Taking the first step: How to create a high-school linguistics course

Abstract

While teachers might see the need for linguistics, the fear of not being “expert enough” can prevent high-school teachers from all disciplines from designing and teaching a linguistics course. Teachers, with or without subject matter expertise, who seek to establish a K-12 linguistics course need to work closely with administrators and stakeholders, maintain a “progress over perfection” mentality, consider the merits of exposing students to linguistics early instead of waiting for a national, standardized curriculum, and remain flexible in delivery.