Language

This document discusses how a student's primary language at home can influence their educational attainment if it differs from the language of instruction at school. It notes that some Asian and Afro-Caribbean households primarily speak a language other than English, which can cause communication barriers between parents and teachers and reduce parental academic support. It also explains that some teachers mistakenly attribute Caribbean English skills to a lack of ability rather than it being a different dialect, and that white teachers may penalize students for using Caribbean English. However, the document concludes that while language can initially pose barriers, these differences tend to diminish for students by their later school years.