Life in Two Languages: Discovering Latina/o Cultural Identity through Dual Immersion Programs
Language is tied to our cultural identity. As Latina/o students who are Spanish dominant enter school they face the challenge of maintaining their native language and culture while learning English. With the recent passing of the No Child Left Behind Act, Proposition 227 in California, and even the abolishment of affirmative action in some states Latina/o students are losing the opportunity to preserve and develop their native language in school. Fortunately, dual immersion programs have reopened this opportunity. Dual immersion programs create a school environment where two languages are utilized across content areas with the aim of bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism competencies. This study investigated how dual immersion programs impact Latina/o student's cultural identity. Through analysis of research on Spanish-English dual immersion programs in the United States I concluded that Latina/o students perverse not only their native language, but also experience a greater acceptance and identification with the Latina/o culture.
School:
University of California at Los Angeles
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Christina DeNicolo
Department of Research Advisor:
Curriculum and Instruction
Year of Publication:
2007