Understanding Linguistic Diversity

To follow through on our commitment to linguistic justice, the Farnham Writers’ Center has organized and participated in several events to open up discussion on these issues. Here are a few of the handouts and activities we have used in the past.

Here are some further resources on the topic that might be helpful for more in-depth information.

Inviting the Mother Tongue: Beyond “Mistakes”, “Bad English”, and “Wrong Language”

Students’ Right to Their Own Language

Foundational Theories on Racism, Rhetoric, Language, and Pedagogy

Should Writers Use They Own English?

Individualism, Academic Writing, and ESL Writers

The Standard Language Myth

Managing the Complexity of Revising Across Languages

Cultural Thought Patterns in Inter-cultural Education

Tutees’ Testimonials

“The tutor I usually work with is always so helpful and encouraging! He really boosts my confidence in writing.” (Spring 2021)

“It was great to get an extra set of eyes. I realized that a lot of what I had written was unclear with insufficient context for someone not in the class!” (Spring 2022)

“Everything about this session was valuable to me. I had a lot of trouble trying to place my ideas into the paper. The tutor really helped me reach a clearer mindset in the midst of brainstorming for the paper.” (Spring 2021)

“I felt comfortable to ask any questions I had, but I also didn’t feel pressured to ask any questions. I loved discussing my writing with my tutor and talking through the ideas that I incorporated into my essay.” (Spring 2022)