ERIC Number: ED513598
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 237
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1096-1961-4
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
"Oye Mi Voz!" (Hear My Voice!): The Perceptions of Hispanic Boys regarding Their Literacy Experiences
Zickafoose, Rubylinda
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of South Florida
The purpose of this study was to uncover the perspectives that pertain to the literacy experiences of young Hispanic boys. Hispanic boys will be asked to describe, feel, judge, and make sense of their "public and private literacies" (Faulkner, 2005). This phenomenological study embraces two methods of data collection, participant focus groups and individual interviews. The primary question guiding this inquiry was: What are the perceptions of adolescent Hispanic boys who are considered low level readers (by state achievement tests) regarding their literacy experiences? In order to help provide background information and set the stage for future work when considering this specific population other supporting questions were added. These include: (1) What have researchers reported about Hispanic boys in literacy situations? (2) What is the role of masculinity (machismo) in the literacy lives of Hispanic boys? (3) What teaching methods do Hispanic boys consider most responsive to their literacy needs? and (4) What role can critical literacy play in educating this marginalized population? After sorting and analyzing all data sources, the themes that evolved as considered most relevant by this group of Hispanic boys were: (a) Family, (b) Language: its role of language in building identity, (c) Machismo: to include male discourse when dealing with gangs and violence, (d) Education--public literacy, (e) Literacy: reading, writing, and (f) Moral Literacy. Several major implications of the study include: (a) strong value for their cultural identity, (b) disconnect from their educational settings, (c) could self-prescribe their personal educational needs, (d) lacked institutional knowledge, and (e) had the potential to rebuild their identity. It is imperative that we listen to the voices of this marginalized population in order to gain insight to how Hispanic boys live "public and private literacies" (Faulkner, 2005) in the hope that our educational system can respond to their personal and academic needs. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Focus Groups, Language Role, Achievement Tests, Males, Masculinity, Hispanic Americans, Literacy, Phenomenology, Interviews, Attitude Measures, Adolescents, Reading Skills, Low Achievement, Standardized Tests, Scores, Cultural Influences, Critical Thinking, Family Influence, Language Usage, Violence, Juvenile Gangs, Role of Education, Writing Skills, Moral Values, Identification (Psychology)
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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