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Jul 25, 2025
Abstract
This paper analyzes essays by nine English pedagogy students in Chile, written as a response to a national contest that took the poem “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes as a springboard to the expression of the students’ own dreams and aspirations regarding their country. The vision of these future educators is analyzed from a Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) perspective, specifically from conventional qualitative content analysis, that identified nine different themes. The findings reveal a collective desire among the students for educational reform as a catalyst for social reform. Each essay contributes a unique perspective to the idea of a more just and equitable Chilean society through education. The implications of these findings emphasize the role of educators as agents of change in a society that needs an urgent transformation. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering insights into how future teachers see education reforms as the answer to broader social reforms.
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