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African-American</title></head><body>
<div><br>
The Center for Work, Family and Personal Life is pleased to announce
our upcoming seminar entitled<i> The Language Development of
African-American Children: A Look at Literacy</i>, led by Calvin
Gidney, Ph.D., Professor of Linguistics, Literacy, and Sociolinguistic
Development, Department of Child Development, Tufts University<br>
<br>
One of the least understood contributors to reading difficulties is
the role that a child's home language plays in learning to read
standard English, especially if the home language is a different form
of English. Does the mismatch between the version of English
taught in school and the version of English learned at home create
difficulties for African American children learning to read in
school? Is this mismatch sometimes misinterpreted as a learning
disability? In this presentation, Dr. Calvin Gidney, a researcher
specializing in language development for African American children,
will discuss current understandings of the language development of
African American children, explain what is meant by the term
"African-American English," and reflect on the possible role
that African-American English might play in the reading development of
African-American children.<br>
<br>
This seminar will be held on<b> Wednesday, April 6, 2005</b>, from
12:00 noon to 1:30 PM in the Center conference room, Room 16-151. The
seminar is open to all members of the MIT community, free of
charge.<br>
<br>
Registration is required. You can register on the web at <a
href="http://web.mit.edu/hr/worklife/seminar.html"
>http://web.mit.edu/hr/worklife/seminar.html</a>, or call the Center
at 617.253.1592, or email the Center at <a
href="mailto:worklife@mit.edu">worklife@mit.edu</a> with the name of
the workshop and your name, telephone number, and email address.<br>
<br>
We look forward to seeing you there.<br>
<br>
With best regards,<br>
<br>
The Center for Work, Family & Personal Life.<br>
</div>
<div><font size="+1" color="#000080">Gabrielle A. McCauley<br>
Administrative Assistant<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
M.I.T. Center for Work, Family, & Personal Life<br>
(617) 253.1592<br>
Web: http://web.mit.edu/hr/worklife/seminar.html</font><br>
<font size="+1" color="#000080">Gabrielle A. McCauley<br>
Administrative Assistant<x-tab>
</x-tab><br>
M.I.T. Center for Work, Family, & Personal Life<br>
(617) 253.1592</font></div>
<div><font size="+1" color="#000080">Web:
http://web.mit.edu/hr/worklife/seminar.html</font></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
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<div><font face="Century Gothic" size="-1"
color="#000000">jfischer@mit.edu *~*
Ph: 617-253-0386 *~*
Fax: 617-252-1003</font></div>
<div><font face="Century Gothic" size="-1" color="#000000">M.I.T.
Office of the Provost<br>
Room 11-268, 77 Massachusetts Avenue</font></div>
<div><font face="Century Gothic" size="-1" color="#000000">Cambridge,
MA 02139</font></div>
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