Advisory Committee Chair
Lois Christensen
Advisory Committee Members
Martha Barber
Lynn Kirkland
Maryanne Manning
Deborah Strevy
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2009
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) School of Education
Abstract
A language barrier exists in schools across the United States, and it's not just with students from other countries. It is estimated that over 8 million African American students speak a language which is foreign to many classroom teachers. The dissonance between home and school language has had devastating effects of African American achievement, with regard to literacy and language arts instruction. With a focus on how teacher education programs in post secondary institutions in Alabama are preparing teachers to teach students with diverse dialects, this qualitative research inquiry provides a critical case study of the perceptions of eight early childhood and elementary teachers (representing 3 elementary schools and 4 post secondary institutions in Alabama). This study examines literature surrounding African American language development, and places an emphasis on teachers' perceptions of their professional preparation in Alabama colleges and universities, within the last decade, to teach African American students who speak African American Language - a language variety used by and characteristic of African American children in southeastern Alabama.
Recommended Citation
Curry, Aubretta P., "We Don't Talk Like Dat! Perceptions of Preparedness to Teach Language Diverse Students" (2009). All ETDs from UAB. 1450.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/1450