Please help me to help a friend

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

TBB - 21 Apr 2006 21:33 GMT

A friend of mine has approached me for help. She has to complete an
essay based around the following:

'Produce a commentary which shows how context and social/cultural
factors influence language and literacy learning and development.'

I've jotted a few ideas of my own down as to what I think her tutor
wants, but I'd be grateful for anyone else's comments or thoughts in
order to give her a fuller explanation.

How would you tackle the above?

Many thanks

Tommy

Reply to this Message

John of Aix - 21 Apr 2006 22:37 GMT

> A friend of mine has approached me for help. She has to complete an
> essay based around the following:
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> How would you tackle the above?

Well the question is a bit vague don't you think? Socio-cultural
factors means what? If one is 'working class' and has a poor education
and little support or correction from parents then, of course, one's
linguistic skills are likely to be inferior to someone with a good
education and parents who are capable of correcting a child's language
errors. Personally my parents, while not well educated but nevertheless
intelligent, helped me speak and write good English but my
contemporaries, my friends, tended not to be of this mind, used lots of
slang and had a 'London' accent' which I picked up. While this didn't
show in my written language, it certanly had an influence in the spoken.
In that then socio-cultural influences certainly had an effect on both
sides.

Reply to this Message

TBB - 22 Apr 2006 08:41 GMT

Thanks for your reply, John. I agree that the question is vague;
that's why I posted here.

I also considered the education/support angle - and explained it to my
friend in much the same way you did. However, it's the word 'context'
that stands out in the question for me. I know what the word means,
but in refence to what in this case? It's a poorly written question to
my mind.

Thanks again.

TBB

Reply to this Message

John of Aix - 22 Apr 2006 14:05 GMT

> Thanks for your reply, John. I agree that the question is vague;
> that's why I posted here.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> but in refence to what in this case? It's a poorly written question
> to my mind.

I agree, it is poorly written as 'context' could mean exactly the same
as socio-cultural factors couldn't it. You're in a poor environment,
that is a context just as it is a socio-cultural factor I would say.

It must mean something else though as you suggest. Perhaps it means
context in the sense of what language, words and styles one picks up in
different situations when a child. With friends of same age at play,
with parents, in a group in school, a large one or a small one. So
context in the sense of where a child finds itself during the period
when it is learning language, the people it is mixed with on a day to
day level rather than it basic social situation.

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / British English / April 2006

Please help me to help a friend