Double Journal Entry 8

Situated Language and Learning: A Critique of Traditional schooling
Introduction

1. What is the main challenge being addressed in the book?
     The main challenge being addressed in the book is the ways in which people learn and the language that surrounds learning for people. People are intimidated by different things some find school easy and their thing, but others find it unnerving and a "black hole" as the author describes.

2. What does the author mean by the phrase "ways with words"?

     "Ways with words," in this introduction seems to mean that people understand. People have a way with words that helps them to feel comfortable academically with what is being presented to them.

3. What is the core argument being made by the author of this book?

    The core argument being presented in this book to me are that people can learn but everyone is different. Each and every person has something they fully understand and feel comfortable with; if we can use this to help academically then success may be more easily achieved.

4. Give an example of a specialized variety of a language or "way with words" you have learned outside of school?

     I am a ghost hunter outside of my academics. In the hobby I have had to learn the language of ghost hunting. Entities, K2 meters, spirit boxes, mel vibes, all the technology, all the jargon, all the terminology. The trade is not all about running around in the dark; it takes on a scientific aura and requires language and study.

5. According to the author, how do people learn a specialized variety of a language or "way with words" best?

    People learn variety of language or "way of words" by finding something that are good at and using that as a tool to learn and make language less intimidating for the learner.

6. If people are to be successful in the 21st century, what must they become?

   To be successful in the 21st century one must become accustomed to the use of technology in learning and the language that surrounds this technology.

7. The author states that  learning academic language is NOT sufficient for success in modern society? Do you agree? Why or Why not?

     I agree, yet disagree. Some people have a built in understanding of the things that they read no matter what it is. Some people, like me, have a hard time understanding the things I read because of attention span or other reason; to me I feel that I would need to know academic language if I was reading a textbook in order to take information from the author. Another argument for the author is that the way teachers are teaching more and more often now (hands on and such) the focus is learning language through experience.

8. What do you think about this author's "way with words"?

    I like the author's writing style, he is academic and professional yet he writes so that everyone can understand what he is talking about. I feel that he is writing for example. He writes to explain what he is talking about, and writes in the way that he is talking about.