Using your own language in English Class, CATDOG'S opinion.

     One thing that has caught my attention over the past couple weeks has been the use of language and our own dialect. It has been interesting to gain new knowledge on language use within English courses and outside of that setting. Just understanding that our voice matters, and that language is powerful is amazing. Our voices are powerful we just have to learn how to use them in a powerful manner. 

Coming from a low-income community I notice that my friends and family members don’t feel like their voice matters, because they cant express themselves in a “educated manner”.  They become shy and embarrassed to speak or even share their opinions because they don’t feel educated enough. Once we started discussing if students should be able to use their own discourse within a standard English course I couldn’t help but to think of my friends and family. I wish they/I had the ability since infants to use our own form of communication that isn’t forced upon us from the education system. Helping students learn how to use their own discourse in a powerful way is what should be taught in American schools. Not only do I believe that students should have the freedom to use their own form of language and communication within their English class but I also believe they should be taught about diversity and learn secondarily languages.

Considering California is super diverse why doesn’t the education system change to fit a communities needs?  It should! Although some people might feel that by letting students use their own language within a English course is setting young people up for failure, it does not have to be like that. But then again in order for students to be allowed to use their own discourse within class and still be accepted by society or within their professional job calles for a huge change of langue on a societal level. If the community or professional work force doesn’t accept it, then students will be set up for failure. But what I am saying is why isn’t the whole standards on how a person should talk and communicate changed. If they did change would writing in our own discourse seem foreign anymore? NO! For some reason I have high hopes for the future I  hope that sooner or later students are going to start learning new forms of communication within their communities, something along the lines of code switching but on a much more powerful level.  They will learn diverse languages and know since childhood how to use their discourse to achieve their goals in life. They wont be stripped from their language and forced to learn what is “standard” instead they will learn how to improve their primary language. Just think about it. I personally wonder how different I would be if I was allowed as a young person to use my own discourse in my English class. Would I even be in college? What would I be doing? How would I be communicating? How would you? Just think about it a little. Discussing this topic within our English class has opened new forms of thinking. And has allowed me to question the education that I have received and the expectations society has set up for me. Also makes me question the form of education I want my future kids to receive and the one they will receive if they grow up in America. I like discussing topics like these that have a huge effect on our communities it keeps the class up to date and makes English class all that more interesting.