Should Pidgin Be Taught In Schools

The quote I have chosen is from the sixth passage, “Pidgin in School. ” In this passage, the author reasons that “Children do best at school when they are able to make use of their home language and culture. A basic and well-established educational principle is to build on the strengths that children come to school with.” The author is pointing out that if a child’s first language is Pidgin, they will better understand the content that is being taught if they are allowed to use Pidgin. This is because the synapses in the brain form in the context of Pidgin, so new synapses will form faster when the information is presented in Pidgin as well. If the new information is presented in American Standard English, then the brain will have to translate the new information into Pidgin which may cause the students to miss some information since the information takes longer to process.

If students are allowed to use both American Standard English and Pidgin in the classroom, they will use more brain power and improve their cognitive functions. Students are able to learn most effectively when they are allowed to use Pidgin and when their language is treated with respect.

Taking all this into account, the author is indicated that it could be more harmful to ban pidgin

and only allow Standard American English. It is our responsibility as educators to use a teaching method that will help students to learn, usually by taking into account their strengths and incorporating them into the classroom learning style.
Part 2: Reflection
I agree with some parts of the article, but not all. I agree that all languages should be accepted, there are social advantages to knowing Pidgin. I also agree that Pidgin and English can coexist, and, to a certain extent, students should be prevented from using Pidgin where it works in the learning process.
Pidgin is considered a language and languages are an integral part of any culture. People use their language to express who they are, so I believe a class should be creative, and let students express their individuality, rather than conforming to the standard ways of learning.
As the author stated, “many wear it as a badge of honor which gives a sense of identity and sets locals apart from people from the mainland and elsewhere. ” There is a certain pride in this individuality, and camaraderie of the locals. However, I believe that nearly every point the author stated can be looked at from a different perspective. School should be a place where all can learn equally. Foreigners, particularly ELLs, will likely not understand Pidgin. American English is usually understood by both locals and foreigners of the islands; Pidgin is mostly only understood by the locals. Foreigners may not understand the classroom discussions or directions if they are spoken in Pidgin. Neglecting some students just so others can feel relaxed and at ease isn’t right.
I moved to Hawaii when I was twelve, and one of my first teachers here spoke Pidgin in his classroom. He was very laid back, typically wearing Hawaiian shirts, board shorts, and flip-flops to class. I had never heard Pidgin before, so when I entered the class, half the time, I had no idea what he was saying. Furthermore, he wanted to be the students’ friend, rather than their teacher, so the classroom could become rowdy due to the lack of discipline. I believe he tried too hard to make the class fun, rather than informative, so I didn’t learn much from him.
I’m not entirely convinced that mainlanders will view Pidgin as a professional language. Unlike Hawaii, in the mainland Pidgin is not an effective method of communication. Not all locals will spend their whole lives in Hawaii, so teachers need to prepare students for the reality that not everyone will accept Pidgin. If someone goes into an interview in the mainland speaking Pidgin, as unfair as it might seem, the employer will likely not be impressed. School is meant to prepare people for the real world and life in the workforce. Despite President Barack Obama being from Hawaii, we don’t see him speaking Pidgin, and there is a reason for that.
I had never heard of Pidgin before moving to Hawaii, so although it may be getting more prevalent, it certainly isn’t common. If you mention Pidgin in the mainland, people will likely think of the bird.
Pidgin is fine in Hawaii. I’m certainly not arguing that Standard English is the best language. It isn’t. However, English, Spanish, Chinese, etc. are widely spoken. Pidgin isn’t. As insulting as this will likely seem, a dramatic comparison to Pidgin is Klingon. Klingon is spoken by hundreds of thousands, but it is not as respected as most other languages.
It is best if students can switch gears between Pidgin and American English. Students need to understand when it is appropriate to use Pidgin, and when it is appropriate to use Standard English. There’s a time and a place for everything.
The use of Pidgin in the classroom also depends on the subject, students’ ages, and the community. If the students are from an area where Pidgin is the primary language, I can understand using a lot of Pidgin in the classroom, especially if the students are children and are only familiar with Pidgin. Pidgin would also fit in a Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language class. However, in high school or college, I think students should become accustomed to using American Standard English. If they want to “talk story” during free time, that’s all well and good, but I think during formal lessons, it should be kept minimal.
Diversity and individuality are good, but there is a different side to everything. It was quite a biased article. This author did an effective job and pointing out the positive aspects of Pidgin, but neglected to point out the negatives.
Based on what I have written, it may seem that I am completely against the language of Pidgin, but that is not true. As I stated at the beginning, there are benefits of knowing Pidgin and Standard English. Furthermore, no matter what the circumstances, no one should insult or degrade somebody based on how they speak. By trashing someone’s language, you are trashing part of their self-identity. This will likely affect their self-esteem and desire to learn. We should not be ashamed of our cultural history but celebrate our diverse culture. However, my point is that we should teach children in the way that suits them, but also meets the needs of the diverse students in the classroom, and keep a realistic mindset. We can be proud of our culture, but we must be careful not to let our pride affect our teaching too much.
Part 3: Practical Application
This relates to my own practice because I intend to become an ESL teacher. I will have to learn how to balance English and the students’ native language for the most effective learning. I’ve had language teachers that tried to make their students speak only the language being learned, and no English. Not only did this usually not take, but it was also irritating. In my own classroom, I would permit the students’ native language and English.
When in my own classroom, I will let someone express themselves in the way they are most comfortable, but guide them towards the desired form of speaking.

For example, if one of my students said: “Toire o okari shitemo iidesu ka?” I might ask them if they know how to say that in English (if it is not an emergency). If not, I’ll just tell them, and have them repeat after me “May I go to the restroom? ” If they struggle, I’ll let them go and thank them for trying. If they are able, praise them and tell them that they may go. Or, in America, if a student wants to say something but does not use American Standard English, I’ll allow them to talk freely. I may need to ask for clarification after they are done,

though.
I believe that is important to keep the class fair for everyone. If one student is lost because of the way we are speaking, switch to a more conventional method of speaking.
Furthermore, it is important to never degrade or insult someone on their language skills. Even if done in a playful teasing manner, it could really damage students’ self-esteem.