An Investigation Into Identity, Power and Autonomous EFL Learning Among Indigenous and Minority Students In Post-secondary Education: A Mexican Case Study

This critical ethnographic case study draws on Indigenous and minority students\u27 process of learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Mexico. The study specifically focuses on students who enrolled in a program called A wager with the Future. The aim of the study is to identify and understand contributing factors in these students’ struggles with the process of learning English by focusing on factors that influence their investment in EFL. The research is framed by (critical) applied linguistics and post-colonial theories that favour the integration of an understanding of these students’ socio historical context in their learning of English, and question (unequal) power relationships between languages and cultures in Mexico. The methodology was designed to ensure trustworthiness by adopting multiple data collection techniques, and to decolonize the research process by using participatory methods that featured researcher/participant coanalysis of the data. On a macro level, findings show that students enrolled in the program experience a relationship with English that is rooted in Mexico’s colonial legacies (as expressed through discrimination in the EFL classroom), which has an impact on their subjectivities; specifically, they feel afraid and inferior in the EFL classroom. On a micro level, the programming adopted in the university’s Language Department does not draw on diverse students’ multi-competences in other languages. Nonetheless, some Indigenous students manage to invest in EFL by creating imagined communities, and appropriating English through the creation of autonomous pluralistic language learning strategies

Lengua, poder e identidad en el aprendizaje del inglés: el caso de estudiantes de la Sierra Norte de Puebla

This critical ethnographic case study is based on the process of learning English as a foreign language in Mexico by indigenous and mestizo students from the Sierra Norte de Puebla. The objective of the study is, on the one hand, to identify and understand the factors that contribute to generate the challenges that these students must face when learning English, and on the other, to analyze the factors that influence the students' commitment to learn the language. The research is framed in the area of applied linguistics (critical) and postcolonial theories to understand the socio-historical context in which students are placed when learning English, and to question power relations and inequalities between languages and cultures in Mexico.Este estudo de caso etnográfico crítico baseia-se no processo de aprender inglês como língua estrangeira no México por estudantes indígenas e mestiços da Serra Norte de Puebla. O objetivo do estudo é, por um lado, identificar e compreender os fatores que contribuem para gerar os desafios que esses alunos devem enfrentar ao aprender inglês e, por outro lado, analisar os fatores que influenciam o compromisso dos alunos em aprender a língua. A pesquisa enquadra-se na área das teorias lingüísticas aplicadas (críticas) e pós-coloniais para entender o contexto sócio-histórico em que os alunos são colocados para aprender inglês e questionar as relações de poder e as desigualdades entre as línguas e as culturas no México.Este estudio de caso etnográfico crítico se basa en el proceso de aprendizaje del inglés como lengua extranjera en México por parte de estudiantes indígenas y mestizos originarios de la Sierra Norte de Puebla. El objetivo del estudio es, por una parte, identificar y comprender los factores que contribuyen a generar los desafíos que estos estudiantes deben afrontar al aprender inglés, y por otra, analizar los factores que influyen en el compromiso de los estudiantes para aprender la lengua. La investigación se enmarca en el área de lingüística aplicada (crítica) y en las teorías postcoloniales para entender el contexto socio-histórico en el cual se sitúan los estudiantes al aprender inglés, y cuestionar las relaciones de poder y las desigualdades entre lenguas y culturas en México

The Difficulties of Learning English: Perceptions and Attitudes in Mexico

The political, cultural, and economical relationship between the United States and Mexico is becoming more interdependent, and in general, Mexico’s participation in the world economy has increased the spread of English as a Second Language (ESL). English is ubiquitous in Mexico’s everyday life, as opposed to indigenous languages which are mostly hidden. The diffusion of English makes ESL learning mandatory if Mexicans want to aspire to a better social and economic life. Nevertheless, this contextual ‘imposition’ highly influences perceptions and attitudes Mexicans have towards the language. This in turn may create a strong barrier to the whole language learning process. Based on student surveys in two different universities, this paper accents negative perceptions and attitudes towards English language learning, and highlights Mexico’s colonial past and the effects of linguistic imperialism. In the conclusion, it will open the discussion on how these attitudes could be managed in the classroom, and will offer possible directions for future research in intercultural language learning. La relation politique, culturelle et économique entre les États-Unis et le Mexique est de plus en plus interdépendante, et en général, la participation du Mexique sur les marchés internationaux a propagé l’enseignement de l’anglais en tant que langue seconde. L’anglais est une langue omniprésente dans la vie quotidienne du Mexique, bien au-delà des langues autochtones qui sont en général plutôt cachées. Pour qu’un mexicain puisse aspirer à de meilleures possibilités économiques et sociales, l’apprentissage de l’anglais devient indispensable. Cette « imposition » contextuelle influence cependant clairement les perceptions et les attitudes que les mexicains ont envers la langue et crée des obstacles souvent difficiles à surmonter lors de l’apprentissage de cette dernière. Cet article met donc l’accent sur les perceptions et les attitudes négatives envers la langue en se basant sur des sondages d’étudiants dans deux universités différentes. Il cherche à expliquer ce blocage en faisant ressortir le passé colonial du Mexique et l’influence de l’impérialisme linguistique. En conclusion, l’article invitera à discuter sur les différentes façons de gérer ces attitudes au sein d’une salle de classe et proposera quelques recherches futures pour l’apprentissage interculturel des langues

The Difficulties of Learning English: Perceptions and Attitudes in Mexico

The political, cultural, and economical relationship between the United States and Mexico is becoming more interdependent, and in general, Mexico’s participation in the world economy has increased the spread of English as a Second Language (ESL). English is ubiquitous in Mexico’s everyday life, as opposed to indigenous languages which are mostly hidden. The diffusion of English makes ESL learning mandatory if Mexicans want to aspire to a better social and economic life. Nevertheless, this contextual ‘imposition’ highly influences perceptions and attitudes Mexicans have towards the language. This in turn may create a strong barrier to the whole language learning process. Based on student surveys in two different universities, this paper accents negative perceptions and attitudes towards English language learning, and highlights Mexico’s colonial past and the effects of linguistic imperialism. In the conclusion, it will open the discussion on how these attitudes could be managed in the classroom, and will offer possible directions for future research in intercultural language learning. La relation politique, culturelle et économique entre les États-Unis et le Mexique est de plus en plus interdépendante, et en général, la participation du Mexique sur les marchés internationaux a propagé l’enseignement de l’anglais en tant que langue seconde. L’anglais est une langue omniprésente dans la vie quotidienne du Mexique, bien au-delà des langues autochtones qui sont en général plutôt cachées. Pour qu’un mexicain puisse aspirer à de meilleures possibilités économiques et sociales, l’apprentissage de l’anglais devient indispensable. Cette « imposition » contextuelle influence cependant clairement les perceptions et les attitudes que les mexicains ont envers la langue et crée des obstacles souvent difficiles à surmonter lors de l’apprentissage de cette dernière. Cet article met donc l’accent sur les perceptions et les attitudes négatives envers la langue en se basant sur des sondages d’étudiants dans deux universités différentes. Il cherche à expliquer ce blocage en faisant ressortir le passé colonial du Mexique et l’influence de l’impérialisme linguistique. En conclusion, l’article invitera à discuter sur les différentes façons de gérer ces attitudes au sein d’une salle de classe et proposera quelques recherches futures pour l’apprentissage interculturel des langues

Lengua, poder e identidad en el aprendizaje del inglés: el caso de estudiantes de la Sierra Norte de Puebla; Linguagem, poder e identidade na aprendizagem de inglês: O caso dos estudantes da Serra Norte de Puebla; Language, Power, and Identity in Learning English: the Case of Students from the Sierra Norte de Puebla

Resumen: Este estudio de caso etnográfico crítico se basa en el proceso de aprendizaje del inglés como lengua extranjera en México por parte de estudiantes indígenas y mestizos originarios de la Sierra Norte de Puebla. El objetivo del estudio es, por una parte, identificar y comprender los factores que contribuyen a generar los desafíos que estos estudiantes deben afrontar al aprender inglés, y por otra, analizar los factores que influyen en el compromiso de los estudiantes para aprender la lengua. La investigación se enmarca en el área de lingüística aplicada (crítica) y en las teorías postcoloniales para entender el contexto socio-histórico en el cual se sitúan los estudiantes al aprender inglés, y cuestionar las relaciones de poder y las desigualdades entre lenguas y culturas en México. Palabras clave: aprendizaje del inglés; población indígena; México; postcolonialismo; lingüística aplicada crítica.   Resumo: Este estudo de caso etnográfico crítico baseia-se no processo de aprender inglês como língua estrangeira no México por estudantes indígenas e mestiços da Serra Norte de Puebla. O objetivo do estudo é, por um lado, identificar e compreender os fatores que contribuem para gerar os desafios que esses alunos devem enfrentar ao aprender inglês e, por outro lado, analisar os fatores que influenciam o compromisso dos alunos em aprender a língua. A pesquisa enquadra-se na área das teorias lingüísticas aplicadas (críticas) e pós-coloniais para entender o contexto sócio-histórico em que os alunos são colocados para aprender inglês e questionar as relações de poder e as desigualdades entre as línguas e as culturas no México Palavras-chave: aprendizado de língua inglesa; população indígena; México; pós-colonialismo; linguística crítica aplicada.   Abstract: This critical ethnographic case study is based on the process of learning English as a foreign language in Mexico by indigenous and mestizo students from the Sierra Norte de Puebla. The objective of the study is, on the one hand, to identify and understand the factors that contribute to generate the challenges that these students must face when learning English, and on the other, to analyze the factors that influence the students' commitment to learn the language. The research is framed in the area of applied linguistics (critical) and postcolonial theories to understand the socio-historical context in which students are placed when learning English, and to question power relations and inequalities between languages and cultures in Mexico. Key Words: learning English, indigenous population, Mexico, post-colonialism, critical applied linguistics