I realized how much language influences culture. The way you speak provides insight into how others perceive you. Language can cause misinterpretations among students and teachers. As an educator, I must respect and consider a child's native language and not judge based on the fact that they may use slang or have a dialect that does not fit social norms. Reading the book The Skin We Talk About: Reflections on Language and Culture in the Classroom. by Lisa Delpit and Joanne Kilgour Dowdy provided even more information on language as it relates to the classroom. This book also helped me understand how society wants language to be used and how different ethnic groups want their language to be used.