Because there is still such a strong sense of prejudice within the education system, specifically minority students are able to recognize the unfair advantages other students have because of their upbringings. As a result, students have begun utilizing code-switching within the classroom. Implicit bias is a mental state of mind that is commonly not recognized, as that individual does not see their wrongdoings. It is extremely hard to recognize if one is classified as being implicitly biased because it is not necessarily an action; but more of a mental state of mind.
Because of this unruly bias, it causes the effect of certain demographics feeling the need to alter themselves; which can also be labeled as code-switching. Explained by the Britannica, code-switching is, “the process of shifting from one linguistic code (a language or dialect) to another, depending on the social context or conversational setting (…) particularly by members of minority ethnic groups, is used to shape and maintain a sense of identity and a sense of belonging to a larger community.” As an individual who has personally benefited from code-switching, it is a unique tool that is oftentimes not even recognized that it is being done because it can come naturally to certain people. The cultural start of code-switching was adapted over time, as it was originally used in the lives of many African American slaves in order to form a sort of communicate between one another where the dialect could be private. As slaves were often punished, beaten and threatened if caught using another langue by a white superior, code-switching helped manipulate this system.
Discussed through a research journal written by Simasiku Liswani, his research disclosed that “Five [educators] felt that Code Switching had positive effects on learners’ academic achievements. They argued that code-switching enhanced learners’ learning of the English language, improved the way learners answered questions and that it enhanced teaching and learning.” This is a popular belief among most educators who have influence over minority students learning because they fall under the assumption that if all students were to speak the same way, they all will have the same opportunities in their future. In contrast to that more optimistic mindset, another teacher in the sample argued “That learners might carry over Code Switching into their writing, and that Code Switching would lead to poor English proficiency, poor expression and poor command of the English language both spoken and written”.
By allowing students to be authentically themselves within the classroom – a setting where they spend a majority of their academic careers – will ultimately further advance them in their future. This allows for the students to fully focus on their academics without having to worry about transitioning between dialects to fit into a certain standard. Allowing students to be themselves goes towards two different perspectives: students should not need to change their dialect towards their teachers and administrators throughout the school day and students should not have to change the language in which they communicate as long as they are able to effectively reach their point and be understood. The evolution of code-switching and the mere presence of it itself has been brought to more public attention within society. It is essential to focus on code-switching as it will also allow for a broader range of education to be taught in the school systems. Therefore, the only way to ensure that the problem of code-switching within our classrooms is addressed is to actively start calling out our peers when it is detected.
Professionalism within the workplace offers a different perspective other than just the school system. Mentioned by Ida Harris in her essay, “For African Americans, code-switching is a performative expression that has not only helped some of us thrive in mainstream culture, it has helped many of us simply survive.” There is a specific way to “perform” while working in corporate America and other career fields that have a desired look and profile. America’s schooling system has been subconsciously helping prepare Black students to have the ability to succeed in their career in terms of professionalism based on society’s accepted definition of “professional.”
While it is essential for students to be able to learn, analyze and speak in Standard American English, it is just as essential for them to be able to integrate their native way of speaking in the classroom as well. A prime example that was used within this essay is from a speech by BarackObama. The essay discusses how the former President was criticized for trying to integrate the use of African American ventricular English , also known as “AAVE”, into dialogue while at public speaking events to connect with his Black voters. However, the essay further discusses how that was not an act for publicity. It is commonly forgotten that Standard American English is not the only form of communication between peers; those “slip ups” that people judged Barack Obama to have, were factually just a part of his normal use in dialect.
Students of a minority demographic start to not feel adequate enough as they are expected to switch roles and demeanor throughout the day. These adaptations are put on as soon as they leave a place where they are comfortable and this is where the habit of code-meshing occurs. Similar to code-switching, code meshing is a more proper term because it allows for two different forms of communication to be used at once and is seen as proper. Code-switching can be hard for students to adapt to as it is mentally draining switching between two almost like personas.
Code-switching has been implemented in the lives of a substantial number of individuals. As it is a concept that has been used throughout history by different demographics, code-switching is seen differently by everyone. As code-switching originated as a tactic to communicate between enslaved Black people who wanted to remain in a private conversation from their masters, this tradition can be seen in present-day society as a wide majority of people have adapted it in their lives. The conversation on code-switching has been highly popular as it is being seen more in the public. Primarily within the classroom, code-switching is now a challenge that many students struggle with as it can interfere by forcing a specific identity on someone that does not belong within a certain category.