ERIC Number: EJ684268
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Sep
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
Reference Count: 37
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1081-3004
Exploring Bicultural Identities of Asian High School Students through the Analytic Window of a Literature Club
Vyas, Sapna
Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, v48 n1 p12-23 Sep 2004
The process of forming a sense of identity is a crucial developmental task for all high school students, but it can be particularly challenging for those students who find themselves at the intersection of ethnically and socially diverse cultures. Literacy activities can serve as a means through which we can learn more about such bicultural students' identity experiences. This article explores the role of literacy activities in supporting bicultural identity-making processes within the context of an after-school Asian literature club at a suburban U.S. high school. The study participants were seven high school students of varying Asian backgrounds. Qualitative data from club meetings, semistructured interviews, and written reflections reveal that literacy activities serve as an analytic window through which to learn more about bicultural high school students' interpretations and beliefs, and, subsequently, their personal choices and decisions. This research holds important implications for both educators and researchers invested in learning more about the identity experiences of all students who are seeking guidance and support for their participation in multiple worlds.
Descriptors: High School Students, Ethnicity, Literature Appreciation, Literacy, Extracurricular Activities, Clubs, Biculturalism, Asian American Students, Cultural Relevance, Racial Identification
International Reading Association, Order Department, P.O. Box 6021, Newark, DE 19714-6021. Tel: 800-336-7323 (Toll Free); Tel: 302-731-1600; Fax: 302-737-0878; e-mail: customerservice@reading.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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