"I'm Brazilian, Not Brazilian American": Second-Generation Brazilians' Experiences Preserving Their Heritage Language and Resisting Assimilation

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Five
  In Roundtable Session: Diverse Student Experiences in the Classroom (Table 10)

Abstract

Heritage language (HL) preservation is crucial to developing the ethnic identity of the children of immigrants, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering family and ethnic community support. Numerous challenges permeate the experiences of ethnolinguistic groups like Brazilian immigrants, who are largely invisible due to being marginalized as Latino in the United States. This study investigated the experiences of second-generation Brazilian adolescents with HL preservation and ethnic identity development. The findings from in-depth interviews and a focus group highlighted participants’ embrace of their Brazilian identity and rejection of American citizenship and emphasized their HL in affirming their identities, confronting discrimination, and resisting assimilation. The findings contribute to understanding this immigrant population and their experiences preserving their language and culture.

Authors

• Clarisse Halpern, Florida Gulf Coast University
  Presenting Author

• Zachary Austin Ward, Florida Gulf Coast University
  Presenting Author

• Bruno Halpern, Florida Gulf Coast University
  Presenting Author

• Hasan Aydin, Florida Gulf Coast University
  Presenting Author