Constructing academic hierarchies

In this paper I look at how through the use of teasing as a socially recurrent activity members multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic peer group (comprised majority Greek minority Turkish-speaking children Roma heritage) make particular identity ascriptions displays salient position themselves others in ways talk during break-time an Athens primary school. Taking point departure that identities are produced relationally, systems opposition (Barth 1969), deals with school-based exploit versatile discursive device to construct one “poor” pupil by extension “good” pupils talk-in-interaction. The focus on situated relational construction makes visible regard order academic hierarchies. At same time, it brings fore such positionings may reproduce but also challenge powerful institutional discourses success failure circulation classroom negotiating options closer their concerns. These processes demonstrate social selves interaction contestation collaboration be simultaneously chosen imposed language use.