Running Head: POWER OF LANGUAGE 1

The Power of Language

Tereso Abrahan Pedroza

Los Angeles Pacific University

ENG420
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In this essay, I will be discussing the importance of language study as a means of

preparing students for twenty-first-century citizenship. In addition, I will also talk about the

importance of why language is critical for well-educated children of the future. This essay will

also include ideas and strategies that will equip my students for language skills in the twenty-first

century. Lastly, I will mention some ethical and spiritual implications of language study as a

means of preparing students for them to be functioning citizens.

According to Davila (2016), a learner in the twenty-first-century needs to have skills in

critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication. These skills are vital for the

modern workforce that society has now. When preparing our students to be ready for this type of

environment, they will need to be ready to perform independently or with groups in a

technologically advanced setting. They will need to be ready for constant interaction with people

from all parts of the world. Additionally, they will have to build qualities such as being adaptive,

flexible, and creative thinkers. Students should also be able to plan, build, and learn to

collaborate with peers, colleagues, and other experts in their field (Davila, 2016).

Some may think that to have an effective environment to grow these skills, a classroom

needs to have highly advanced technology, but the classroom can benefit even with no budget

because students can be used to guide instruction. A teacher once told me that to be an effective

teacher, we must always let our students drive our instruction. My students will guide me as a

teacher to where I should take them through the standards. She also said that although she has a

plan for the year, things may change because of the students that she has for the year. Textbooks

are just one type of resource but there are a variety of resources that could be used to help

students expand their knowledge. In Davila’s article, 21st-century skills and the English

language classroom, she talks about a teacher, working at a primary school, that allowed students
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to pick what they wanted to learn about. This resulted in students teaching themselves out of

curiosity, which embodied self-guidance, innovation, and collaboration. This does not mean that

Davila is encouraging teachers to leave it all to the students but instead encouraging teachers to

find ways to inspire interest, curiosity, and engagement in the classroom. In order to do this,

language is a critical skill for educated children.

Over the years, it has been demonstrated that knowing basic math, reading, and writing is

not enough for modern learners to be an asset in the workforce. The new skills the world is

looking for is, leadership, team working, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, digital

literacy, communication, global citizenship, and entrepreneurship. These skills can be built by

implementing language skills and strategies in the classroom. Group projects and group activities

help students learn how to work with their peers and other classmates. Having technology

available helps children develop digital intelligence and helps prepare for real-world problem-

solving. Teaching and showing students to be active members of volunteering in the community

and school campus helps them develop leadership skills and goals.

According to Sik Hung Ng and Fei Deng, language is power and there are five language

power relationships, “language reveals power, reflects power, maintains existing dominance,

unites and divides a nation, and creates influence,” (2017, p.16). Ng and Deng talk about how

language is powerful and can be used as a powerful tool. Phuc Tran, a Latin and Greek teacher,

also shared that language and grammar is the “first and most powerful tool to experiencing and

communicating with the world,” (TED RADIO, 2013). Since English is becoming a global

language, therefore it is important for teachers to teach 21st-century students the power of

language. In addition to learning these important skills, students will have to dominate and

master the English language to successfully and effectively communicate as a global citizen.
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This is why as a teacher I will try every day to do English building exercises. Reading will be a

major part of my classroom because reading is important to develop literacy. Literacy is

important as a twenty-first-century learner because it helps understand new material that a

student is learning.

To avoid ethical issues and misunderstanding in both a social and cultural sense

regarding language, accuracy, and clarity in communication need to be used. Learning the

meanings of unethical words can help students in the workforce effectively communicate with

others around the world. This is why it is so critical to teach and demonstrate the importance of

being a 21-century learner. Students need to sharpen their skills to be successful in this new era

of thinkers. As educators, it is critical to teach them these skills to meet the demand in school and

the workforce. We have to lead the way and show them the path of what it will take, and

implement the skills they have learned to be 21-century citizen, who is ready to be a leader.
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References

Davila, S. (2016, July 27). 21st-century skills and the English language classroom. Retried from

https://www.english.com/blog/21st-century-skills/

Ng, S., & Deng, F. (2017, August 22). Language and Power. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of

Communication. Retrieved from

https://oxfordre.com/communication/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/ac

refore-9780190228613-e-436.

TED RADIO. (2013, December 13). Guy Raz: Spoken and unspoken [audio file]. Retrieved from

https://www.npr.org/2013/12/13/248190652/spoken-and-unspoken

Lehtonen, T. (n.d.). Ethical Problems Related to Language and Linguistic Practices, 200–211.

Retrieved from http://www.vakki.net/publications/2011/VAKKI2011_Lehtonen.pdf