9/7

I found the area of the article that discusses how to approach "differences" in the classroom to be most interesting and beneficial to me. This is something that I've often thought about. What's the best way to address the differences that the students have? Are they feeling inferior compared to the people around them? This could be a very uncomfortable and sensitive area to discuss if you don't know how to go about it. I also feel like avoiding it is the wrong decision as well because it could have major affect on the students. As Pennycock stated, most of the ESL textbooks that we use today are filled with the wholesome white families that look like they should be on the back of a Kellogg's Cornflakes box. Seeing this all the time and never discussing differences would make me feel inferior as well. I thought the pedagogy of engagement approach is a smart way to bring this topic up with the students. I loved the fact that rather than just discussing issues of gender, race, class, and sexuality, it helps the students to see the background and history of it. It recognizes how people have come to be who they are. This approach seems more settling because it gives the students some knowledge about the issue. A discussion would allow the students to talk about the topic but still doesn't give them that feeling of closure and sincerity.