Culture Difference - Culture Deficit

     Fox News and Black English - Ebonics, a video that describes a culture deficit perspective (a view that individuals from some culture groups lack the ability to achieve just because of their cultural background.
     Gerrard McClendon, author of "AX-ask, The African American Guide to Better English"; believes that having skill with language will help students be accepted professionally.
He believes that African Americans are a subculture that passes on poor language skills.  
     Mr. McClendon teaches students to use Standard English.  He believes that if students learn Standard English they will have a better chance in life.


     What Matters- Code Switching: Communication that Matters, describes a culture difference perspective ( in which group culture differences create certain boundaries in learning). The video primarily focused on the African American Vernacular English and Standard English, and described language has having different purposes.  
     Standard English is determined by the powerful and prestigious; and when learning Standard English it changes our identities as well as attitudes.  
     The video pointed out that correcting ones language does not work, but that real teaching is teaching the student how to get from one place to the next (code switching).  And to learn to speak Standard English one should start with writing, because it allows the student to practice and make changes.   It was also determined that using Standard English (Proper Business English), students test scores improved.