After having seen Macbeth (play written by Shakespeare), she tells Frank that “it wasn’t borin´, it was bleedin´great (…) it was fantastic.” Although she uses these words to express her enthusiasm, it would be improper to use them in an essay.
I think that Rita might have to distinguish what language style (I mean formal or informal) is the best to write an essay. It wouldn’t be rare to think that she may write with an informal language since she may feel that her thoughts are expressed better with that informal language style. That is, by using “her real words” (the words that she uses daily), she may be able to express herself when she saw the play.
Sometimes people tend to feel awkward when they use, wear or talk in a way that they aren’t used to. However, we should try hard if we want to be better, so that Rita should try hard to write the essay with a more sophisticated language.
When Frank and Rita talk about the play and the difference between tragedy and tragic, Frank makes Rita realize that the main character, Macbeth, can’t avoid what is going to happen, that is, his fate. Then Rita says “all them out there, they know all about that sort of thing don’t they?” I think that what she may want to say is that all those students (when she says that, she is watching through the window to the students, I guess) have another way to analyze things, a deeper one than she has. She might think that they have the “tools” that are needed to make that kind of analysis. What I wanted to say when I refer to “tools” is that they may have been “trained” to make analysis of that kind.
I feel that she might be sorry about that since she is not aware of many things yet as regards literature analysis.
I think that Rita might have to distinguish what language style (I mean formal or informal) is the best to write an essay. It wouldn’t be rare to think that she may write with an informal language since she may feel that her thoughts are expressed better with that informal language style. That is, by using “her real words” (the words that she uses daily), she may be able to express herself when she saw the play.
Sometimes people tend to feel awkward when they use, wear or talk in a way that they aren’t used to. However, we should try hard if we want to be better, so that Rita should try hard to write the essay with a more sophisticated language.
When Frank and Rita talk about the play and the difference between tragedy and tragic, Frank makes Rita realize that the main character, Macbeth, can’t avoid what is going to happen, that is, his fate. Then Rita says “all them out there, they know all about that sort of thing don’t they?” I think that what she may want to say is that all those students (when she says that, she is watching through the window to the students, I guess) have another way to analyze things, a deeper one than she has. She might think that they have the “tools” that are needed to make that kind of analysis. What I wanted to say when I refer to “tools” is that they may have been “trained” to make analysis of that kind.
I feel that she might be sorry about that since she is not aware of many things yet as regards literature analysis.
3 comments:
What a interesting discussion on the relationship between language and identity you're starting here, Lau! You say: "...people tend to feel awkward when they ...talk in a way that they aren’t used to." Not a minor point for us, teachers of a foreign language! 8-0!!!
The big question about the "tools" (as you've cleverly labelled them) that "proper students" have and Rita lacks is: how did they get them? Were the "proper students" born knowing such things? Is it true they all know "such things"?
Big hug,
Gladys
PS: I'd like to invite you to visit this page in our class wiki and comment on it: "Standard English".
I think that the tools that the “proper students” have were gotten along the process of education they have received since their early lives. This does not mean that Rita will never be able to get them and to use them, but it does mean that at the moment she is not really acquainted with them.
I don’t think that all of them know “such things”; however they may be more familiar with those tools than Rita.
Well said, Laura! For us teachers,bearing this in mind, and making sure ALL our learners get to see it is critical, I believe... We're not "born educated", and there's no true reason why some should never have the chance to get the education they want! :-P
Love,
Gladys
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