The sociocultural worlds of learners

Hall: Chapter 4Summarized by: Carmella CovellEnglish 625: Introduction to TESOL

Discussion Question #1

Could students cultural upbringing impact their success in school? Why do you

think?

Introduction

•Students socio cultural lives were not considered outside of school.

•Students were empty vessels.

•Students all had cognitive capabilities to learn.

•If home life considered: linguistically and culturally deprived.

Language socialization practices: Home and School•Sociocultural worlds do play a fundamental

role in academics.•Shirley Brice Heath and Phillips study:

-- Trackton- Black rural community taught to fantasize stories.

-- Roadville- White rural community taught to tell the truth.

-- Urban community- Middle class students taught similar concepts in school as home life.

Discussion Question #2

•I know all of you have read the Chapter but whom do you believe showed success in school?

-Trackton-Roadvilleor-Urban

Why do you think?

Language socialization practices: Home and School

•Urban community- showed success. -- more natural -- could extend to what they learned at

home

Language Variation

•Awareness of students cultural lives and language lead to successful students.

Redesigning curriculum and instruction

1. Keep: Developed in 1972 to improve the academic success of low-income, elementary school-aged Native Hawaiian children.

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/presrvce/pe3lk43.htm

Redesigning curriculum and instruction2. The Funds of Knowledge:Required teachers to create activities and

lessons that involved students home and community lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b2hbCyGkV0

Discussion Question #3

•What problems do you believe teachers are faced with in the Funds of Knowledge program? Just think again about the complexities of culture.

Redesigning curriculum and instruction

3. Language Curriculum: Focused on Language Awareness in school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-LkN-Pm_zA

The next chapter

•Sociocultural worlds do play a fundamental role in academics.

•The next chapter will be Language and Culture of the classroom.