Teaching with a Twist: Embracing Appalachian (and Other) Dialects—Y’all Ready for This?

Abstract

Situated within the Appalachian region, I celebrate dialect diversity within the courses I teach. Appalachian English, a recognized marginalized language variety, is my own dialectical heritage and that of my students. As such, I reinforce the notion that home languages, i.e., dialects, have a place in English language arts instruction in a direct, not peripheral, manner. To build students up in their use of their home languages, to help children see the value in native speech patterns, and to know that no single voice can represent an entire region, engaging in language and culture studies that reinforce the dialect and region in a positive manner is a must. Focusing on books that promote the Appalachian area and people group in a way that is free of stereotypes is central to supporting the acceptance of this marginalized language variety. Additionally, including intentional activities that highlight the richness of language serves to celebrate students’ voices and cultural histories.