Opening Minds or Changing Them? Some Observations on Teaching Introductory Linguistics

• Published in: Theory into practice Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 249 - 254
• Main Author: Milambiling, Joyce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Columbus Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc 01.11.2001; College of Education, The Ohio State University; Ohio State University, College of Education
• Subjects: Attitude Change; Capital punishment; Children; Classroom Communication; College Faculty; College instruction; Controversial Issues (Course Content); Course Objectives; Cultural differences; Cultural heritage; Cultural instruction; Dialects; Elementary Education; Elementary Schools; Ethical instruction; Ethics; Ethnolinguistics; Grammar; Higher Education; Introductory Courses; Language; Language attitudes; Language diversity; Learner Engagement; Linguistics; Linguistics education; Persuasion; Persuasive Discourse; Persuasive Strategies; Political Issues; Punishment; Sentences; Sociolinguistics; Standard languages; Student Attitudes; Student Role; Syntax; Teacher attitudes; Teacher education; Teacher Expectations of Students; Teacher Role; Teachers; Teaching; Undergraduate Students; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; San Francisco California
• ISSN: 0040-5841; 1543-0421
• DOI: 10.1207/s15430421tip4004_6

Analyzes the teaching of linguistics and ethics of representing linguistic issues in a persuasive way, examining tensions between telling it like it is and telling it in a way that students will listen. The paper highlights persuasion, the introduction of linguistic concepts, the importance of understanding dialects and their role in education, and expectations and goals for students. (SM)