Opportunities and Constraints with Ethnography in Examining the Home Literacy Experiences of English Language Learners

Abstract

This paper is intended for researchers considering using ethnography as a methodology to investigate home literacy experiences of children learning English as a Second Language (ESL). After briefly setting ethnographic study in the context of English language learners’ home literacy practices, I identify five opportunities and five potential constraints using examples from current literature in the research field. The five opportunities include (a) examination of a cultural group, (b) extensive time in the field, (c) multiple sources of data collection, (d) context or setting of the study, and (e) researcher reflexivity. The five constraints include (a) identification of a culture-sharing group, (b) extensive time in the field, (c) prior relationships with participants, (d) communication with immigrant families, and (e) translation issues. I present these so that researchers can understand more readily the opportunities and challenges they may face in exploring the home literacy experiences of immigrant children through ethnography.

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