There are millions of names from as many backgrounds, and teachers won’t always get every name right. But pronouncing students’ names correctly matters. Research and classroom experience consistently show that name pronunciation affects students’ sense of belonging, respect, and social-emotional well-being.
I’ve written about this for Education Week Teacher, who have published a piece I wrote on the importance of pronouncing students’ names correctly. The article examines how teachers’ failure (or lack of effort) to learn students’ names can negatively affect students’ social-emotional well-being, sense of belonging, and classroom identity.
[It] always started with my name. The majority of my teachers made no effort to learn to pronounce it until they called roll for the first time. Inevitably they would publically butcher it. My first experience in virtually every classroom was some classmates snickering about my name.
– Fazia Rizvi, actress
The piece focuses on how something that may seem small or incidental can carry significant weight for students, particularly for those whose names are frequently mispronounced or treated as burdensome. It also highlights the cumulative impact these experiences can have over time.
In the article, I share eight practical strategies teachers can use to improve pronunciation and create more inclusive classroom environments. You can read the full piece here. You can also read some classroom tested ideas for pronouncing students’ names correctly here.
More of my research, writing, and related work on education and South Asian American student experiences can be found on my Research page.
Author’s note: This post points to an Education Week Teacher essay that continues to be relevant in teacher preparation and professional learning contexts.
