Student narratives about English language in Western Pará: between neoliberal discourses and situated cultural practices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5212/PraxEduc.v.21.26157.047Abstract
This article analyzes narratives produced by High School students about their experiences with English language, seeking to understand the meanings of this language in their life trajectories. The study results from Doctoral research theoretically grounded in Cultural Studies in Education and in studies on youth cultures. Data were produced through five discussion groups conducted with students from a public school in the state of Pará, Brazil. The analysis identified that youth narratives articulate different meanings attributed to English over time: during childhood, contact with the language appears mediated by families, courses, and digital technologies; in the present, it is predominantly associated with cultural practices such as playing games, interacting on social media, and engaging with entertainment platforms; and in projections of the future, it emerges linked to employability and competitiveness in the labor market.
Keywords: Youth. English language. Neoliberalism.
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