DW1b

The following passage is an expert from Leah Zuidema's Myth Education:

"Most students know intuitively that formal Standard English is not the best choice for every communicative situation, yet they are so used to having their own grammar corrected that they cannot help but believe that non-standard English is bad. Need evidence? Consider how often teens and even adults use perfectly appropriate conventions of casual conversation and then, remembering they are speaking with English teachers, apologize in embarrassment for their "bad grammar." Baron rightly states, "We must own up to the fact that the teaching of English to speakers of English has promoted much of the linguistic insecurity and fear of grammar that we observe today". It is important for students to hear English teachers acknowledging that a non-standard register or even another dialect or language is sometimes the most appropriate and effective choice. Hearing the message isn't enough; students also need opportunities to consciously explore and reflect with their teachers about effective uses of systems other than formal Standard English."

The excerpt above illustrates the idea that there is not a universal way to speak and write. Zuidema points out that it is due to the preconceived notion that anything besides Standard English is bad, that linguicism has been enabled. She continues with the assertion that it is up to English teachers to acknowledge the variety of languages and dialects in existence and more importantly, to explore them with students.

Reading the passage above jogged my memory about instances during primary school when I was self-conscious about my grammar. From a young age, it was instilled in me that there was only one way to speak, realizing now that I was referring to Standard English. One of the first times I recall being corrected for my grammar was in the sixth grade. After finishing a reading test, I approached the teacher's desk to ask her if I could use the facilities, saying "Mrs. Hardy, can I use the restroom?" The response I was given left me shocked and embarrassed. Mrs. Hardy looked right at me and said, "no". She then proceeded to say in a facetious tone, "no, you can't go to the bathroom, but you may use the restroom." Then realizing my grammatical error, I corrected myself and asked the teacher, "may I use the restroom?" Looking back, I see that the simple grammatical mistake I made allowed me to realize the difference in the language I apply in school and home. Before I was corrected by Mrs. Hardy, I most likely asked the same question on numerous occasions and was left uncorrected. This could be attributed to the different environment in which I was speaking in. Teachers expect a certain quality of language from students that is not always required at home. Therefore, one may use "bad grammar" at home or when conversing with peers because there may not exist an expectation to live up to.