Understanding Latino Understanding Latino CultureCulture

By:By:

Kathy FreemanKathy Freeman

CIT 506CIT 506

January 17, 2009January 17, 2009

What is Culture?What is Culture?

The culture of a group or population is the The culture of a group or population is the communicated behavior patterns, arts, communicated behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and products of a beliefs, institutions, and products of a specific community or population.specific community or population.

Latino DemographicsLatino Demographics Latinos are the fastest-growing minority group in the Latinos are the fastest-growing minority group in the

United States .United States . California, Florida, and Texas have the largest Latino California, Florida, and Texas have the largest Latino

population.population. The median age for Latinos in America is younger than The median age for Latinos in America is younger than

any other ethnic or racial group, ensuring that school any other ethnic or racial group, ensuring that school population of Latinos will increase.population of Latinos will increase.

Latinos are more likely to live in poverty than non-Latinos are more likely to live in poverty than non-Latino groups. Twenty-eight percent of all povertyLatino groups. Twenty-eight percent of all povertychildren in the United States are Latino.children in the United States are Latino.

Sixty-three percent of Latino children live in low-education, low-income Sixty-three percent of Latino children live in low-education, low-income families.families.

Latino students are twice as likely to drop out of high school as African Latino students are twice as likely to drop out of high school as African Americans, and four times more likely to drop out than whites.Americans, and four times more likely to drop out than whites.

Social Aspects of LatinosSocial Aspects of Latinos

Latino culture places high value upon extended family and close friends.Latino culture places high value upon extended family and close friends. They often live in family clusters in the extended family’s home. They often live in family clusters in the extended family’s home. Child care is usually informal care given by whoever is not working in theChild care is usually informal care given by whoever is not working in the household.household. Most Latino children do not have formal social Most Latino children do not have formal social

interaction before pre-k.interaction before pre-k. Mother-child interaction occurs in in the form of Mother-child interaction occurs in in the form of

work. Often children are given simple tasks, whilework. Often children are given simple tasks, whileworking alongside of their mothers following her working alongside of their mothers following her

model and directions while imitating her behavior.model and directions while imitating her behavior. Mothers do not socialize with children. After daily Mothers do not socialize with children. After daily

chores are completed, children play togetherchores are completed, children play togetheroutside in their cultural community.outside in their cultural community.

Families participate in cultural communities that are Families participate in cultural communities that are defined by a shared set of cultural practices.defined by a shared set of cultural practices.

Historical InformationHistorical Information Latino cultures include Chicanos, Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Latino cultures include Chicanos, Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and

Central and South Americans.Central and South Americans. Latinos have a unique importance of family within their culture.Latinos have a unique importance of family within their culture. Latinos have a strong belief in Christian religion as well as clearly defined Latinos have a strong belief in Christian religion as well as clearly defined

role differences of men and women, and a strong influence of language.role differences of men and women, and a strong influence of language. Cubans are considered the upper class of the Latino culture.Cubans are considered the upper class of the Latino culture. Dominicans are considered the middle class of the Latino culture.Dominicans are considered the middle class of the Latino culture. In some Latino cultures, women’s status is elevated through migration.In some Latino cultures, women’s status is elevated through migration.

Education Expectations of LatinosEducation Expectations of Latinos

Latino parents appreciate Latino parents appreciate educators to attempt to educators to attempt to communicate with parents in their communicate with parents in their native language and build native language and build authentic relationships with them.authentic relationships with them.

They want to be treated in a They want to be treated in a manner that makes them and their manner that makes them and their children feel comfortable.children feel comfortable.

They attribute high instrumental They attribute high instrumental value to formal schooling. value to formal schooling.

They want commitment from They want commitment from educators to take care of their educators to take care of their children, provide hope, and to be children, provide hope, and to be trustworthy.trustworthy.

Parents’ educational aspirations Parents’ educational aspirations are usually high throughout the are usually high throughout the elementary years, then school elementary years, then school performance influences their performance influences their expectations.expectations.

Factors Influencing Latino Factors Influencing Latino ImmigrationImmigration

Reports show that Latino immigration factors are under-researched.Reports show that Latino immigration factors are under-researched. However, research that has been done reports that Latinos immigrate to However, research that has been done reports that Latinos immigrate to

the United States for the following reasons:the United States for the following reasons:

- U.S. immigration policy - U.S. immigration policy

- Political and military involvement- Political and military involvement

within their homelandwithin their homeland

- Language- Language

- Academic opportunity- Academic opportunity

- Opportunity to support families - Opportunity to support families

back in their native countryback in their native country

Latino Language StructureLatino Language Structure

The official language of the Latino The official language of the Latino culture is Spanish.culture is Spanish.

Spanish is a language that works Spanish is a language that works well with English when using the well with English when using the concept of code-switching. Code-concept of code-switching. Code-switching is the use of two switching is the use of two languages within the same sentence languages within the same sentence that involves alternating languages that involves alternating languages across sentences.across sentences.

Through code-switching, students Through code-switching, students can have a positive relationship with can have a positive relationship with the linguistic, psycholinguistic, and the linguistic, psycholinguistic, and social-communicative aspects of two social-communicative aspects of two languages. This enhances oral languages. This enhances oral language usage, verbal skills, language usage, verbal skills, reading development, and narrative reading development, and narrative skills.skills.

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