Exploring Language and Identity: Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” and Beyond

Subject:

Humanities, Social Sciences

Institution Name:

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

Collection:

ReadWriteThink

Grade Level:

Secondary

Abstract:

In the essay “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan explains that she “began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with.” How these “different Englishes” or even a language other than English contribute to identity is a crucial issue for adolescents.

In this lesson, students explore this issue by brainstorming the different languages they use in speaking and writing, and when and where these languages are appropriate. They write in their journals about a time when someone made an assumption about them based on their use of language, and share their writing with the class. Students then read and discuss Amy Tan's essay “Mother Tongue.” Finally, they write a literacy narrative describing two different languages they use and when and where they use these languages.

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Assessments, Homework and Assignments, Lesson Plans, Readings

Media Format:

Text/HTML, Downloadable docs, Interactive

Conditions of Use:

Read the fine print

Copyright Holder:

International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English