Education Commons^™

Elementary Teacher Experiences With English Language Learners With Special Education Needs In New York, Colleen Ann Cahill

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to understand teacher experiences working with English language learners (ELL) with or suspected of having a learning disability. This study also addressed the current problem of ELL students concurrently being under and over classified as needing special education services. This study explored the experiences of elementary school teachers in the state of New York. The participants were from different school districts within New York State. The participants all had experience teaching students who were designated ELL who were currently in the process of response to intervention (RTI) or had already been referred and classified as having …

Desgarrandonos De Nuestra Lengua: Ripping Us From Our Language, Lillian Ramos, Julia Ramirez

The Qualitative Report

Using a testimonio methodology, this study provides insight on how language ideologies, family, and education in the Texas Borderlands impacted two Latina teachers’ view and understanding of their identity. Through our personal experiences as PK-16 students, classroom teachers, and doctoral students, we were able to understand the colonization of our language and the subsequent endangerment of our bilingualism, which upon reflecting, had an impact on how we see ourselves as individuals, bilinguals, teachers, and Latinas. Our experiences with our bilingualism affected the way in which we perceive ourselves and our community. The reflection and analysis of our experiences allowed us …

The Motivations Of Learning Foreign Languages: A Descriptive Case Study Of Polyglots, Noprival Noprival, Zainal Rafli, Nuruddin Nuruddin

The Qualitative Report

Polyglots are extraordinary people in terms of language ability. Therefore, it is interesting to academically explore their motivations for learning several languages. This research is novel compared to previous studies because scant extant research exists of polyglots’ motivation for learning several languages. To this end, researchers collected data from semi structured interviews obtained from five informants. The method that we used was a descriptive case study. Findings showed that the polyglots’ motivation for learning multiple foreign languages were (a) pleasure, (b) social intercourse, (c) professional purposes, and (d) academic purposes. Mostly, the previous research revealed that motivation for people learning …

Using A Social Support Group To Educate And Empower Immigrant Latina Women, Diana N. Rendon

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to promote mental health education and access to vulnerable South Florida Latina Women. The original intent was to establish a program providing families with mental health education, including information about common mental illnesses, signs and symptoms, community resources, and the impacts on occupations. This capstone experience was conducted with the Magnolias Women's Support Group at Caridad Center, located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The focus areas of this capstone were advocacy, policy and program development, and administration. Furthermore, this capstone project was intended to promote health literacy for underserved populations, especially immigrant women.

“I Finally Marginalized Myself From The Mainstream”: An Autoethnography Study Of Chinese International Student’S Development Of Intercultural Communicative Competence, Yuqi Lin, Hongzhi Zhang

The Qualitative Report

In the higher education market, the cross-border flow of international students has become increasingly apparent. For Australia, China has been a major student source and most of these students have been enrolled in the higher education sector. Such a phenomenon has rendered the innovation of higher education management necessary, and its socio-cultural influence has attracted attention from the Australian government. This study suggests that international students’ intercultural communicative competence (ICC) deficits could influence their self-perceptions thus compromising their ability to communicate with peers. Using a qualitative research approach, the study explores the extent to which China’s College English influences Chinese …

Teachers’ Beliefs And Practices Regarding Assessment In English As A Foreign Language Classrooms In Vietnam, Xuan Van Ha, Nam Giang Tran, Ngoc Hai Tran

The Qualitative Report

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) has generated worldwide popularity as a curriculum innovation, and extensive research has investigated various aspects of the approach. However, little is known about the implementation of classroom assessment in TBLT curricula. This study investigated high school English as a foreign language teachers’ beliefs and practices regarding assessment in a curriculum innovation context in Vietnam. Data comprised in-depth interviews with six teachers, as well as testing documents. The findings revealed a strong impact of the high-stakes exams on teachers’ testing beliefs in that they focused explicitly on linguistic items in the assessed content and forms of assessment. …

Multicultural Engagement Activities To Support Internationalization Of Bilingual Higher Education Programs, Amirullah Abduh, Muhammad Basri, Muhammad Rapi, Rosmaladewi Rosmaladewi

The Qualitative Report

In this paper, we aim to offer multicultural engagement activities to support the internationalization of higher education. This research applies the interpretive qualitative case study with twelve key participants from three different bilingual higher education programs. The study used semi-structured interviews to investigate multicultural engagement activities. The findings of the study show that two important patterns emerged from the data: national multicultural engagement activities and international multicultural engagement activities. The national multicultural engagement can be held in the contexts of formal multicultural engagement activities, semi-formal multicultural engagement activities, and project-based multicultural engagement activities. In addition, the international multicultural engagement activities …

Integrating Dance And Language Education: A Pedagogical Epiphany, Nan Zhang, Jane Southcott, Maria Gindidis

The Qualitative Report

Dance fulfils several educational purposes, particularly in the context of second language teaching and learning. Nevertheless, challenges to implementing dance as an approach to teach and learn a second language do exist. For teachers, it is essential to develop varied pedagogical approaches to suit different student cohorts. But it is not reasonable to expect that every language teacher is a born expert and connoisseur of dance or every dance teacher a born expert and connoisseur of the target language. Moreover, we have not seen studies focus on the development of the pedagogy of using dance as an approach for teaching …

Democratic Community As A Public Of Others: Combating Failed Citizenship In Refugees, Susan Haarman

Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education

Excerpt

Fadi¹ was a surgeon for 15 years before he and his family were resettled from Syria to Chicago. Since arriving here, he’s been able to take work as CNA in a nursing home and has been trying to figure out what of his education may be able to transfer so that he can enroll in nursing school. His wife, formerly a CPA, has had more success with gig economy jobs, but her choppy English has led to several failed interviews for full time work. “She’s absolutely fluent in French, but alas we did not arrive there,” (Haarman, 2020). …

Cultural Capital And Argumentative Writing In English: Challenges And Strategies Used By Efl Student Teachers, Nunung Fajaryani, Amirul Mukminin, Marzul Hidayat, Muhaimin Muhaimin, Eddy Haryanto, Nazurty Nazurty, Lenny Marzulina, Kasinyo Harto, Akhmad Habibi

The Qualitative Report

Writing is one of the most difficult skills in language learning, particularly in learning English as a foreign language. The purposes of this qualitative study were to describe student teachers’ challenges in composing argumentative writing and to explain how they encountered those challenges at one public university teacher-training program in Jambi, Indonesia. The theoretical framework of cultural capital was used to guide the study while the data were collected through demographic profiles and semi-structured in-depth interviews with student teachers. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we only had access to invite 12 students to participate in our study—they were six male …

Contextual Considerations: Revision Of The Wiliam And Thompson (2007) Formative Assessment Framework In The Jamaican Context, Clavia T. Williams-Mcbean

The Qualitative Report

The research context should be carefully considered in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research as it influences the efficacy of the processes and outcomes. This paper describes how contextual factors in the teaching of English in Jamaican secondary schools led to changes in the Wiliam and Thompson (2007) formative assessment framework. Data collected through interviews and observations of 32 teachers of English in the qualitative phase of a mixed-methods study reinforced the conceptualization of formative assessment as a unified framework. However, they elucidated the manifestations of Jamaica’s colonial past and the language context in Jamaican classrooms that necessitated changes to …

Exploring The English Learning Strategies Of An Indigenous Papuan Student Of Indonesia, Seli Marlina Radja Leba Smrl, Ranta -. Butarbutar Sb, Basilius R. Werang Brw

The Qualitative Report

Language learning strategies are crucial for learning English as a foreign language (EFL). This study sought to reveal language learning strategies used by Daniela, an Indigenous Papuan student, in developing her knowledge and skills in English. To gain this objective, a case study (Kohlbacher, 2006) using an in-depth interview was employed. Collected data were qualitatively analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques. Results of data analysis revealed two main categories of learning strategies used by Daniela in solving her learning problems, namely direct and indirect learning strategies. In direct learning strategies Daniela dealt with memory, cognition, and compensation strategies, while in indirect …

Mapping A Language(S) Journey In Science; From Learning Biology To Teaching Biology: An Autoethnography, Primani S. Fernando, Maria Gindidis Dr, Rebecca Cooper Dr.

The Qualitative Report

This paper focuses on my experience as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) student in the context of multiple emigrations and investigates the formation of my identity as an EAL science student, science Education researcher, and science teacher. The study was guided by both my innate curiosity and the research question that sought to explore which factors significantly affected my journey of developing my English language and science knowledge based on my experience as an EAL student. The second and third authors acted as critical friends to provide a layer of reliability to the study. Within the autoethnography methodology …

Acquiring English Then Reacquiring Indonesian: A Study Of Family Language Policy, Aris Bahari Rizki, Muchamad Sholakhuddin Al Fajri

The Qualitative Report

This study investigates how family language policies are shaped and developed in five Indonesian scholars’ families who live in England. More specifically, it analyses parents’ attitudes towards children’s bilingualism and second language development focusing on the investigation of factors that can influence parental language ideologies and the patterns of language practices within the families. Data were obtained from participant observations, fieldnotes, and semi-structured interviews. All the data were then analysed using inductive analysis approaches proposed by Cohen et al. (2011) and Thomas (2006) which include reading the transcripts several times, identifying the texts related to the purpose of the study, …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Language Ideology, Language Management, And Language Practice In English-Medium Universities In Bangladesh: Lecturers’ And Students’ Voices, John Paul Shimanto Sarkar, Abdul Karim, Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan, Shahin Sultana

The Qualitative Report

English Medium Instruction (EMI) is a commonly observed phenomenon in higher education (HE) in the countries where English is mandated as a second or foreign language. The globally conducted studies reported the prospect, practice, problems, and eventualities of EMI in HE. Numbering around 105, private universities in Bangladesh also adopted EMI. Being guided by Cooper (1989) and Spolsky (2009), this phenomenological study explored the language ideology of lecturers and students regarding the benefits of EMI, their remarks about the language management to achieve compatibility for adopting EMI, and their opinion concerning the implementation (language practice) of EMI in the classrooms …

Transcribing In Esl: An Investigation Into Role, Accuracy, And Skills, John G. Patkin

The Qualitative Report

The role, accuracy, and skills of a team of ESL researchers who transcribed more than 3,000 English language learning histories (LLH) from university students in Hong Kong is examined in this paper. The paper provides an insight into the role of transcribers, how they approach their work, the problems they face, and how they overcome them including the conflict of their prior English language learning. A self-administered semi-structured interview and thematic analysis were used in this qualitative study. The findings show that transcribers learned experientially as they combined project guidelines and prior experience to achieve accuracy Transcribers feel more comfortable …

Indonesian Polyglots: Lived Experiences Of Adults Learning Languages Online And Beyond The Classroom, Noprival Noprival, Zainal Rafli, Nuruddin Nuruddin, Dustin De Felice

The Qualitative Report

Learning languages independently can be more accessible in today’s online environment. Polyglots, who are speakers of more than three languages, take advantage of this online learning environment to learn even more languages in Indonesia. Using transcendental phenomenology, the researchers interviewed these adult learners on their lived experience with online platforms for learning languages not traditionally spoken or used in daily life in Indonesia. Researchers found that the polyglots reported learning many foreign languages through interactive resources, receptive resources, social media, and authentic resources. Importantly, they held positive attitudes towards online learning platforms and their experiences left them with feelings of …

My Journey As An Emergent Bilingual, Cynthia Villarreal Cantu

The Qualitative Report

This autoethnography was conducted at an elementary school not far from the South Texas border. I documented how my journey as a kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade student has impacted me to become a better educator. Through this qualitative study, I planned to determine if my childhood experiences as an emergent bilingual learner have made an impact in my teaching and the connections I have formed with my students. I analyzed observations of my current teaching practices and my elementary report cards and test scores. After observing my students’ interactions among their peers and my reaction towards their conversations, I found …

Addressing Health-Related Myths In The Culturally Diverse African American Population: A Call To Action, Lucson Joseph

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

African Americans (AAs) experience numerous challenges that socially, economically, and physically affect their communities. Recent studies have found that a diverse array AAs encounter many struggles as they navigate the United States (U.S.) healthcare system to access care and receive healthcare services. AA communities are significantly affected by the burden of chronic diseases. They face considerable barriers to healthcare services that contribute to adverse health outcomes. This paper explains the daily struggles many AAs face within their communities to access and navigate the healthcare system due to culturally held myths and barriers. This paper discusses commonly held myths among Afro-Caribbean …