Kirk Hazen currently offers the following talk as part of the English Department Speakers program:
“Talkin’ the Talk: Language in the Schools”
Parents and teachers have been concerned about teaching English for years, and as the recent Ebonics debate showed, it is a hot topic. But if no one argues about teaching physics, why would they argue about teaching English? This lecture explores that question and reveals the basic facts about language in a tour of English dialects in the South, including the Appalachian mountains and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
“Dialect Awareness Program”
Dialects are one of the most misunderstood human features in our modern times. This talk leads students and teachers through the systematic patterning of dialects and their variation in both time and space.
“What Teachers Need to Know About Language”
Designed for an audience of K-12 teachers, this interactive lesson provides context for discussing what language is and what teaching English should be.
The English Department Speakers program (EDS) provides talks for a variety of audiences-high schools, civic groups, community organizations, etc.-free of charge. To obtain more information about the EDS program or to schedule a speaker, call Professor Lisa Weihman at (304) 293-9735 or e-mail her at Lisa.Weihman@mail.wvu.edu.