At first thought, the pronunciation of someone's name might seem unimportant, but it can actually make a long-lasting impact on a person beyond that. A professional educator sets a good role model for their students that is reflected in their kind classroom environment. If a teacher prioritizes an effort to correctly pronounce a student’s name, then the students' fellow peers will follow with correctly voicing their name. Most members of this club have experienced the feelings of embarrassment or confusion associated with the mispronunciation of their name even though they should not as each name represents a part of the student’s identity through their cultures and history. If a teacher continuously mispronounces a student's name beyond the first couple of weeks of school, this can be alarming to the student as it may signal the message to them that they do not like the student and that the educator will show unfair bias towards them. It is uncomfortable and embarrassing for the student to feel singled out, and it makes them feel different than everyone else in the class. Also when it happens disproportionately to people of color, it further strengthens the divide within the classroom itself. We understand it is inevitable that names will be mispronounced, but there are certain actions teachers and also students can take to help improve the situation. To prevent sending the wrong message, do not be afraid to ask if you're not sure of how to say a name! If you’re not sure how to pronounce the name, don’t try and pronounce it multiple ways hoping one will be right. Ask the student how to say their name and put extra effort in to remember it. They will be extremely appreciative of you doing this for them. Showing that you make an effort can positively impact the student by showing respect until you can correctly pronounce their name. After all, all students should have a positive experience at school and feel equally valued. Comments are closed.
|
Here you can find the latest information about holidays Masco celebrates, events we're planning, organizations we're supporting, and so much more!
Archives
October 2021
Categories |