(Thoughts by Gina and Ellen)
We think that Delpit is confused about what teaching method to use to teach black students. She says that it was a goal of hers to educate young black children. Should she use the open classroom method? Her white students excel using this method while the black students fall behind. This method encourages fluency, but another Black teacher tells her that black children already have fluency. They need to learn skills. Delpit tries a more conservative method of teaching with a classroom full of desks and chairs. She focuses on teaching her students skills in writing and English. Again, her black students fall behind. Why? There must be a delicate balance of skills and fluency that will let her black students succeed.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Lisa Delpit: The Educator
This post is for the group of Joe, Drew, Cale and me(marc).
Lisa Delpit is the Benjamin E. Mays Chairholder of the Urban Educational Leadership of Georgia. She also was awarded the MacArthur award. Delpit also wrote an instant classic article for the Reading Culture.
What is said?
-Delpit was a firm believer in the open-classroom teaching style. What she found out though was that as the white children excelled in the program, her black students fell behind.
-Due to the failure Delpit changed her style of teaching to try to include all of her students.
-After her "failure" in Philly she went to grad school. It was there that she was told that her teaching methors, the open-classroom, was correct.
-Delpit would eventually return to Philly and when she did she met with her friend Cathy. Cathy told Delpit her opinion of the Bay-Area Writing Project. She beileved it was "a monumental disservice to black children." Cathy also told Lisa that black children were just as fluent as their white counterparts. She said that her students would write rap lyrics that proved her belief, just that most of them lacked the skills to advance to a college setting.
-Cathy brought up one of her students that she said was brilliant. But, she said that, "But he can't get a score on the SAT that will even get him considered by any halfway decent college. He needs skills not fluency."
Main Issues:
-Lisa Delpit believes that it is much harder for an African-American student to advance to the college level. This is due to the teaching practicies and lack of communication between dominant and minority cultures.
What statement would Delpit agree with?
-She would agree that there needs to be a balance between literacy development and a skills oriented program.
How does she do write?
-The kind of writing that Delpit uses is one that includes peer interaction. Everything she says is from personal experience.
-Delpit's structure is that she talks about her life, shares her conversations she had with peers, then develops a more conservative style of teaching, and finally states her beliefs.
-The voice she uses is first person.
Lisa Delpit is the Benjamin E. Mays Chairholder of the Urban Educational Leadership of Georgia. She also was awarded the MacArthur award. Delpit also wrote an instant classic article for the Reading Culture.
What is said?
-Delpit was a firm believer in the open-classroom teaching style. What she found out though was that as the white children excelled in the program, her black students fell behind.
-Due to the failure Delpit changed her style of teaching to try to include all of her students.
-After her "failure" in Philly she went to grad school. It was there that she was told that her teaching methors, the open-classroom, was correct.
-Delpit would eventually return to Philly and when she did she met with her friend Cathy. Cathy told Delpit her opinion of the Bay-Area Writing Project. She beileved it was "a monumental disservice to black children." Cathy also told Lisa that black children were just as fluent as their white counterparts. She said that her students would write rap lyrics that proved her belief, just that most of them lacked the skills to advance to a college setting.
-Cathy brought up one of her students that she said was brilliant. But, she said that, "But he can't get a score on the SAT that will even get him considered by any halfway decent college. He needs skills not fluency."
Main Issues:
-Lisa Delpit believes that it is much harder for an African-American student to advance to the college level. This is due to the teaching practicies and lack of communication between dominant and minority cultures.
What statement would Delpit agree with?
-She would agree that there needs to be a balance between literacy development and a skills oriented program.
How does she do write?
-The kind of writing that Delpit uses is one that includes peer interaction. Everything she says is from personal experience.
-Delpit's structure is that she talks about her life, shares her conversations she had with peers, then develops a more conservative style of teaching, and finally states her beliefs.
-The voice she uses is first person.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
June Jordan v. Lisa Delpit
I thought Jordan's essay was better than the other essay. I felt that I could not relate but feel more from the students in the essay. Jordan's essay gives us an inspirational view point at what she wrote and she also gives us the serious outlook on life. It was great how her students learned what they did, and how they enjoyed doing it. By adding the story about how Reggie got show was kind of a reality check as to how racism and violence is still present today.As Becca stated in her blog, Jordan had a more powerful way of getting the meaning across than Delpit. Delpit focused alot on herself in her essay rather than the kids she taught . Jordan's essay focused very much around her students and like Willie's story, serious issues that happened in their lives.
Threee sentences that caught my eye...
1. '2. Clarity: if the sentence is not c lear it's not Black English.'
I liked the second guidline for Black English. I just thought it was funny how they said if it wasn't clearn then it wasn't Black English. Plain and simple.
2. 'Rule 4: Forget about the spelling, Let the syntax carry you.'
This rule stuck out to me. It made me think, not about spelling, but life. Kind of like roll with the punches. Just go with it. Alot of people make life more complicated than it has to be. It should be more like..'go with the flow.'
3."At the end of one of the longest, most difficult hours of my own life, the students voted, unanimously, to preface their individual messages with a paragraph composed in the language of Reggie Jordan."
When I read this sentence it just made me smile. I was happy to see that all the students wanted to do this for Willie, in memory of Reggie.
Threee sentences that caught my eye...
1. '2. Clarity: if the sentence is not c lear it's not Black English.'
I liked the second guidline for Black English. I just thought it was funny how they said if it wasn't clearn then it wasn't Black English. Plain and simple.
2. 'Rule 4: Forget about the spelling, Let the syntax carry you.'
This rule stuck out to me. It made me think, not about spelling, but life. Kind of like roll with the punches. Just go with it. Alot of people make life more complicated than it has to be. It should be more like..'go with the flow.'
3."At the end of one of the longest, most difficult hours of my own life, the students voted, unanimously, to preface their individual messages with a paragraph composed in the language of Reggie Jordan."
When I read this sentence it just made me smile. I was happy to see that all the students wanted to do this for Willie, in memory of Reggie.
Black English
June Jordan, who is she? Well i am going to tell you, Jordan and done many different things in her lifetime. She was poet, playwright, essayist, and professor of English at the University of California, Berkley.
Throughout this essay she said many of things but we think that the overall topic she was trying to convey to her readers was about Racism. She gave many different issues through out her story, like how "Black English was like a linguistic buffalo", to trying to teach her students how to write the form Black English. But that's not all, she also gave a story on about how one of her students went missing for some time, and came to find out that there had been a death in his family. Throughout all things that she mentioned we believe that it all ties together on the general topic about racism.
She tries to prove her point through every issue that we had listed in the preceding paragraph. When she started this essay out she gave a metaphor of " Black English is like the linguistic buffalo" this here is very strong statement. If you just think about how the buffalo almost became extinct which was because people wanted to force the Indians out of there land, and by killing of their big food supply, which was the buffalo, would drive them from that area. Well here she is saying that by completely forgetting about Black English might push the African Americans out this country, which in anyway you look at is being racist. So what she tries to do about it is to teach here students that they should not be afraid to be who they are, if you talk or want to talk in Black English then do so don't be afraid of who you are. So in order to show her students that she develops and teaches a class that is learning how to talk and write in the Black English, which is so uncommon because in what school anywhere offers this type of course. That just goes to show how our country does not want to support or even accept the different use of language of a different culture. To even more reinforce the topic of racism at the end of the essay she goes into talking about how one of her student's, an African American, brother was killing by the police. According to the story he was not armed but the police shot him 8 times, why would you need shoot anyone 8 times it's like they were being cruel for some reason. So in response they wrote a letter to the police department, which was in Black English, but they paid no attention to it for some reason and just discarded of it. If you would just think about this for a second you can see how racist they were being. They shot a black male 8 times when they really only needed one shot and then they didn't even consider anything about the letter, probably because it was written in Black English. I guess the real question here is, how much more racist can they be?
Throughout this essay she said many of things but we think that the overall topic she was trying to convey to her readers was about Racism. She gave many different issues through out her story, like how "Black English was like a linguistic buffalo", to trying to teach her students how to write the form Black English. But that's not all, she also gave a story on about how one of her students went missing for some time, and came to find out that there had been a death in his family. Throughout all things that she mentioned we believe that it all ties together on the general topic about racism.
She tries to prove her point through every issue that we had listed in the preceding paragraph. When she started this essay out she gave a metaphor of " Black English is like the linguistic buffalo" this here is very strong statement. If you just think about how the buffalo almost became extinct which was because people wanted to force the Indians out of there land, and by killing of their big food supply, which was the buffalo, would drive them from that area. Well here she is saying that by completely forgetting about Black English might push the African Americans out this country, which in anyway you look at is being racist. So what she tries to do about it is to teach here students that they should not be afraid to be who they are, if you talk or want to talk in Black English then do so don't be afraid of who you are. So in order to show her students that she develops and teaches a class that is learning how to talk and write in the Black English, which is so uncommon because in what school anywhere offers this type of course. That just goes to show how our country does not want to support or even accept the different use of language of a different culture. To even more reinforce the topic of racism at the end of the essay she goes into talking about how one of her student's, an African American, brother was killing by the police. According to the story he was not armed but the police shot him 8 times, why would you need shoot anyone 8 times it's like they were being cruel for some reason. So in response they wrote a letter to the police department, which was in Black English, but they paid no attention to it for some reason and just discarded of it. If you would just think about this for a second you can see how racist they were being. They shot a black male 8 times when they really only needed one shot and then they didn't even consider anything about the letter, probably because it was written in Black English. I guess the real question here is, how much more racist can they be?
June Jordan...
Hey. This post is from Brianna, Danielle, and Glory.
June Jordan was a poet, playwright,essayist and an English professor at the University of California, Berkley. She is a very talented writer in many different areas. She has also had politicial essays published in the year 1985. Her essay gives us a sense that she was also a very inspiring and dedicated teacher. She was always willing to teach and determined to make her students want to learn.
Jordan starts the essay off by telling us that Black English is the language depended on by more than thirty five million Afro Americans. She gives us somewhat of definitions of Black English and Standard English. She then gets in to the class she taught ,' In Search of the Invisible Black Woman.' Jordan takes us back to her past and tells us many great detailed stories of what being in this class was like.The class was assigned to read Alice Walker's The Color Purple. With this reading many issues come up with how different people talk and why.This is where Jordan's students start to really be intrigued by the class and start having the want to learn more.In her class, there is one particular student who sticks out to her. His name in Willie Jordan. THis is where we first hear about Willie. Bringing Willie in to the story shows us how Jordan intertwines the two different stories. By telling us so many facts about Willie introduces the close personal relationships that Jordan has with her students. Not only are they her students but they are her friends. When Willia stops showing up for class Jordan wonders where he is. Jordans question about where Willie was, is answered by Willie. He tells Jordan that his cousin Reggie has been shot. Not only is this essay talking about Black English and how many people look at it differently than some, we also have the case of racism in thought now. By getting deep in to the story about Willie's cousin is shows up just how dangerous racism is, not only in language but in real life action. We believe the main ideas in Jordan's essay were that Black English should we given more respect by people because it is a language in itself. Just like most of us speak Standard English, there are many who speak Black English. Also that racism isn't something to joke about. By tieing together Jordan's class and Willie's story about his cousin shows us that not only does language differ in the world but there still is physical racism.
We said that Jordan writes in first person. It is mostly Jordan narating the essay. At times there is dialect but it involves Jordan herself.
June Jordan was a poet, playwright,essayist and an English professor at the University of California, Berkley. She is a very talented writer in many different areas. She has also had politicial essays published in the year 1985. Her essay gives us a sense that she was also a very inspiring and dedicated teacher. She was always willing to teach and determined to make her students want to learn.
Jordan starts the essay off by telling us that Black English is the language depended on by more than thirty five million Afro Americans. She gives us somewhat of definitions of Black English and Standard English. She then gets in to the class she taught ,' In Search of the Invisible Black Woman.' Jordan takes us back to her past and tells us many great detailed stories of what being in this class was like.The class was assigned to read Alice Walker's The Color Purple. With this reading many issues come up with how different people talk and why.This is where Jordan's students start to really be intrigued by the class and start having the want to learn more.In her class, there is one particular student who sticks out to her. His name in Willie Jordan. THis is where we first hear about Willie. Bringing Willie in to the story shows us how Jordan intertwines the two different stories. By telling us so many facts about Willie introduces the close personal relationships that Jordan has with her students. Not only are they her students but they are her friends. When Willia stops showing up for class Jordan wonders where he is. Jordans question about where Willie was, is answered by Willie. He tells Jordan that his cousin Reggie has been shot. Not only is this essay talking about Black English and how many people look at it differently than some, we also have the case of racism in thought now. By getting deep in to the story about Willie's cousin is shows up just how dangerous racism is, not only in language but in real life action. We believe the main ideas in Jordan's essay were that Black English should we given more respect by people because it is a language in itself. Just like most of us speak Standard English, there are many who speak Black English. Also that racism isn't something to joke about. By tieing together Jordan's class and Willie's story about his cousin shows us that not only does language differ in the world but there still is physical racism.
We said that Jordan writes in first person. It is mostly Jordan narating the essay. At times there is dialect but it involves Jordan herself.
Min Zhan- Lu Essay
Reading the essay on Min Zhan-Lu makes me realize how easy it was for me to learn. Lu's learning environment was that to my point of view of everyone learning what was needed. She was raised by parents who stressed learning English was important in the world. When she attended school she was the student that stood out from the rest. Lu must of had the feeling of guilt when her classmates only knew the native tounge. I can understand why she felt that way knowing that only she and the teacher were the only people who know of English. In my point of view based of this essay I think everyone should learn a second language. Yes in the United States 90 times out of a 100 you would only need to know English. What about the other 10 times? What are you going to do? I know what I would do, find a way to at least know the basics of another language.
Joron: Awesome Teacher Woman
Wooowwww. I guess I'll start with my three favorite sentences:
1. "Rule 1: Black English is about a whole lot more than mothafuckin."
This is one of my favorite sentences simply because it made me laugh out loud. Period.
2. "If your idea, your sentence, assumes the presence of at least two living and active people, you will make it understandable because the motivation behind every sentence is the wish to say something real to somebody real."
First, this sentence, in a way, describes what sympathetic reading and responding is all about. It's about understanding and believing what the author is saying. Isn't that why everybody writes? Isn't it true that by writing about living people, REAL people, you want people to understand. You want your message/idea to be understood. Who else would you be trying to write to other than real people? Your ideas are real enough.... why not?
3. "I will never forget the eloquence, the sudden haltings of speech, the fierce struggle against tears, the furious throwaway, and useless explosions that this question elicited."
To me, this sentence PERFECTLY describes what a true argument is like. Not just any argument though. There are a few universal questions, that when asked, people feel very strongly they know the answer to. You stand by your reasoning even though you want to cry. So many emotions running through you at the same same. You are furious. You are reckless at times. You are devestated. Wow, what a powerful sentence. LOVE it!
This story made me cry at the end. During the part where Jordan tells us the results of Reggie Jordan's autopsy. Eight gun shots. The description of where they were and how many there were just yanked the tears right out of me. Part of it was disbelief. Why were EIGHT SHOTS needed to be shot? Eight shots is enough to kill eight men. Think of it that way. This is the best example of unnecessary cruelty; and it disgusts me.
The other story was not quite so powerful to me. It definately did not hit me as hard as this one. Although, Delpit and Jordan are both teachers writing from their first hand experience, Jordan was more powerful in getting his meaning across. Jordan focussed more on the individuals of his class. This let me get to know them and the kind of kids he was working with. I WANTED them to improve. I WANTED their stories to get published. I was more connected to his students than I was to Delpit's students. Delpit talked about herself most of the time. She talked about her internal conflicts on what she thought was the right way to teach black children. She talked about how she failed. She talked about how she hopes educators will do a better job in the future. I don't want to hear about that. I want to hear about the students and where they've gone with Black English.
1. "Rule 1: Black English is about a whole lot more than mothafuckin."
This is one of my favorite sentences simply because it made me laugh out loud. Period.
2. "If your idea, your sentence, assumes the presence of at least two living and active people, you will make it understandable because the motivation behind every sentence is the wish to say something real to somebody real."
First, this sentence, in a way, describes what sympathetic reading and responding is all about. It's about understanding and believing what the author is saying. Isn't that why everybody writes? Isn't it true that by writing about living people, REAL people, you want people to understand. You want your message/idea to be understood. Who else would you be trying to write to other than real people? Your ideas are real enough.... why not?
3. "I will never forget the eloquence, the sudden haltings of speech, the fierce struggle against tears, the furious throwaway, and useless explosions that this question elicited."
To me, this sentence PERFECTLY describes what a true argument is like. Not just any argument though. There are a few universal questions, that when asked, people feel very strongly they know the answer to. You stand by your reasoning even though you want to cry. So many emotions running through you at the same same. You are furious. You are reckless at times. You are devestated. Wow, what a powerful sentence. LOVE it!
This story made me cry at the end. During the part where Jordan tells us the results of Reggie Jordan's autopsy. Eight gun shots. The description of where they were and how many there were just yanked the tears right out of me. Part of it was disbelief. Why were EIGHT SHOTS needed to be shot? Eight shots is enough to kill eight men. Think of it that way. This is the best example of unnecessary cruelty; and it disgusts me.
The other story was not quite so powerful to me. It definately did not hit me as hard as this one. Although, Delpit and Jordan are both teachers writing from their first hand experience, Jordan was more powerful in getting his meaning across. Jordan focussed more on the individuals of his class. This let me get to know them and the kind of kids he was working with. I WANTED them to improve. I WANTED their stories to get published. I was more connected to his students than I was to Delpit's students. Delpit talked about herself most of the time. She talked about her internal conflicts on what she thought was the right way to teach black children. She talked about how she failed. She talked about how she hopes educators will do a better job in the future. I don't want to hear about that. I want to hear about the students and where they've gone with Black English.
Greetings and Response to Jordan
Hello everybody,
My name is Drew Ickes. I'm eighteen, and the first in my family to attend college. Last year I graduated Lower Merion Highschool you might have heard of it because Kobe Bryant went there. I don't play sports as much as I used to, but am still a big basketball and football fan. The first semester of school made me learn alot, mostly how to balance school with fun. But also alot about myself.
After reading June Jordan's "Nobody mean more to me than you and the future life" I had alot to think about. At first I agreed with June on how social change is impossible if everybody acts the same and has the same opinions. This relates strongly to politics and sociology or in other words following a shepherd like sheep. But then later in the texts she says "White standards control our official and popular judgements of verbal proficiency and correct, or incorrect language skills, including speech" I disagree, in fact I believe minorities play a huge part in the media. As well having played an enormous part in modern language ex specially in the last 30 years.
My name is Drew Ickes. I'm eighteen, and the first in my family to attend college. Last year I graduated Lower Merion Highschool you might have heard of it because Kobe Bryant went there. I don't play sports as much as I used to, but am still a big basketball and football fan. The first semester of school made me learn alot, mostly how to balance school with fun. But also alot about myself.
After reading June Jordan's "Nobody mean more to me than you and the future life" I had alot to think about. At first I agreed with June on how social change is impossible if everybody acts the same and has the same opinions. This relates strongly to politics and sociology or in other words following a shepherd like sheep. But then later in the texts she says "White standards control our official and popular judgements of verbal proficiency and correct, or incorrect language skills, including speech" I disagree, in fact I believe minorities play a huge part in the media. As well having played an enormous part in modern language ex specially in the last 30 years.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Culture is Ordinary
When I read this I get mixed feelings and emotions. I understand where the author is coming from when he says that Culture is ordinary becuase in a way it is. Every race, ethnic group has its own culture, so I can see in that aspect where he is coming from saying that culture is ordinary. The author probably was being sarcastic, in the sense to grab the readers attention. He wants people to read what he has to say so in a way he makes it ironic to grab the readers attention. I think he knows that we feel that culture is not ordinary thats why he wrote the titile like that. We know that culture is not ordinary. Culture is different to everyone thats why its not ordinary but the author is probably writing it to make us look at things differently not just one way.
ABOUT ME
Hey everyone my name is Glory Delgado. I am a freshman Criminal Justice major with a concentration in Paralegal Studies. I am 18 years old. I like to read, write, draw, sing, dance and have fun. I want to some day become a lawyer. I want to be able to help people. I'm an easy going person I don't like to let things get to me. I like to always look at things both ways not just one. I am from Puerto Rico, I was born there and I came t0 philly when I was 2, so I was raised here.
Introducting Myself!!!!
I finally was able to get onto this... For everyone that doesn't know me... My name is Danielle Nunez and I am 18 years old... I am currently a sociology major and after this semester I will be declaring my second major, which is criminal justice... I have one younger brother, which he is 5 and one younger sister, which she is 15... I just met my sister for the first time during the winter break from college... That was a good experience...
I am currently the first one on my mom's side and the second one on my dad's side of the family to be in college... I take this opportunity very seriously because this is the only way I will be able to provide for both my family and I... My friends would consider me as an outgoing person and someone that speaks her mind... I am the type of person that sets goals and I am always up for a challenge.
I am currently the first one on my mom's side and the second one on my dad's side of the family to be in college... I take this opportunity very seriously because this is the only way I will be able to provide for both my family and I... My friends would consider me as an outgoing person and someone that speaks her mind... I am the type of person that sets goals and I am always up for a challenge.
Response to Lu and Rose's Essays
In both the stories there are many similarities and differences between them. Education is explained in Rose as a struggle while in Lu's it is important and according to class. Each story talks about education on a cultural level. It depends on the area your from, if your rich, middle class, or poor. Another similarity is how they perceive the poor as different then middle or upper class. In Lu’s essay she is given the best education because of her family background. Lu is smarter than what her teachers think and hiding her knowledge is what she has to do because of her culture and what they believe. The stories explain that having an education is very important not just for a better job and money, but for yourself. In Rose the story is focused on the poor and how they "lack a logical language." In Lu's story she focuses on languages of her home and of school and how that was a struggle for her.
Min-zhan Lu and Mike Rose's essay's
When I read both of these essyas i found many similarities in each of them. Both discussed the topic of literacy and how it effects different aspects of peoples lives. In Rose's essay he speaks about how his students illiteracy is their downfall economic-wise because people believe that those without an education can not be taught at all and that is just not true. If people are just given direction and time they can accomplish many things to help them get by in life. They can get better jobs and live better lives. Also and education gives them respect. It was said in the essay, " ...literacy, here, is intimately connected with respect, with a sense that they are not beaten, the mastery of print revealing the deepest impulse to survive." His students did not give up on their education because most of all they wanted respect.
In Lu's essay she discusses the same topic but goes more into a social standing within the government and what class you would be considered with what type of education you recieved. Knowing more than one language got you farther in life, but certain ones were frowned upon. She takes us through her years of schooling and shares with us her different struggles she had to endure. Schooling to her family was very important and they wanted their children to get that same education if not better. The subject of becoming literate was and still is important in todays society.
In Lu's essay she discusses the same topic but goes more into a social standing within the government and what class you would be considered with what type of education you recieved. Knowing more than one language got you farther in life, but certain ones were frowned upon. She takes us through her years of schooling and shares with us her different struggles she had to endure. Schooling to her family was very important and they wanted their children to get that same education if not better. The subject of becoming literate was and still is important in todays society.
Monday, January 22, 2007
the reading....
on the reading... i think all they are really tring to say is that... it is good to know as many languages as possible depending on your job.. like you could have to work any where in the world... i know that my uncle travels all the time like over to india and china... so he has to know more then one language... so the more languages you know the better off you might be...
Culture is ordinary
When I read Raymond Williams article, I like he started us out with his origin. I believed by him doing so we would better undertstand his viewpoints on the subject of culture. The way that he wrote the entire article was in a very formatted way. First he started with his family origin, than went on to discuss his idea of culture. I also agree with Raymond William's idea of culture being ordinary because the very basis of it is infact "ordinary". There maybe aspects of certain cultures that of course differ from religion and government, to music and fads. William's was brought up in both a poor and rich culture. His family was poor and worked for everything that they got, so he knew what that culture had to offer. William's than moved on to gain an education and sampled what the higher life had to off in its culture. He gained a perspective on each culture and concluded that they are infact the same and ordinary.
Hi
My name is Joe. I am from Bethlehem, PA. I am 21 and a second semester Junior studying percussion performance. Anyone watch 24 tonight?
I feel that Lu's essay and Rose's essay are similar. They both deal with culture, language and social status. In Lu's situation, the lanquage that you speak refers to the type of job you have or which class you come from. In Rose's situation, how much a person understands the English language determines if they can get a job or a decent paying job. In both of the essays, the more languages you know or how well you understand one will determine how far you can go in life.
I feel that Lu's essay and Rose's essay are similar. They both deal with culture, language and social status. In Lu's situation, the lanquage that you speak refers to the type of job you have or which class you come from. In Rose's situation, how much a person understands the English language determines if they can get a job or a decent paying job. In both of the essays, the more languages you know or how well you understand one will determine how far you can go in life.
Lu and Rose's essays..
After reading both essays I believe they are similar in many ways. Both essays talk about how they view literacy and how important it is. They both say that you make up what literacy is yourself. Literacy is what you make of it. Just like Williams said that you make your culture how you want it.
Although the essays are similar in many ways, they are different. Rose was working with many different age groups. These people in Rose’s essay were called “America’s educational underclass.” Rose talks about how your literacy is affected by your economic status. Rose tells us the people whom he was working with lost their jobs because of their illiteracy. But as we learn from the essay, these people are not illiterate. They can figure out problems is they are just given some instruction.
In Lu’s the age group was different. It was based on her school experience with her peers. Lu’s essay concentrated on how Lu struggled to understand all the differences in the many languages she was learning. Lu did not have it easy in life. She was faced with many challenges everyday in school and at home. Although Lu’s life was difficult at times, and she was classified in the lower class because of her English she still followed her beliefs and how she was raised.
Although the essays are similar in many ways, they are different. Rose was working with many different age groups. These people in Rose’s essay were called “America’s educational underclass.” Rose talks about how your literacy is affected by your economic status. Rose tells us the people whom he was working with lost their jobs because of their illiteracy. But as we learn from the essay, these people are not illiterate. They can figure out problems is they are just given some instruction.
In Lu’s the age group was different. It was based on her school experience with her peers. Lu’s essay concentrated on how Lu struggled to understand all the differences in the many languages she was learning. Lu did not have it easy in life. She was faced with many challenges everyday in school and at home. Although Lu’s life was difficult at times, and she was classified in the lower class because of her English she still followed her beliefs and how she was raised.
Rose, Mike and Lu, Mi-zhan
Both of the essays were extremely humbling. Both authors talked about the importance of literacy but also discussed how it is not the final word on who a person is or what a person is capable of. Both Rose and Lu ask the reader to put themselves in the other person's shoes and try and understand their issue with literacy, whether its difficulty in learning how to read or trying to understand the concepts of language.
Lu's situation is very different from Rose's in that she was struggling try to understand the differences between the three languages of English, Standard Chinese, and Shanghai Chinese. She began very proud of her "family language" of English until she was taught that the US/Britain were enemies of China and that the foreign language of choice was Russian. This caused her problems about her family language and would seperate her from it for a portion of time. Also, knowing English also put her in a lower class than some of her classmates that were of the "Workers" language. Lu had a very hard time growing up in the New China.
Rose was working with groups of people, children to adults, that Rose calls "Americas 'educational underclass." Rose discusses the issue of literacy and economic status. Many of the people that work with Rose could not get jobs or lost jobs due to their illiteracy. The ironic part of the situation was, I am to assume, that they lost jobs due to the employer assuming that they were unintelligent due to their illiteracy. Rose shows us that the people he works with do not lack intelligence at all, actually it is the complete opposite. Many of the people that Rose worked with were able to figure out questions asked to them once they were given direction and the ability to think.
Lu's situation is very different from Rose's in that she was struggling try to understand the differences between the three languages of English, Standard Chinese, and Shanghai Chinese. She began very proud of her "family language" of English until she was taught that the US/Britain were enemies of China and that the foreign language of choice was Russian. This caused her problems about her family language and would seperate her from it for a portion of time. Also, knowing English also put her in a lower class than some of her classmates that were of the "Workers" language. Lu had a very hard time growing up in the New China.
Rose was working with groups of people, children to adults, that Rose calls "Americas 'educational underclass." Rose discusses the issue of literacy and economic status. Many of the people that work with Rose could not get jobs or lost jobs due to their illiteracy. The ironic part of the situation was, I am to assume, that they lost jobs due to the employer assuming that they were unintelligent due to their illiteracy. Rose shows us that the people he works with do not lack intelligence at all, actually it is the complete opposite. Many of the people that Rose worked with were able to figure out questions asked to them once they were given direction and the ability to think.
Culture and Language
Hi everyone my name is Bryce and Im from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. I'm a freshman here at Kutztown where I'm majoring in Elementary Ed./Coaching and I am also on the wrestling team.
The two readings that were assigned to us although are very different I feel that they are sending the same message about culture. Each reading talks about how the culture is obvisouly ordinary to everyone involved in it whether it be the language, or traditions you have but in the same sense it is unique to yourself and separates you and makes you your own person, otherwise we would not even have separate cultures.
The two readings that were assigned to us although are very different I feel that they are sending the same message about culture. Each reading talks about how the culture is obvisouly ordinary to everyone involved in it whether it be the language, or traditions you have but in the same sense it is unique to yourself and separates you and makes you your own person, otherwise we would not even have separate cultures.
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