Abstract
In our globalised economy, English proficiency is currently a priority for Spanish families, as it is fundamental for ensuring their children’s future economic and personal welfare. As a sign of good parenting, families are increasingly acting as linguistic entrepreneurs and adopting family language policies oriented to provide their children with the best methodologies to enhance English learning, thereby investing their personal and financial capital in extracurricular classes, local English camps, and stays abroad. In searching for more natural learning environments, those parents with knowledge of English emulate native bi/multilingual families and raise their children in English and Spanish. This type of non-native elective bilingualism upbringing is gaining momentum in Spain and deserves further scrutiny. Therefore, this paper is devoted to better understand this phenomenon by means of the study of 16 Spanish families who are raising their children in English and Spanish. Their family language policy (FLP) will be analysed in terms of language beliefs, language management and language practices. Results reflect parents’ desires and imagined identities with English as a metaphor of accomplishment, as well as their emotional implications, disruptions and negotiations to bring to fruition this complex socialization practice.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Porta Linguarum Revista Interuniversitaria de Didáctica de las Lenguas Extranjeras
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.