What is Your Name Story?

Posted on August 18, 2021August 20, 2021 by Jennifer Brooke

Engaging with students’ names at the beginning of the year helps them critically think about language and naming, as well as consider concepts around naming related to meaning, culture, power, and identity. This lesson further helps English teachers address values around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Name Story (Slides)

Process

Ask students to watch this 2011 advertisement for Coke. In pairs discuss: What might be some reasons why this Coke campaign was so successful?
Then, watch this 2013 adaptation of the campaign from China. Ask students: How is this campaign different? What might be some reasons why Coke may have changed their approach for a Chinese audience?
Next, ask students: What is your name story? Give them the following instructions:
- Write your first/given name on the piece of paper or slide given to you. This can be your full name or your nick name.
- Think about the story of your name:
  - Who named you? Why were you given this name?
  - What does your name mean? Where does it come from? Does this meaning and context represent your identity? Why/why not?
  - What is your experience with your name?
  - Do you like/dislike your name?
- Select or create icons and images that are related to your name story.
- Share your name story in small groups.
Have students read this article from The Atlantic entitled, “Who Wins in the Name Game”?
In small groups, have students consider the following:
- Why is the language of names important?
- What assumptions do we make about people based on their name?
- What assumptions might people make about you based on your name?
- What relationships can you see between power and names?
In pairs, students discuss the question: Should we be made to use our “real” names online and in other contexts?
Then, have students read this article: “Why Facebook and Google’s Concept of ‘Real Names’ Is Revolutionary”
In pairs, students answer the following questions:
- What is the main point of this article?
  - Choose a sentence from the article that supports this assertion.
- To what extent do you agree with the article’s argument?
- To what extent do you disagree with the article’s argument?
- What issues exist because people are allowed to use pseudonyms online that are not addressed in this article?
- Where do you stand on this issue?
In their portfolios, students write a reflection responding to the following question: What new understandings and ideas did you encounter today through our discussion of names?