Curriculum based on Social Class

Lexi Vogel

Professor Young

ENGW 1100

20 March 2016

Curriculum based on Social Class

            Social class can affect many different aspects of someone’s life other than their income. Social class affects occupation, life style, language, the way people are taught, and many other things. Jean Anyon, who wrote “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work”, discusses the different methods of teaching that public schools make available in the educational curriculum to students in various social classes. She uses claims to support her ideas by mentioning different levels of schooling. In relation to Anyon’s article, today public schools do have different teaching methods but because of the stereotypical groups of people such as, gender, race, and religion in each school instead of social class.

            Stereotypically everyone learns in a different way. For example, a female may learn differently than a male would learn because of how our minds work. Someone who goes to a primarily female gender school might like to learn through creativity, reasoning, and understanding how each answer is founded. As for males, the way they learn and process information could be completely different.

            To continue, religion is a big aspect of how the curriculum is made. Whether it is considering the audience of who is being taught or if the subject matter is actually about religion, this can have an impact on different schools’ and their methods of teaching. A perfect scenario would be a religious school such as CCD or Hebrew school because each curriculum is established based on the religion of the school.

Furthermore, the same thing goes for someone’s race when it comes to learning. Although this topics can be very controversial, they are some reasons that curriculum can be affected. When racial topics about African Americans’ are taught in a school predominantly of African Americans’, the curriculum is most likely adjusted in order to teach in a way that is fair. When topics are discussed about white people in a school mainly made up of white students, it most likely changes up the way things are taught as well. This can go for any race because the discussion of any racism is a sensitive topic for anyone.

 In Anyon’s article “Social Class and Hidden Curriculum of Work”, she suggests that income is the main factor to how teachers instruct their students. Anyon states, “the social class designation of each of the five schools will be identified, and the income, occupation, and other relevant available social characteristics of the students and their parents will be described,” (Anyon, 2). Her article talks about five different schools and how social class relates to each particular school. Then, she continues to mention how the social class of each school impacts the teaching methods. For example, working class schools are the lowest level in social class and their curriculum is based on following steps of a procedure (Anyon, 3). Anyon’s point in her article is that income highly impacts the way the curriculum is made.

However, Anyon’s claims on income being the main factor of teaching methods is highly opinionated and she doesn’t use statistics to back up her thoughts.

(Dear Professor Young,

            I am struggling a lot with this draft. I know this isn’t a great draft and I didn’t reach the full word requirement, but I am hoping I can meet with you to work on this as soon as possible. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lexi Vogel)

Rights to own Language

I believe that students should have the right to their own language because everyone’s own opinion’s matter. Freedom of Speech is something I strongly support because everyone’s opinion is part of who they are and what makes everyone unique. Language is part of what makes America diverse and if we were controlled by the things we could say and couldn’t say, then we wouldn’t be speaking our minds. We would no longer be our selves. America promotes individuality and “be yourself”, but without freedom of our own language we would have no way of being ourselves. Language makes up our identity. Gloria Anzaldula’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” discusses the ides of language and identity. Her identity is her Spanish language and heritage. She believes that she should be allowed to speak Spanish freely in American because speaking Spanish is part of who she is. Not allowing her to speak Spanish is like not allowing her to be who she is as a person. I agree with Anzaldula’s points on identity because many people use language as a way to express themselves and it would be unfair to neglect anyone of that. As a student it is important to be able to express yourself, especially while being young. When you are young, those are the years to find yourself and the person you wish to become. Students will find their true identity during their young years. It is extremely essential not to take away their ability to voice themselves because it would be difficult for students to find who they truly are during these crucial years. Lastly, it is important to allow students to express their own opinions because it will show them different points of views from all different people. This is a big thing for students to experience at a young age to help them mature and grow as an individual. Students should understand all different views on topics that don’t reflect their own. I strongly support freedom of speech and rights to own language because of growth of identity and expression of every individual.

Importance of Identity

Lexi Vogel

2/14/16

ENGW 1100

Professor Young

Importance of Identity

            “Who am I? I don’t know who I am anymore,” the young boy, Sam, cried as he laid in bed, depressed and unsure of who he has become. Tiny water droplets trickled down his face as his body trembled. Too many emotions were bottled up inside Sam’s mind and it all exploded all at once. He could no longer handle situations as he would normally handle them and he was starting to slip into a dark place that he didn’t want to. Each day was more tragic for him then the next day; he didn’t know who he had become. These depressed emotions were overpowering him and this wasn’t the guy he had used to be. The guy Sam used to be was Sam’s true identity. However, the person Sam is now is also part of Sam’s identity.

            Identity is the concept one develops about themselves that evolves over time. Sometimes identity is something that is uncontrollable, just like Sam’s. Identity is demonstrated through clothing, language, attitude, how people interact with each other. In other words, identity could be how someone would stereotypically describe themselves. Therefore, if someone doesn’t know who they are or how to describe themselves, they would have a loss of identity. It takes people a while to find a sense of self and identity; people wrestle with identity for a while because of the struggles it can cause. The concept of identity is so complex because many people don’t understand who they are.

            To continue, identity is so important because it helps people discover who they are. Identity is a realization of self and it is understanding who we are, our strengths, and our flaws. The importance of identity is so significant because if we never find our true selves we can’t experience life as a whole. “You can’t love someone until you love yourself” (Unknown). How can someone experience life, love and happiness without the experience of loving and understanding themselves? Identity is so essential to experience the best things in one’s life.

            Furthermore, my identity is important to my life experiences because it has helped me in my future. I have realized who I am as an individual. My strengths and weaknesses have helped me grow as a person. For example, I discovered that I am extremely sensitive. I know that is part of who I am and my identity. For the future, I walk on thin ice when it comes to situation that I know can lead to sensitivity. I use my flaws to my advantage and as a warning so I don’t react to certain things in a sensitive way. My weaknesses and identity has helped me as a person.

            Another person that comes to mind whose identity helped them as a person is Anzaldua from the story, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, Anzaldua discusses her thoughts on cultural problems for Mexican immigrants. She compares the languages between English, Spanish, and few variations. Anzaldua mentions that language is a big part of someone’s identity and who they are. “I am my language.” (82) Language is part of culture and culture is what defines a person most.

            In conclusion, the concept of identity is idea a person creates for themselves over time. Sam’s identity is still something he is unsure about but his new struggles are still a part of his identity because identity is something that evolves. As for myself, my identity includes multiple strengths and weaknesses that have helped me grow, struggle, and change as an individual. Lastly, Anzaldua’s identity is her Spanish heritage and language. She has a strong belief that her language is what defines her and her culture makes up her identity. To conclude, identity is a part of who we are and how we live. 

Quotes from "How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

"There are more subtle ways that we internalize identification, especially in the forms of images and emotions."

"Now that we had a name, some of the fragmented pieces began to fall together--who we were, what we were, how we evolved. We began to get glimpses of what we might eventually become."

"'Identity is the essential core of who we are as individuals, the conscious experience of self inside."

How to Tame Your Wild Tongue

Lexi Vogel

2/7/16

Professor Young

ENGW 1100

Reading Response Questions to “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

1.      Discuss how the opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist’s chair connects to the overall point/message of the essay and title.

-          The opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist’s chair connects to the overall message because the actual point of the short story was about a woman who is looking for her language identity. “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” relates to the woman’s wild tongue speaking a native language because her tongue is running wild. The story in the beginning is a metaphor about a dentist chair and a patient who can’t keep his/her tongue contained.

2.      Discuss Anzaldua’s use of the Spanish throughout her writing.  Did it make sense?  What was her purpose?

-          The use of Spanish throughout the writing is to add a stronger effect to show the “Wild Tongue” that she had. It definitely made sense for the writer to randomly use Spanish because the random Spanish shows the wild tongue in the words of the short story.

3.      Can Academic English be defined as Spanish (Standard) and can Chicano Spanish be described as nonstandard?  Why? What inferences, conclusions, can be made from referring to one identity (language) as standard versus nonstandard?

-          I don’t think that Academic English can be defined as Standard Spanish in anyway, they are both two completely separate languages. Although Chicano Spanish is described as nonstandard and people would not normally use that form of Spanish when speaking that does not make Standard Spanish defined as Academic English.

4.      Discuss the necessity of speaking and/writing in Academic English as an identity.  Is it necessary?

-          Being able to speak and write in Academic English is a necessity because like the short story discussed, all languages have a formal and non-formal way of speaking it.

5.      Anzaldua describes different types of Spanish, identities.  Discuss the various types of English, identities, you know.

-           

6.      Pachuco.  Do you use a secret language, secret identity, to communicate to your friends?  If so, what?

-          When I talk to my friends we don’t necessarily use a secret language to communicate but because we are so close we can tell what the other person is thinking by just looking at each other.

7.     Chicano Spanish can be compared to non-standard English.  What form of English (standard or nonstandard) do you speak with your friends (audience)?  What form of English do you speak when you talk to your mother (audience), professor (audience)?  Why?

-           Standard English is usually spoken when you are speaking to someone older or more formally like a professor or a parent. When I talk to my friends, I speak using a nonstandard English. However, when I’m talking to someone of higher authority I use Standard English.

8.      “I am my language.”  What does this mean?  How does this statement connect to a person’s identity?

-          Someone’s way of speaking makes up a lot of their personality. A person’s first impression and judgments are made based on the way they speak and portray themselves through their voice.

9.      Talk specifically about how the introduction and conclusion connect.

-          The beginning is a complete metaphor of what the actual story is about. The metaphor is about a person at a dentist and they can’t control their tongue. However, at the end of the short story it talks more about identity and chosing a language that fits your brand because the moral of the story is to “Tame your Wild Tongue.”

10.   Can the language you speak be a part of your identity?  Why?

-           Yes. Someone’s way of speaking makes up a lot of their personality and identity. A person’s first impression and judgments are made based on the way they speak and portray themselves through their voice.

11.  How important is identity to you?  Does Anzaldua believe it’s important to have identity?  Use some examples from “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” to support your answer.

-          Identity is extremely important for someone. Everyone has to find their inner self.

Anzaldua believes it’s important because she was looking to tame her wild tongue and find a specific language of Spanish and English that fits her identity.

Getting to Know You

 For this assignment, I‘d like you to answer the following questions with honesty.  I want to get to know you.  Once you finish answering the questions, post your responses to your blog.  Add video, pictures and/or music to make your blog yours. For our next class, I will select blogs as models and/or examples for class discussion.

1.      If you play a sport, what type of sport do you play?  How long have you been playing this sport?

I do not play any sports, I am not an athletic person. However, I do enjoy going to the gym and exercising regularly.  

2.       What are you passionate about?  For example, in your free time, what do you enjoy doing most?

There are many things in my life that I am passionate about. I am passionate about many people and I am passionate about many experiences or things in life. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends, family, and my boyfriend. I love them with a passion not only because of the people they are but because of the common interests we share. A lot of the experiences I am passionate about, my friends and boyfriend share the same interests. I enjoy listening to certain music styles and traveling. Also, I love trying new things. 

3.      What is your nickname and how did you get this name?

My nickname is Lexi. My parents gave me this nickname at birth and it has always stuck. 

4.      When you write, do you just sit at the computer and allow the words to flow or do you have an outline?

My writing technique has been freewriting. I learned this last semester and it helps me get my thoughts into a flow of words without losing anything. After I am done writing, I will go back and edit my writing. If I am constantly editing as I am writing, I will lose my thoughts and not be able to type out every aspect of my response. 

5.      How would you describe your writing experience in high school?  For example did your teachers allow you multiple times for you to revise your essays to earn a higher grade?  Did you learn grammar rules and structure?  Did you learn about the five paragraph structure?

I don’t believe that high school English prepares you enough for college. English in high school is more of reading than writing. We would write one essay a year and it was worked on over the course of two months. However, in college you have many essays that are due constantly. You had one draft in high school and one chance to hand in your essay. Although your teacher did review your essay multiple times to give you pointers on what to fix. High school taught me a lot more about reading strategies than grammar and structure. The most grammar and structure I ever learned was in middle school and my first semester of college. High school was known for the five paragraph rule. Every essay had to be responded to in five paragraphs. The five paragraphs consist of an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs. When I came to college, I noticed this system is not a good writing strategy at all. 

6.      What type of music do you most listen to and who is your favorite artist?

I listen to almost all kinds of music. However, my favorite kind of music is pop punk. My favorite band is mayday parade. I have been to two mayday parade concerts. 

7.      Do you use social media and if so how often do you use social media: facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, Instagram?

I use social media very often. I don’t necessarily like how social media is becoming such a necessity in everyday life. However, I would be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t use it. I use Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.

8.      What is most important for you to learn this semester?

I look forward to enhancing my vocabulary for my writing skills. 

9.      Rate yourself as a writer: A, B, C or D.  Explain why.

I am probably a B- or C+ writer. After my first draft, I would probably be a C+. However, I believe when I continue to edit and work hard on my writing I have great potential.