Week 4: Language and Identity: Social Distance

I really enjoyed this week's readings and instantly made many connections to my life and my experiences. In Norton's first article, Social Identity, Investment, and Language Learning, she describes social distance. Simply put, it is the distance between a language learner and the social practice of the language. If someone were to study a language from vocab lists and text books, their fluency would not be as well developed as a student who has participated in social practices of the target language. I immediately thought about studying abroad in Spain and the differences between the students who went out and practiced their Spanish every chance they could- at the markets, stores, restaurants, exchanges, etc.- and students who refused to practice with anyone. Now that we have returned, those students who practiced are able to use their Spanish confidently and fluently while the other students have more difficulty speaking in Spanish. Another connection I made to the readings this week was in the investment each learner had to learning the target language and the rejections they encountered. In the article, Eva felt rejected because of her accent and that set her back. As a language student I understand that accents are difficult to develop through (I hate using the words 'get rid off'). I feel that as teachers we must create a safe environment so that students feel comfortable enough to practice English without fear.
In the second article, Language and Identity, there are different ideas on how to incorporate different activities into the classroom, such as videos, creative writing, drawing, photography, or drama. As an education major we are taught in different teaching courses about the effectiveness of these activities. They allow the students to use their creativity and apply what they have learned to things that interest them. This also gives them the opportunity to discover and further develop their identity. This reminded me of the first assignment we had in this class. I liked it because it made me analyze the importance of language learning in my life and gave me a clear perspective of why I was studying TESOL. I think that this will further motivate students and in return they will have a greater and in depth investment in learning the language.