Oaxacan Languages and Linguistics in Mexican and US Elementary and Middle Schools

Abstract

Abstract Linguistics can enhance and enrich the learning experiences of students at all levels of education by providing a powerful framework for understanding language and culture. In my research-led teaching practice (León Vázquez & Mantenuto 2019; Mantenuto 2019a, 2019b), I have presented about linguistics in elementary and middle schools in the US and Mexico, as a guest instructor for one-time classes. Although linguistics is not a regularly taught subject at the pre-university level in either the US or Mexico, these case studies show how linguistic work on Indigenous languages of Mexico can be introduced at any stage of education and have a positive impact on child/young adult education. The studies also speak more widely to the importance of an inclusive approach to bridging theory and practice through linguistics in non-university education, including the incorporation of languages historically excluded from the classroom, and the role of linguistics in building towards equity in education (Stollznow 2018).