TITLE: Teachers as Scholars: Teaching "Correct" English: Social Realities and Language Change

DATES: March 18 and 25, 2014

TIME: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

LOCATION: University Hall, ADP Center 1120

INSTRUCTOR: Alice Freed, Ph.D.

Teachers spend a substantial amount of time "correcting" students' English despite the fact that most of their students already “know” English when they arrive in their classes. The purpose of this sort of correction seems to be to teach students how to write (and speak) "Standard English." Is this is a worthwhile way to spend class time? Is the variety of English that we consider correct today the same as the language that was viewed as standard or correct a decade or two ago? Is trying to teach a formal variety of English a reasonable objective in the face of a constantly changing language? (Why does English keep changing anyway?) Focusing on Standard English in the classroom (and the assumptions that go with this) raise a complex series of questions for us that this seminar will consider and will attempt to answer.

You must attend both sessions to receive professional development hours.

To register, please click here.