DIALECTS 253
The situation is not quite the same with respect to writing, however. Here,
students are struggling not just with differences between Standard and
nonstandard English but also with the differences inherent in formal Standard
English, as well as the natural inclination to focus on content rather than form.
What this means, of course, is that our students whose home dialect is
nonstandard will have a harder time and will need more support than those
whose home dialect is Standard English.
APPLYING KEY IDEAS- Reflect on how you respond when you hear someone using either BEV or
CE. Does your response include an assessment of that person’s status, job, or
education? If so, what can we learn about teaching students whose home dia-
lect is BEV or CE?
2.Form a group with three classmates to discuss how you might motivate
BEV and CE speakers to use Standard English. Develop a sequence of les-
sons and activities that include atleast one simulation exercise that could be
used in teaching.