Spanish English Bilingualism and Literacy: Critical Pedagogy as Action in a Transformative Self-Identity

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: Action Research to Promote Researcher and Practitioner Collaboration

Abstract

This study focuses on a special agent of change: the classroom teacher and the teaching in Spanish and English. Bilinguals work in a context restricted by language policies for schooling, have developed coping mechanisms and maintain skills in both languages, Spanish as a native language and English as the language of schooling. Action models support a more humanistic approach for education of linguistic minority students. A meaningful education situated in a theory of cultural production and viewed as an integral part in which people produce, transform and reproduce meaning is essential in praxis. This kind of education needs to be constructed in order to see bilingualism as a medium that constitutes and affirms the historical and existential moments of lived culture.

Author

• Sara Soledad Garcia, Santa Clara University