The number of studies related to students from rural backgrounds in higher education has waned in recent decades; however, over one-third of children in the United States continue to be educated in rural locales and their college-going and college-completion rates lag behind those of their urban and suburban peers. Because many rural students are white, they are typically considered part of the white majority on campuses, but they often encounter challenges unique to students from rural backgrounds and unlike those of their majority white peers from urban or suburban backgrounds. Therefore, a number of researchers have called for additional, qualitative studies regarding students from rural backgrounds as a unique cultural group and their experiences with higher education. The current study utilizes portraiture, the qualitative methodology developed by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot and Jessica Hoffmann-Davis, and a cultural framework combining social capital and critical standpoint theories to explore factors that affect students' enrollment, persistence, experiences, and perceptions related to higher education. Six students from one rural Texas high school who graduated in the top ten percent of their high school classes participated in the study, which included in-depth interviews, observations, and analyses. Each of the students collaborated in the creation of his or her portrait as well; these portraits portray the students' higher education experiences in considerable detail. Several factors are shown to have an impact on the experiences of rural students in higher education, including social capital, relationships, tacit knowledge, and finances. The study also demonstrates that female students from rural backgrounds face additional barriers related to higher education, such as romantic relationships, limitations on their future plans, and self-confidence. Implications for research, practice, and policy are also offered as opportunities to improve the experiences of rural students in higher education, and ultimately, their college enrollment and persistence rates. / text

Em nossa pesquisa partimos da hipótese de que o ensino de uma língua estrangeira no caso, o francês por meio da abordagem de seus aspectos históricoculturais, insumo tido como interessante e atual (ABDALLAH-PRETCEILLE, 1996), promoveria uma aprendizagem inserida no contexto da língua-alvo, facilitando o desenvolvimento da competência comunicativa e da autonomia do aluno e do professor para a gestão do processo como um todo. Ao mesmo tempo, ao traçar um paralelo com a história-cultura da língua materna dos alunos, nós como professora-pesquisadora objetivamos levá-los a repensar a história do seu próprio país, parte integrante da construção de sua identidade como ator social, aspecto que necessariamente aflorará durante a comunicação. Poder compreender a língua e a história do Outro e poder falar sobre sua própria são referências que podem facilitar ao aluno o desenvolvimento da competência sociolinguística e do saber-aprender. A pesquisa realizada, do tipo pesquisa ação, consistiu na elaboração e administração de um curso piloto de FLE, apoiado no cinema e na arte. O tema, previamente negociado com os alunos, foi a Torre Eiffel, abrangendo o período da Belle Époque francesa e utilizando como base para a construção do curso as teorias de Krashen (1982), do pós-método (KUMARAVADIVELU, 2003), da plausibilidade e tarefas (PRABHU, 1990) e a filosofia da pedagogia da autonomia de Freire (2016). Apoiamo-nos também na psicologia social de Gardner (1985), enfatizando o papel das atitudes na aprendizagem e as teorias da autodeterminação de Ryan e Deci (2000) entre outros autores pesquisados. Os dados considerados para a análise e discussão dos resultados compreenderam as tarefas realizadas, a avaliação formal do curso pelos alunos e as observações da pesquisadora. Os resultados obtidos indicam que história e cultura, por meio de filmes e de arte, são temas envolventes e motivadores que despertam a emoção e permitem trabalhar a língua para a comunicação. São também temas instigantes que demandam autonomia dos alunos e do professor para trabalhar o FLE dentro de uma postura crítica, sem descuidar dos aspectos linguísticos. No entanto, exige um aperfeiçoamento docente contínuo. Constatamos, por meio da produção dos alunos, que a autonomia e a motivação se mantêm após as aulas. Concluímos o estudo levantando novas hipóteses para pesquisas adicionais. / We have conducted our research based on the hypothesis that foreign language teaching, in this case French, through an historical and cultural approach, an input deemed current and interesting (ABDALLAH-PRETCEILLE, 1996), would promote learning within the target language context, and facilitate the development of communicative competence and autonomy both of students and teachers to manage the process as a whole. At the same time, by drawing a parallel with the history and culture of students mother tongue, our goal as teacher-researcher is to make them rethink the history of their own country as it is a part of the construction of their identity as social actors, an aspect that will inevitably rise during communication. Being able to understand the language and the history of the Other and to speak about ones own history are references that enable students to improve their sociolinguistic competence and to know how to learn. The action-type research conducted consisted in developing and teaching a FFL pilot course focused on cinema and arts. The theme previously negotiated with the students was the Eiffel Tower. It encompassed the Belle Époque period and used Krashens theories (1982), post method (KUMARAVADIVELU, 2003), plausibility and task-based approach (PRABHU, 2000) as well as the philosophy of Freires pedagogy of autonomy (1996) as reference to design the course. We have also relied on Gardners social psychology (1985) to emphasize the role attitudes play in learning, and Selfdetermination theories (Ryan and Deci, 2000) among other authors researched. The data considered for result analysis and discussion included tasks carried out, students formal course assessment, and the researchers remarks. The results obtained indicate that history and culture by means of movies and arts are compelling and motivating themes that evoke emotion and allow one to work the language for communication. They are also thought-provoking themes that demand autonomy of students and teachers to work FFL from a critical standpoint without neglecting linguistic aspects. However, it requires continuous teacher training. Based on students production we have concluded that autonomy and motivation remain after class. We finish the study by raising new hypotheses for further researches.

Em nossa pesquisa partimos da hipótese de que o ensino de uma língua estrangeira no caso, o francês por meio da abordagem de seus aspectos históricoculturais, insumo tido como interessante e atual (ABDALLAH-PRETCEILLE, 1996), promoveria uma aprendizagem inserida no contexto da língua-alvo, facilitando o desenvolvimento da competência comunicativa e da autonomia do aluno e do professor para a gestão do processo como um todo. Ao mesmo tempo, ao traçar um paralelo com a história-cultura da língua materna dos alunos, nós como professora-pesquisadora objetivamos levá-los a repensar a história do seu próprio país, parte integrante da construção de sua identidade como ator social, aspecto que necessariamente aflorará durante a comunicação. Poder compreender a língua e a história do Outro e poder falar sobre sua própria são referências que podem facilitar ao aluno o desenvolvimento da competência sociolinguística e do saber-aprender. A pesquisa realizada, do tipo pesquisa ação, consistiu na elaboração e administração de um curso piloto de FLE, apoiado no cinema e na arte. O tema, previamente negociado com os alunos, foi a Torre Eiffel, abrangendo o período da Belle Époque francesa e utilizando como base para a construção do curso as teorias de Krashen (1982), do pós-método (KUMARAVADIVELU, 2003), da plausibilidade e tarefas (PRABHU, 1990) e a filosofia da pedagogia da autonomia de Freire (2016). Apoiamo-nos também na psicologia social de Gardner (1985), enfatizando o papel das atitudes na aprendizagem e as teorias da autodeterminação de Ryan e Deci (2000) entre outros autores pesquisados. Os dados considerados para a análise e discussão dos resultados compreenderam as tarefas realizadas, a avaliação formal do curso pelos alunos e as observações da pesquisadora. Os resultados obtidos indicam que história e cultura, por meio de filmes e de arte, são temas envolventes e motivadores que despertam a emoção e permitem trabalhar a língua para a comunicação. São também temas instigantes que demandam autonomia dos alunos e do professor para trabalhar o FLE dentro de uma postura crítica, sem descuidar dos aspectos linguísticos. No entanto, exige um aperfeiçoamento docente contínuo. Constatamos, por meio da produção dos alunos, que a autonomia e a motivação se mantêm após as aulas. Concluímos o estudo levantando novas hipóteses para pesquisas adicionais. / We have conducted our research based on the hypothesis that foreign language teaching, in this case French, through an historical and cultural approach, an input deemed current and interesting (ABDALLAH-PRETCEILLE, 1996), would promote learning within the target language context, and facilitate the development of communicative competence and autonomy both of students and teachers to manage the process as a whole. At the same time, by drawing a parallel with the history and culture of students mother tongue, our goal as teacher-researcher is to make them rethink the history of their own country as it is a part of the construction of their identity as social actors, an aspect that will inevitably rise during communication. Being able to understand the language and the history of the Other and to speak about ones own history are references that enable students to improve their sociolinguistic competence and to know how to learn. The action-type research conducted consisted in developing and teaching a FFL pilot course focused on cinema and arts. The theme previously negotiated with the students was the Eiffel Tower. It encompassed the Belle Époque period and used Krashens theories (1982), post method (KUMARAVADIVELU, 2003), plausibility and task-based approach (PRABHU, 2000) as well as the philosophy of Freires pedagogy of autonomy (1996) as reference to design the course. We have also relied on Gardners social psychology (1985) to emphasize the role attitudes play in learning, and Selfdetermination theories (Ryan and Deci, 2000) among other authors researched. The data considered for result analysis and discussion included tasks carried out, students formal course assessment, and the researchers remarks. The results obtained indicate that history and culture by means of movies and arts are compelling and motivating themes that evoke emotion and allow one to work the language for communication. They are also thought-provoking themes that demand autonomy of students and teachers to work FFL from a critical standpoint without neglecting linguistic aspects. However, it requires continuous teacher training. Based on students production we have concluded that autonomy and motivation remain after class. We finish the study by raising new hypotheses for further researches.