Power of Language

April Tilden

Los Angeles Pacific University

Professor C. Gentry

December 19, 2022

 By definition, language is defined as, “the principal method of human communication”. It

goes on to say it consists of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by

speech, writing, or gesture (Oxford Languages, n.d.). Language is vital to our lives in every way.

Whether spoken or written, it is how we communicate and go about our daily lives. It enables us

to acquire and maintain jobs, enter and succeed in school, and thrive in our communities and

relationships. Studying languages other than our own helps us understand the foundations of

humans and what is it about their unique way of communicating. Worldwide, people speak

around 7,000 languages. Though some may have things in common, they are all unique

(Shashkevich, 2019).

Today’s students will graduate into a world where the demands of our professional,

personal and public lives will just continue to grow more and more stressful and complicated

every year (P21 Partnership for 21st Century Learning, n.d.).The trends of expanded civic life,

on the job learning, knowledge of technology, information overflow, promotion of creative

thinking, and living in a more globally connected world is showing no signs of slowing down. It

is for this reason that students need to be more globally aware, and able to navigate the world as

21st century citizens (P21 Partnership for 21ST Century Learning, n.d.).

According to A Parents Guide for 21ST Century Learning and Citizenship, “21st Century Skills

are a set of academic building blocks—abilities and ways of thinking—that can help kids thrive

as 21st century citizens.” (P21 Partnership for 21ST Century Learning, n.d.). These skills have

been identified as the 4 Cs : Critical thinking and problem solving, Communication,

Collaboration and Creativity and innovation. All of these skills require language and the

acquisition of it as well as an understanding of how it works, and using it effectively. Language

is a critical skill for well-educated children of the future because none of the 4 C’s would be

possible without language.

In her book, Literacy as a Moral Imperative, Rebecca Powell strongly believes that

literacy instruction should do three things - encourage social responsibility and civic action,

enable students and teachers to understand the transformative potential of language, and nurture

a culture of compassion and care (Powell, 1999).

As a future educator, understanding the responsibility to teach literacy is a responsibility

that is not to be taken lightly. As the definition of “moral imperative” states, we should be

compelled to act. My priority will be to ensure literacy instruction is taught every day and

reinforced in as many ways as possible. This can be done by teaching lessons, but also through

parent engagement and giving them learning opportunities as well. There are many ways I as the

educator and the parents can work together to prepare kids for the 21st century such as

encouraging students to share what they learned in class that day with their parents/support

system and helping parents/support system make connections to the lessons outside of the

classroom. Being nurturing, consistent, and intentional will be the basis of developing these

skills in the classroom.

 References

Oxford Languages and Google - English | Oxford Languages. (n.d.). Oxford Languages.

Retrieved December 18, 2022, from https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

P21 Partnership for 21ST Century Learning. (n.d.). What is 21st Century Learning and

Citizenship All About? Retrieved December 18, 2022, from

https://www.cfsd16.org/application/files/7514/6912/4628/P21_Citizenship_Overview.pdf

Powell, R. (1999). Literacy as a Moral Imperative: Facing the Challenges of a Pluralistic

Society. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Shashkevich, A. (2019, August 22). The power of language: How words shape people, culture.

Stanford News. Retrieved December 18, 2022, from

https://news.stanford.edu/2019/08/22/the-power-of-language-how-words-shape-people-c

ulture/