The seventh in a series of inservice teacher education units is devoted to improving the language skills of disadvantaged students. Part I discusses standard and nonstandard English, and the structural and functional interferences posed by the language systems used by disadvantaged pupils. Part II is devoted to the dialects used by Negro and Appalachian pupils, Negro slang, and techniques which are effective for teaching standard English. Included are two sample lessons. Part III focuses on the language problems of Mexican American children posed by their bilingualism. The important points presented in the unit are summarized, and discussion questions and a bibliography are included. For other units in this series see UD 005 366, UD 005 367, UD 006 843, UD 006 842, UD 007 191, and UD 005 472. (NH)