Week 11

      Out of all the readings assigned for this week, “Becoming Black: Rap and Hip-Hop, Race, Gender: Identity, and the Politics of ESL Learning” by Ibrahim stood out to me the most. The author’s explanation of how Blacks base their representation (culturally and linguistically) on pop culture (and in this case-especially rap). The author continues to describe how the effect of pop culture also helps them form an identity. Pop culture not only influences this certain group, but many others who change the way they dress, talk, act, and more. Ibrahim suggests that since learning takes place within the curriculum sites of rap and hip-hop, then using these popular culture contents while teaching will help us as teachers to have our students be more invested in learning and help them become more engaged in these identities.  I believe as teachers it is in our best interest and our student’s best interest to adapt to any certain change that might help them along the learning process, and if utilizing rap in a lesson plans is what it will take to help them then so be it.

“Race and TESOL: Introduction to Concepts and Theories” by Kubota and Lin focused on the difference between some well-known terms: race, ethnicity, culture and identity, but also states how there is no specific definition of what each one is and how they define us as a person.  This relates back to what we have been learning in class since day one when Dr. Seloni had us write out our own definition of culture.

            “Cultural Stereotypes” by Kumar focused on stereotypes in relation to the Asian population and why people may think these stereotypes. As future TESOL teachers, this was a great article to read because it advises us to be aware of these student’s in our classroom so that we can help them learn in a classroom setting.