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Publication Date

2-1-2025

Abstract

Free listing tasks are a common data collection method used by cultural anthropologists, language historians and linguists (Nolan, 2002; Ryan et al., 2000; Weller & Romney, 1988; Wolfram & Schillings-Estes, 1998). These tasks are interviews in which a researcher asks groups of respondents to list words or expressions that come to mind for a given cultural topic. This study focused on a free listing task collected from working class Mexicans about fiestas y celebraciones [parties and celebrations]. Although this topic is routinely included in second language (L2) teaching materials, common terms or slang used by Spanish speaking populations that U.S. students are most likely to interact with may not be included in instruction, creating a communication gap. Accordingly, for this study a total of 32 working class Mexican people, who were born and raised in Mexico, were interviewed using a free listing data collection method. The interviews transpired in Palmetto and St. Petersburg, Florida and in the Costa Maya region of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Through a thematic analysis, (Quinlan, 2017; Robbins & Nolan, 2019) salient terms are identified and a comparison according to gender is presented. The principal objective of this endeavor was to increase cultural awareness and sensitivity among Spanish language students by learning about fiestas y celebraciones through the words of the native speakers themselves. Pedagogical implications and example practices are provided.

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