Children of Brazilian migrant families as Portuguese-speaking students in Toronto: Class matters

Abstract Children of Brazilian migrant families in Toronto may be indiscriminately identified as Portuguese-speaking students, an expression used by local school districts mainly in reference to Portuguese-Canadians displaying poor academic achievement. Interviews with students of Brazilian origin who attend schools in one same large School District and their families show, however, different socioeconomic profiles, as indicated by the regions of residence and the occupations of parents, and contrasting language ideologies. Samples of the interviewees' discourse in each profile about the value of speaking Portuguese reveal signs that unskilled migrants are closer to the Portuguese-speaking ethnoclass. The choice to avoid speaking Portuguese by a student in this profile with high academic aspirations reinforces the understanding of various perspectives of what it is to be a Portuguese-speaking student in Toronto. The study reinforces the relevance of social class for contemporary language studies, and contributes to a nuanced characterization of international migrant groups.