Week 6

Culture and written discourse: Cross-cultural writing

 February 18th

            Reading and reflecting the articles, everything sounded very complex and interesting the question that were coming up and the findings about how to address this different writing system, while trying to learn a second one. In the article, “Unfinished Knowledge: The Story of Barbara” it discussed about having a standard writing. This made me think about the oral Standard English we are trying to achieve in schools. The Standard English that we are trying to take in it’s in means for us to have and learn everyone in one sort of way. However, it still becomes a challenge trying to define what Standard English is and how to address it. Additionally, how do we address writing, particularly when it’s harder to achieve especially for a person who native written language is not English.   

            From my own experience of writing in another language, I can say it was and sometimes it is very hard for me when it comes to grammar. I still see myself struggling with when to use passed tents like –ed. However, because Spanish is somewhat similar to English, there were still possible connections that I could relate to English writing. But, my question is what about those students whose grammar is very different from English and there is not similar connection. What to do with those students and how to help them develop in their writing. I had so much difficulty developing a second written language and did and remember struggling. As future teachers we need to be aware that writing in a second language can be very difficult. We need to be patient and understanding that this is a skill that will require time to develop. English is not an easy written language; additionally, it becomes even complicated when two written languages are not grammatically the same and we need to try and help those students of why certain things are written in this way, particularly in the Standard English.