Remember that time at the grocery store, at your nephew's Bar Mitzvah, your husband's office Christmas party, or waiting in line at Starbucks, where, during casual conversation, your new acquaintance becomes aware that you are a writing teacher? The next thing you know, your new acquaintance recites that cringe-worthy cliche, "Oh no, I'd better watch my grammar around you!" Then they proceed to ask you why kids can't write these days.

 

And it's not just people outside the university. Many teachers think that English departments need to do more to improve students' writing abilities.

 

So how do we bring students' home language into the classroom, when we have to respond to these kinds of criticisms about correction and grammar?

 

To explore this question more, click on the "Teaching Approaches" button below. For a list of more resources on language difference pedagogy and classroom activities, click on "Additional Resources." Also, check out our forum "The Parlor," where you can engage colleagues in discussions about language diversity approaches and practice.