Something I thought about:
- My students are studying English as a Foreign Language, and one challenge is that a lot of the terms they’ve learned regarding identity are appropriate to the 80s and 90s and would have been progressive then but are not quite right today. I don’t like the terms “politically correct” or “woke” — I prefer considerate and inclusive — so I’ve been trying to think through how to introduce current terminology without calling out students or embarrassing them. Their intentions are good, and this really is an issue of translation and learning. I got recommendations for a few style guides, which have been very helpful, and I feel like I’m now finding my way.
Something I did:
- Caught up on grading. Whew.
- I finally tracked down a manuscript I’ve wanted for a while. I’m very glad to have it now.
Something I read:
- Yanyi’s newsletter is always excellent, but this one on being a trans writer and leaving Substack, is exceptional.
- There’s so much I never learned about Asian immigration to the US. It isn’t covered in US History courses, at least when I was in high school. I’ve been trying to make up for it as an adult. Malinda Lo wrote about it in her excellent newsletter.
- In their podcast, Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova talk about some of the issues surrounding the Own Voices label, including how the hashtag has been appropriated from its initial purpose for one that’s less overly simplistic.
