Anthropology, Language and Gender in the Classroom
Read the guidelines on p. 127 of your textbook. Can you see the dynamics of gender and language at work in your life? This week, choose one meeting of a class in which there is a fair amount of student participation and pay careful, analytical attention to the connections between gender and language in the classroom.
1. What is the class subject? How many students total? What is the class format for participation (i.e. lecture, discussion section)?
2. Keep a tally of how many times men speak and how many times women speak. Who speaks more often? Remember to take into account the proportion of men and women who are in the class.
3. How long, on average, do people speak? How many words do they use?
4. What tendencies do you notice in the way men and women present themselves when speaking? Take note of body language and style of speaking.
5. Now, turn your attention from the students to focus on the instructor. What is their role in encouraging or discouraging communication? Does the instructor’s body language or gaze affect participation? How?
6. How often does the instructor call on men or women?
7. Does the instructor’s own gender seem to influence the way they interact with members of the class? If so, how?
8. Now analyze your observations to develop a hypothesis about language and gender in the classroom.
Please make up some data and answer the questions above.
Previous answers to this question
This is a preview of an assignment submitted on our website by a student. If you need help with this question or any assignment help, click on the order button below and get started. We guarantee authentic, quality, 100% plagiarism free work or your money back.
Get The Answer