1. Dormitory English: Implications for the Classroom Teacher.
- Author
-
Harvey, Gina Cantoni
- Abstract
Navaho Indians learning English tend to use two versions of the language: classroom English and an informal dialect spoken outside school. The sounds of Navaho are imposed on spoken English, and the phonological deviations produce morphological and syntactical errors. Mistakes in verb tense and in singular and plural suffixes are common. The value of teaching English as a second language is questionable; perhaps it should be taught as an alternate dialect, and teachers should cite economic opportunity as motivation to learn. Navaho students were tested for their ability to recognize and use comprehension clues in reading English; results indicate that reading skill rests on oral linguistic competence. Teachers could use a knowledge of linguistics to improve their language instruction. (CK)
- Published
- 1973