ERIC Number: EJ1463525
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1559-9035
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Using Self-Reflection to Improve Racial Literacy: One White ELL Teacher's Journey
Nicole R. Misra
Journal of Language and Literacy Education, v20 n2 2024
White teachers often use language that continues to position racialized students and their languages as inferior, thus perpetuating racial and linguistic inequality in society. The purpose of this study was an interrogation of racial literacies within my teaching discourse as a white English Language Learner teacher. Using racial literacies as theoretical framework, this study was conducted in a St. Louis central city school district within a secondary United States Government class for English for Speakers of Other Languages students. A qualitative longitudinal self-reflective design was utilized employing two sources of data, classroom narrative data and written reflective memos. Discursive strategies of racial literacies were identified in the narrative data while reflective memos were used to contextualize the findings. These data sources were triangulated. Findings revealed, while I rejected Anti-Black Linguistic Racism with students through the teaching the history of Black English, my classroom discourse still reified linguistic hierarchies. I had positioned myself as someone becoming bilingual to situate multilingualism as an asset; however, I did not acknowledge the difference between my language learning as a white female and how my Black and Latinx students' bilingualism was racialized by others. This empirical method is an effective way teacher-scholars can reflect upon their biases embedded within their discourse and actions. Because teachers can improve their racial literacy practices, this approach provides teachers opportunities for growth as they strive towards actions that support anti-racism and linguistic justice.
Descriptors: Reflection, Self Concept, Multiple Literacies, Race, White Teachers, Teaching Experience, English Learners, Urban Schools, Secondary School Teachers, United States Government (Course), Racism, Minority Group Students, Code Switching (Language), Bilingualism, Cultural Awareness
Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia. 315 Aderhold Hall, Athens, GA 30602. Tel: 706-542-7866; Fax: 706-542-3817; e-mail: jolle@uga.edu; Web site: http://jolle.coe.uga.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Missouri (Saint Louis)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A