WAC/WID and the Urban Minority University

Now, we come full circle, back to the purpose of this blog. Why WAC, why the HBCU, why the two together?

Many of our students will be entering into careers where knowing the language of the profession is perhaps one of the most important tools we can give them. Despite our desires, we live in a country that still has its perceptions of who belongs where, and  how we present ourselves in situations where the perception can be changed are few and far between, with the change being difficult to enact. AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) is looked down upon while SAE (Standard American English) is celebrated.

Therefore, giving students the ability to represent themselves as masters of the language of their profession is key. More importantly, the sooner we start, the sooner students can become comfortable with that language. By introducing WAC in our general education courses, we start giving students the tools they need to succeed in their major courses. By promoting students to use their major disciplines as an entryway into the material of a general education course, we can develop the a collective, collaborative, communicative atmosphere that will serve these students beyond just their university educations. In using WID in the more content heavy courses, especially in the majors, students will discover the process of developing material, hopefully go beyond the idea of the grade, become experts in their fields, and, most importantly, hopefully, become better writers who can see the joy and importance of writing itself.

In addition, WAC and WID have the opportunity to divorce ourselves from the endless AAVE and SAE debate by presenting each discipline as having its own language. When a student is learning the language of their discipline, it is as if they are learning French or Spanish or some other foreign language. It allows us, then, the opportunity to present SAE and AAVE as not aspects of a hierarchy, but as just two equally important languages, just like every other language. Each has its own place in the world, just like the language that engineers or educators speak. Letus stop looking at them on a hierarchy, just presenting it linguistic purpose (Plus, no matter what, this doesn't have to be an either/or situation).

It is also the opportunity for instructors to collaborate. We should be communicating, not pretending that departments exist in a bubble. It is time to expand our spheres.

I hope those who have been reading my blog have received something from it. I hope to continue making posts as I see experiences out in the world that our relevant. This is my last official post, however. I hope to see you all commenting on what you think. Continue the conversation in person, in the comments, wherever you go. If you took one thing away, I hope it is the importance of communication and discussion. Keep the talk alive!