Mariachi Class: A Medium for Cultural and Linguistic Expression

• In Event: Roundtable Session 37
  In Roundtable Session: Supporting Heritage Language and Culture in and out of School

Abstract

Many types of extracurricular activities are available for high school students in the United States, but few are embedded within a culture and/or promote the use of a student’s native language. This paper focuses on a study regarding how a high school mariachi class proved to be a safe space for cultural and linguistic expression for the students.
The qualitative study incorporated methods from ethnography and case study research and relied on a sociocultural perspective on identity (Vygotsky, 1978, Holland et. al, 1998, Holland & Lachicotte, 2005) and Chicana feminist theory (Delgado Bernal, 1998) to illuminate the voices of the students and their experiences of mestizaje (Anzaldúa, 1987).

Author

• Monica Vasquez Neshyba, Texas A&M University - College Station