DEVELOPING TWO-WAY
BIDIALECTAL EDUCATION
HANDOUT - THE STUDENT WRITING SAMPLES
A teacher has brought the following two examples of writing to you, asking for help in getting the students to write in Standard English. What advice would you give the teacher about her students' writing and use of language in general?
Example 1:
On the weekend we all went out buch. We went hunting for frogs and ganna. After that we come back. We seen big mob emu of too. We seen one emu was standing nex to that nest.
Me and my brother Carl chased im but he runned away. Dad an uncle kevin took them eggs then we bring em back cook em and ate em.
(Written by an Aboriginal student)
Example 2:
Last weekend we went to the footy We saw the Eagles plays Essingden. We was lucky cos it rained but we didnt' get wet or nothing On the way home we got a video and red Ruster. The hot chips was real good.
(Written by a non-Aboriginal student)
