Running Head: POWER OF LANGUAGE ESSAY 1

Power of Language Essay

Elizabeth Lopez

Department of English, Los Angeles Pacific University

ENGL 420: Principles of Language

Pastor Smarr

December 18, 2023

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Power of Language Essay

In preparing students for 21st century citizenship, the study of language is of utmost

importance. Language today has expanded by means of technological advances and the growing

popularity of social media. In many ways, technology has opened doors for acquiring greater

knowledge by the use of the internet. On the other hand, it has also inhibited this generation of

young people through social sites that call for nothing more than a shortened version of

language. The challenge for educators today is to be able to meet the needs of students in

language acquisition through comprehensive and engaging instruction for 21st century learners.

Ideally, students can benefit from 21st century skills by utilizing four key components in the

classroom. They are “Communication, Critical thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration”

(Languages & Guest, 2023). These key elements, when used regularly in the class, foster an

atmosphere where students have an opportunity to practice valuable language skills on their own,

as well as with their classmates in shared activities. Language skills are vital for well educated

students of the future because of its impact on learning and its significance for everyday life both

now and in the time to come. As the article by Verbalplanet (2023) asserts, “Language is a

multifaceted tool that serves as a means for communication, expression, and understanding.”

Specific language skills of “speaking, listening, reading, and writing” contribute to a well

rounded skill set that come together to communicate in a manner where the speaker is both adept

at using language efficiently as well as making sense of the spoken word (Verbalplanet, 2023).

The moral imperative for teachers to educate their students in literacy should stand at the

forefront as a foundational component of a child’s educational experience. In the world of

technology and social media sites, there is an unseen system that monitors and tracks data that

we unknowingly surrender each time we log onto the internet. This system collects data about
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individuals in an effort to retain insightful information into a person’s specific characteristics and

skills that can inevitably be translated and shared with others (McNamara, n.d.). For this reason,

it is vitally important for students to acquire language skills that will equip them as they navigate

language with communication in the 21st century world.

As a future classroom teacher, I plan to prioritize language in all areas of learning.

Language is a necessary component in all areas of study such as math, history, science, art, and

music. Learning in the 21st century requires students to be fully engaged and active. This means

as a future educator I will employ the four key components of learning language which are

“Communication, Critical thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration” (Languages & Guest, 2023).

An example of these entails using all four of these in a given lesson that allows students to

practice communicating individually, using critical thinking skills by reflecting on ideas,

creatively displaying knowledge on a given topic, and using collaboration while interacting with

their classmates. As students engage in language orally, in written form, and in the aspect of

listening they are actively participating in their learning and gradually building on their

experiences for a thorough study of language. I believe in keeping these four key components in

mind while planning lessons, students will have ongoing practice and will continue to develop

greater depth of language skills. The ethical and spiritual implications of language study as a

means for preparing students for 21st century citizenship are invaluable. Words hold power

whether they are in spoken or written form. When people speak mindfully they “recognize that in

addition to choosing words that help with clarity and vividness, it is important to think about the

connotations associated with one word or the other” (Learning, n.d.). The impact we have as

educators when we speak can have a profound effect on the students we teach. Being mindful of

our word choice is critical as we engage students in learning. I believe this is an important
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concept to teach our students as they grow and learn language. This can be done by offering

corrective feedback with speaking or writing. Another way this can be achieved is through

everyday occurrences among students. Many times there are misunderstandings or

miscommunication among children that do not have the full skill set for communicating

effectively. This is where teachers have an opportunity to use these instances as a learning

moment to experience the power of language in our words.

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References

Languages, P., & Guest, C. (2023, December 15). 21st-century skills and the English language

classroom. Pearson.

https://www.pearson.com/languages/community/blogs/2023/09/21st-century-skills-in-the

-classroom.html

Learning, L. (n.d.-a). Principles of public speaking.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/publicspeakingprinciples/chapter/chapter-10-the-impo

rtance-of-ethical-and-accurate-language/

McNamara, D. (n.d.). The Power of Words and the Secrets of Language. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/bSdJYhID_AQ?rel=0&autoplay=1&iv_load_policy=3

Verbalplanet. (2023, September 18). The relative importance of the four key language skills:

Speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The Relative Importance of the.

https://www.verbalplanet.com/blog/the-four-key-language-skills-importance.asp