Community College Linguistics for Educational Justice

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides a practical roadmap to transforming introductory linguistics with lesson plans and assessment strategies that facilitate the success of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and/or disabled college students. These strategies are particularly useful in community college online teaching, and include intentionally welcoming students with an encouraging message before the semester begins; incorporating content that centers perspectives on linguistic racism and exclusion early in the semester, particularly through the voices of Black d/Deaf and DeafBlind people and other people of color, multilingual people, and Indigenous communities; and enacting student-centered, interactive assessments through video/audio discussions that facilitate personalized engagement and peer learning. The author describes the effectiveness and value of these strategies with help from student reflections on their experiences. These course design recommendations make use of free and emerging educational resources and technologies in ways that enable college students to see and hear themselves, and their concerns, in the introductory linguistics curriculum.