Passing for English Fluent: Latino Immigrant Children Masking Language Proficiency.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Monzó, Lilia D.; Rueda, Robert
- Source
- Anthropology & Education Quarterly; March 2009, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p20-40, 21p
- Subject
- English as a foreign language
Spanish-speaking students
Bilingualism
Ethnic identity of Hispanic Americans
Verbal ability
Ethnology
Immigrant children
Hispanic Americans
Race relations
Social integration
Ethnic relations
Language & languages
Identity (Psychology)
United States
- Language
- ISSN
- 01617761
This article describes passing for English fluent among Latino immigrant children. A two-year ethnography of eight Latino immigrant families was conducted in which fifth-grade children were followed in home, school, and community contexts. This article presents passing as a consequence of U.S. race relations. Their reasons for presenting themselves as English fluent suggest a sophisticated awareness of the power and status of English in this country and a clear link between language and identity. The magazine publisher is the copyright holder of this article and it is reproduced with permission. Further reproduction of this article in violation of the copyright is prohibited. To contact the publisher: http://www.aaanet.org/publications.htm.