and open up to these new ideas.   

I have also learned that everyone in my class seemed much divided in whether or not we should allow different languages or dialects to take over in English classes. There were a lot of people who did not know where to stand because although most of them wanted diversity and agreed that it would be nice, society does not allow them to do this. I was pretty shocked about this as I thought most people in my class would be more open to such an idea since most of us can relate to the fact that English is not our primary discourse. I feel that the English language has been ingrained into our heads as teachers constantly seem to use only English in our English classes and do not seem to try to incorporate other languages in our classes.

 In our current society if we were to ever write in our own dialects then we would not be able to go on in our life and will be stuck in the middle of the road. Our society constantly rejects people who do not view other primary dialects besides English as good in English classes and this is perpetuated in society as having the “proper” English skills can help land you a better job, a better college, and a better life in general. I find this very sad as I feel that being successful in life should not only be constricted to one language in America.  

I was very shocked when I first heard that the current standard in an English class is to allow students to write in any way they want through the SRTOL readings. This really shocked me because no English teacher has ever said anything about what the standards of English class is besides their own. This was the first English class in my entire life to actually open my eyes of how an English class should be teaching and whether or not it is good to incorporate both English and other dialects into our curriculum.   

I feel that being more open to diversity is very important and that the SRTOL can help us achieve this. However in order to allow discourses other than English to be the main language in our society, society itself and the people need to be willing to fight for this change.

Picture Source
English class should incorporate other languages besides English in a diverse classroom.