Currently, I'm in the prewriting stage for a book about language
diversity. The book is based upon a real-life experience about when I
taught in Oakland, California. I taught there during the Ebonics
controversy (1980s).
That controversy was to have African American students use nonstandard language (Ebonics) as a springboard to learning standard English. I considered that it was just a different way of teaching grammar. I remember being trained how to teach it. It actually wasn't a bad idea because nonstandard language exists in popular culture and now from texting.
Controversy about Ebonics instruction came like a tidal wave because it was interpreted that people were saying that Ebonics was a language just like English. Ebonics (called African American Vernacular English) has its roots in African language and culture.
That controversy was to have African American students use nonstandard language (Ebonics) as a springboard to learning standard English. I considered that it was just a different way of teaching grammar. I remember being trained how to teach it. It actually wasn't a bad idea because nonstandard language exists in popular culture and now from texting.
Controversy about Ebonics instruction came like a tidal wave because it was interpreted that people were saying that Ebonics was a language just like English. Ebonics (called African American Vernacular English) has its roots in African language and culture.
