NO Such Thing As Broken English: Harvard Project Teach 📚🍎

NO Such Thing As Broken English: Harvard Project Teach 📚🍎 #weoutchea #gullah #geechee #words #language #linguistics #linguicism #teach #future ##education sunnmcheaux.com weoutcheamerch.com

[@saronzewdie7194]

It takes a sever level of desperation to convince yourself of your superiority, to say that “my mouth sounds are better than your mouth sounds”

[@b_dodders7902]

Well since language is tied so closely to people and society what they *really* want to say is “my people are better than your people” but they realise how bad that sounds so have to disguise by criticising the “language”, “culture” or “religion” instead.

[@katrinaenjoylife8868]

THAT PART. 😮

[@akabga]

*severe

[@cosmoblvck-h43]

@@akabgathis reeks of irony

[@tyghe_bright]

I once ran a kitchen in Prague. I spoke what I call "kitchen Czech"--the way a lot of immigrants here speak "kitchen English". That is, enough to get by. Mostly practical, focused on directions and food/cooking words. I had a staff that, as well as several native English and Czech speakers, included a German who spoke some English, a Polish man who spoke a little Russian but little Czech and no English, a Ukrainian who spoke fluent Russian and some Czech, and a Guinean who spoke French, Russian, Arabic, and multiple vernacular Guinean languages but little Czech and no English. In other words, I had no common language, other than a few words, with half my staff. And yet, we managed to run an efficient and excellent kitchen. People can communicate quite well without shared words.

[@purpleness64]

The cheer from the class is amazing

[@yugoxgc]

The most important lesson about learning a language that I learned in English speaking classes in college. The number one thing you must focus on when speaking is COMMUNICATION. Being always "correct" doesn't matter when you're starting. Speak slow, speak badly, speak "wrong", make mistakes, but KEEP SPEAKING. The number 1 mistake ppl make when learning a new language is focusing on being correct when speaking. Nothing will stunt your progress more. If you're too hung up on saying things correctly the way you want. You get a word wrong or it slips your mind & its over. You're just stuck quiet. However if you keep speaking & dont cling tightly to one "proper way" to say what you want to say, you learn to talk pass & around your slip. Use simpler words. Mess the structure a bit. In time as you still communicate you get better with speaking. That doesn't happen when you stop talking the moment a single word is off or slips your mind.

[@yugoxgc]

@@lysanamcmillan7972 True but my point stands mainly on when you're starting & learning to speak early on.

[@L.I.A.M_DispatchCMD]

We define the system. Stay Unbroken Weoutcha ❤!!

[@MrEasyNah]

Wonder what lil' bit's question was.

[@sunnmcheaux]

He asked about the subject verb agreement rules of Gullah/Geechee grammar.

[@tondriasanders6306]

Thank you, I was wondering too 😊

[@laurajarrell6187]

Sunn, great class! Language, to me, is ever changing, evolving, fluid, and can be personal, all the way to universal. I love accents, too. I was always amazed at how small children from different languages, before they've learned biases and such, can communicate with each other so quickly. We all, living beings, use much more than words or voices to communicate. 👍💙💙💙🥰✌

[@IOSALive]

Sunn m'Cheaux, Subscribed because your content is fantastic!

[@RamenNoodle1985]

Omg I just looked up Project Teach and there you are!

[@RandomNPC15]

I love this. I used to teach ESL, I despise the term broken english.

[@misslady0075]

Wicked!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤, and beautiful to hear the students cheering and laughing to what seem to be a great teacher. We need more like the gentleman teacher. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@thelegalsystem]

Absolutely agree, language should adjust to meet the needs of communication, not the other way around!

[@MegaCassie83]

Code switching has been such a big part in our diasporas BIPOC and seeing your vids I always love sharing them.

[@yuncelluz8709]

Understood!

[@eddiehauser6661]

I LOVE THIS MESSAGE and wish more educators would take it to heart. I teach HS English, but I tell my students on the first day that I don't want them to think of this as "English" class, I would prefer they view it as "Language/Communication Arts". I stress that the only thing that makes language good or bad is how effectively it accomplishes the intended goal. I tell them being a good speaker/writer is about understanding your goal and audience and having the knowledge/tools/abilities to achieve that goal with that audience. I really enjoy all the content I have seen on your channel, and would be curious to hear a slightly more in depth opinion on this topic. I am still new to the teaching profession (3-4 years in the field), and I still find myself going back and forth in terms of different approaches to the idea of SWE. In the classroom, I want my students to be able to speak as freely as possible, and in whatever way they feel they can express their ideas the most naturally and effectively, but at the same time, I want them to be equipped to deal with the world outside of our classroom. Right now, I take the approach of encouraging them to speak in any way they choose in classroom conversation, and certain written assignments, and never "correct" them when doing so, but at the same time try to teach them the rules of SWE and have certain assignments where I do hold them to those standards. I'd be curious to hear any thoughts you (or anyone else) have on the topic?

[@HealingIfe]

Thank you for debunking oppressive social constructs ❤🙏🏾

[@19tet]

yall should read this guys arguments and debates in comment sections. once he went from chinese food to aldi to calling someone a "jack**s" (word for word) 😂 so entertaining!

[@jeannettelee2806]

What is the matter with the students they are so antsy and unfocuses. In 10 years they will realize they had a GEM in their presence.

[@sunnmcheaux]

They weren't unfocused. They were very attentive, engaged, and asked lots of really intelligent, clever questions. This clip is only the last 60 seconds of an hour long class when they were heading out, but I stopped them to say one last thing. Kids who don't appreciate your presentation don't typically give you a round of applause when you're done. 😉 Thanks, though!

[@mimsydreams]

As I dive deeper and deeper into my love of etymology, I'm less and less a stickler of words being "right or wrong". Almost every modern word today comes from a long line of misspellings and mispronounciations the original words. I.e. Someone misspelled a word which led to others misspelling it and then everyone just accepted it as correct. Anyways... If others can understand the point you're trying to get across, then you're communicating effectively. Anything else is extra razzle dazzle that isn't always necessary! ✌🏾

[@teresaabrown8077]

Well said Professor. And Understand. 👍 ✌ ❤ 🙏

[@Juicycouturebubblegumwhore]

I want to learn this language ❤

[@papi_sativa]

Lol at making the white children say "Outchea"

[@FujishimaAkiko]

I know it's not much, but I hope it pays for your next bag of Poppycock Popcorn! Much love, from Massachusetts! 💖✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 #weoutchea

[@DaughterofDiogenes]

I am AuDHD and is my son. We come up with new words and phrases that make sense to us and it doesn’t matter if anyone else can ❤❤

[@courtneyglasco2713]

🙏❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💙💚💛🧡❤️🙏

[@TdT2211]

Those kids are so lucky. 😊

[@nataliemoraes2033]

They're being taught to not speak proper English

[@isieboo6486]

I, sure, need a friend like you❤

[@TheHappynstuff]

Absolutely love this

[@sandraodell610]

Thank you.

[@amyoung101]

I hope that kid with his hand up got called on 🥰

[@sunnmcheaux]

Of course

[@uoughta923]

WHAT WAS THAT KIDS QUESTION

[@1mishee]

Good 1,Sunn! I think English ish broken already 😂

[@Lawni]

Man, that poor kid in the back just wanted a high five, and you left him hanging, Sunn. Rude.

[@sunnmcheaux]

😂 Usually, my audiences wait until a Q&A at the end of my talks to ask questions, but I encourage younger students to hold their hand up whenever a question comes to mind while I'm talking because I know they often forget if they were made to wait too long. Those kids asked some super interesting questions! Might post a few later.

[@RamenNoodle1985]

​@@sunnmcheauxyes please!

[@themightierpencil]

@@sunnmcheaux Oh yes please, I would love to know their thoughts and how you navigate them.

[@Lawni]

@@sunnmcheaux That really does sound interesting. I third the request.

[@FujishimaAkiko]

@@sunnmcheaux Oh please do! I was really curious to what they had to ask and say! Our youth has so much to learn from us, but we also have so much to learn from them! 💖

[@makeitmakesense2616]

Great lesson, but its sad you too have to code switch Its exhausting and unfair Much respect to you But the system is broken when someone as yourself with so much education still has to participate in code switching I do it too. And its unfair

[@sunnmcheaux]

I don't "have to." I choose to. Aside from being a polyglot myself, these are mostly ESL students who speak various different languages among them. So, speaking strictly Gullah to them the whole time would lose many of them who are still learning English.

[@pietrycranberry6621]

​@@sunnmcheauxoutside of Gullah and English, what other languages do you speak? Or were you just referring to both of those languages?

[@jessicasurber9007]

Yes, there is such thing as Broken English. The term ‘Broken English’ refers to English that has been broken by an uncommon phonetic or lack of the users understanding of the language’s grammatical rules. Your argument should be that there’s nothing wrong with Broken English, not that it doesn’t exist. It does exist, and in literature it’s a term that helps establish character backgrounds and bridge commonality between an audience and a character. Stop trying to police language and erase meanings. Broken English exists, and it is beautiful. Trying to erase a descriptive term because it offends you is dumb. That’s like trying to erase the term ‘shortie’ because the tall women in your life find it offensive and not inclusive enough.

[@MishasMama]

Girl bye

[@atlnla4112]

True…BUT; to communicate effectively, you have to be understood. If the person you’re speaking to doesn’t understand your word choice, pronunciation, or context it may cause problems.

[@sunnmcheaux]

How is this a "but?" I acknowledged that language systems exist, and communicating effectively is subjective, especially when it could be a comprehension issue on the receiving end, not a failure to effectively communicate on the part of the speaker. Still doesn't change anything I said.

[@atlnla4112]

@@sunnmcheaux My take-away is that you want them to not feel bad if their way of speaking is not the same or indicative of “proper” English. My viewpoint is from that of a speaker communicating with others that have comprehension issues on the receiving end. The communicator may have to or it’s helpful if they can modify, clarify or choose different words to express themselves. Looking at the cultural diversity of the students in the video, if English is their 2nd or 3rd language, and they don’t fully understand you, do you modify or say it’s on them to adjust? Do you speak on campus and in your classes the same way you would in the Carolina’s?

[@MishasMama]

​@@atlnla4112you looked at the back of students heads in the video and made an assumption about English being their primary language. Why is your question even valid? He was there with them teaching and speaking standard English. You made up a whole scenario so that you could argue a point. He knows what he is doing and how to do it.

[@atlnla4112]

@@MishasMama I did not make an assumption. I used the word “if” which then makes it a hypothetical. In which the question was raised, is it on the communicator to speak in a way that is understood, or the listener to just figure it out as the speak uses any word choice he or she pleases. I get his point, but as a world traveler I’ve also found it can be necessary to speak more of a “standard” English rather than colloquially or using vernacular. Basically, speech patterns can and should sometimes depend on the audience or listener.

[@MishasMama]

@@atlnla4112 you did make an assumption about the students. You referenced the "cultural diversity" of the class, as "if" English speaking Americans are not Black or brown. But he addressed communicating within structures about 30 seconds into the video

[@Volundur9567]

When the 🙋🏻 kid raised his hand, I got flashbacks. Please don't hold your hand like that. Great lesson, Professor! Keep teachin' 'em!

[@melaniehandschuh4222]

??? Why? Isn´t it the right way to show that you have a question?

[@sunnmcheaux]

I told the kids to hold their hands up whenever a question or comment came to mind, and I would call on them once I competed my thought.

[@heathertea2704]

Only idiots enjoy putting others on front street regarding their Speech. If you understood, Move around.

[@nataliemoraes2033]

This makes zero sense. Kids go to school to learn proper grammar and proper english, otherwise you look stupid, dumb nor educated. I get it that one doesn't need to be formal when speaking with friends, but I would think when speaking outside of your circle, it's important. I am confused.

[@sunnmcheaux]

You're making a fool of yourself... Don't make me dogwalk you. Shush.

[@nataliemoraes2033]

@@sunnmcheaux because I am questioning what you're teaching kids? Who's really being the fool?

[@adamrussell658]

Its broken if people dont understand you because you arent using standard english. Just like if a coder messes up his syntax and his program wont run. Its broken. OTOH if your audience understands then its not an issue. Respect your audience.

[@sunnmcheaux]

No, it's not broken if people don't understand. That makes literally zero logical sense. By that logic, all other languages that a monolingual person doesn't understand are all broken. Think.

[@SylviaRustyFae]

've u evr considrd u cn jst ax if ya dnt gt wut sd? Confused by a word i said? Just ask! We have our mouth sounds and our hand motions n our other methods of havin convos to clarify things when sumone doesnt get the way we spk or the words weve writ No one needs a single way of communicatin labeled the correct one; nor shud all others be labeled broken for failin to meet some arbirrary sdandrd U get me? Even wif some typos u still get me; if u dont, just ask. Thats how convos work, thats how words work; thats how this whole exchange of any info btwn humans works!

[@SylviaRustyFae]

We arent simple machines unable to parse anythin but that sent the write way

[@denyshadials5702]

Knowing one code doesn’t make the rest of them ‘broken’. It makes you limited.

[@ThatAutisticBlackMan]

love love love love this Brother!!!

[@OaklandMind]

Language liberation! None superior! All meant to bring us closer to whomever we are attempting to connect with via communication! 🤎🤎🤎👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Related to the blackboard btw; i absolutely love that That S is still around and bein writ by the youth of today; may it nvr go out of use

[@FujishimaAkiko]

Yas! That takes me back to the 90s so hard!