Written for an institute for guidance, counseling, administrative, supervisory, and teaching personnel in vocational programs for Chicano students at the secondary or postsecondary school level, this manual features essays on various aspects of the Mexican-American culture and several sections related to career education. Starting with brief discussion of the history of Mexican-Americans and an explanation of the term "Chicano," the manual also contains essays on demography, the social class structure of the Chicano family, education, politics, fatalism, spirituality, self concept, folklore, love of nature, food, music, dance, children's games, literature, architecture, and language and bilingualism. The document also includes sections on career information, awareness, preparation, and exploration and a number of suggested student learning activities related to career education, for example, writing letters of application. Another section carries a list of sources of scholarships and loans for Mexican-Americans, and the final section contains a list of suggested readings. Recommendations of participants of the institute for use of the manual are included. (LMS)