"You Know . . .": A Case Study Exploration Into the Narrative Practices of Refugee and Immigrant Youth

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Narrative Explorations With Diverse Learners

Abstract

This qualitative research study explores the narrative performances and storytelling practices of immigrant and refugee children at an ESL afterschool program. The author draws on performance theory (Bauman, 1975) to examine how one focal participant, Sunita, performs her narratives, making intentional use of talk to accomplish specific goals during storytelling events.. Findings suggest Sunita strategically employs the open-ended question “you know” when telling stories to reserve the right to speak (Sacks, 1972) and to engage her audience during the storytelling event. This study is also significant in that it underscores the affordances of narrative analysis for understanding the stories and language practices of young immigrants and refugees, and how research on narrative practices enhances research on narrative content.

Author

• Jackie Ridley, Kent State University