Abstract
Understanding the role of language communities is essential to any liberatory pedagogy as students learn to present their professional selves. As they enter college, students must make a difficult and necessary shift from the language of the community to the language of the academy. Therefore, to support authentic learning, effective pedagogies must consider their emotional as well as academic issues. They must recognize the value of the students' "mother tongue" and offer academic and emotional support based on learning theory.
Shirley Kahlert, Professor, Merced College
