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Language Bias in Standardized Testing

This document questions whether all students speak the same language and discusses the potential biases in standardized assessments. It argues that standardized tests are often written in the language of white middle-class males and do not account for the different dialects and languages spoken by students from various cultural backgrounds. As a result, these assessments may put minority students at a disadvantage and value some forms of English over others. The document suggests students should not have to abandon their cultural heritage and native language to succeed academically.

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elrasc06
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7 views2 pages

Language Bias in Standardized Testing

This document questions whether all students speak the same language and discusses the potential biases in standardized assessments. It argues that standardized tests are often written in the language of white middle-class males and do not account for the different dialects and languages spoken by students from various cultural backgrounds. As a result, these assessments may put minority students at a disadvantage and value some forms of English over others. The document suggests students should not have to abandon their cultural heritage and native language to succeed academically.

Uploaded by

elrasc06
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Do we all speak the same language?

Do we all speak the same language? Or is there a language of power? Does a white, middle class male speak the same language as his latina peer? Do we all speak the same language? Does the Indian boy speak the same as his African-American best friend? Which language is emphasized on an assessment? Do we all speak the same language? What does an assessment really assess if its written in a different language? Does an assessment set up a standard for written English? Who decides what words will be used on a standardized assessment? People of power, people who speak proper English Do we all speak the same language? Does Edwardo speak the same language at home and in school? Does Shantai? Or does Bobby? Who decides which is correct? Is there a correct? How does separating school from home affect these children? What English should be tested on? Is home language inferior to school language?
Is Bobbies vernacular what is on standardized tests? Or is Edwardos?

What value does an assessment put on our language if minority language is not standard? Are we placing a value on language based off white, middle class male test makers? What does this say to our students if their home language is different from school English? Who has a home field advantage in a standardized test? The student who grew up speaking properly? Or the one who grew up speaking the language of their cultural group? Do we all speak the same language? What is proper English? In the United States, we exist as an amalgamation of cultures
Do we all speak the same language?

Dialects are all steeped in rich history of cultures past and present
Are standardized tests really standardized if they are based off assumptions? Are there biases inherent in something as seemingly simple as written English? In the United States, who decides which is proper English? Is there a standard American? Do we all speak the same language?

Should students have to give up their cultural heritage and whitewash their English to excel in school?

My project is a poem embedded in a picture representing the poem. As you can see, the two children start out on almost equal levels. The arrows represent the child growing up, with the bus representing the journey through school. Cultural factors are represented with the families/cultural pictures that represent how culture and background influences the children. The children end up with different outcomes based on how these cultural factors can influence the school experience for the children.

The poem goes into how the language we speak can create bias in exams. The picture ties into this with the culture influencing the childrens language and therefore school outcomes.

Erin Rasco

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