Blog #4.2 Question: As composition teachers, how should we understand and deal with the complex issue of “Standard English”?  How should we understand and deal with the complex issue of bilingualism?  How should we understand deal with the complex issue of “Non-native speakers”? 

If we present "Standard English" as a dialect, and help students to see that it is a dialect like any other (for example, the dialects of students in the room), students can see that it is just one tool of many (like obtaining a BA) that gives a student empowerment and agency. Rather than seeing Standard English, or any other dialect, as oppressive, speaking about the concept of dialect, opening all dialects up to study and putting a cultural studies spin on our lessons can make the use and understanding of Standard English less daunting for dialect speakers as well as bilinguals and non-native speakers.