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Full-Text Articles in Education

How Do We Teach All Students In Monolingual Classrooms? A Study Of Transfer And Translingualism, Norma Denae Dibrell May 2018

How Do We Teach All Students In Monolingual Classrooms? A Study Of Transfer And Translingualism, Norma Denae Dibrell

Theses and Dissertations

I take the work of Lorimer and Nowacek in “Transfer and Translingualism,” as a starting point to address these questions. In “Transfer and Translingualism” they argue that transfer and translingualism “both index movement among contexts, practices, or meaning” while “neither suggests a neutral carrying over of knowledge from one context or language to another” (260) and thus acknowledge prior knowledge and prior experience. Lorimer and Nowacek call for transfer researchers to look at language diversity “beyond recognition of difference to the matrices of power that regulate that difference” and to ask questions about how to measure transfer (261-262). Consequently, in …


Testing Acceptance Of Language Difference In Academia: Perceptions In A First-Year Composition Classroom, Crystal Rodriguez Aug 2017

Testing Acceptance Of Language Difference In Academia: Perceptions In A First-Year Composition Classroom, Crystal Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

In response to Bawarshi’s collective call for educators to be “more responsive and responsible users and teachers of English,” and motivated by the research of Michelle Hall Kells, I argue that it is necessary for educators to introduce first-year writing students to the historical and sociopolitical aspects of language use in academia through implementing lessons that focus on facets of language diversity. After describing a lesson plan focused on language diversity, I then analyze student feedback using Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis as a lens. I also discuss the results of a Likert scale implemented during the three-phase study. Student …


The Effectiveness Of Teacher Involvement In The Design Of A Writing Curriculum, Jennifer O. Garcia Aug 2016

The Effectiveness Of Teacher Involvement In The Design Of A Writing Curriculum, Jennifer O. Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

A South Texas school district, PSJA ISD was studied to demonstrate whether classroom teachers can collaborate and create an effective curriculum and resources for the students of the district. The paper will include data from the STAAR Test that has been released during 2011-2015, interviews of teachers that were part of the curriculum team, and data from the United States Census Bureau to understand the demographics of the region. Data that is included will compare the State of Texas to the district before the teacher-created curriculum was in place and after the teacher-created curriculum was implemented.


Hispanic Bilingual Learners' Perceptions And Educational Experiences Of Spanish-Speaking In South Texas, Isela B. Stephens Aug 2016

Hispanic Bilingual Learners' Perceptions And Educational Experiences Of Spanish-Speaking In South Texas, Isela B. Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

The present study focuses on a subset of data obtained from a larger interdisciplinary project, Proyecto Posible, which investigates how sociocultural and instructional factors predict positive outcomes among Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanic bilingual learners. As one part of Proyecto Posible, interviewers asked learners to speak in their language of preference about their experiences in school and feelings developed during interactions with others, as bilinguals. This study examines the qualitative component on bilingual learners’ perceptions of their own language proficiency in English and Spanish, perceptions of language use across a broad range of contexts including school, home, and community, …


Global-To-Local-To-Global: A Model For Tutoring Esl Students In The Writing Center, David Aguilar May 2016

Global-To-Local-To-Global: A Model For Tutoring Esl Students In The Writing Center, David Aguilar

Theses and Dissertations

Since its inception, the writing center has always focused on traditional students, and today that tradition is continued in such a way that the overwhelming amount of research dedicated to writing center theory and practice addresses the concerns of those students. However, universities with unique student populations, such as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with its majority of Hispanic students, require novel practices within their writing centers. Moreover, much of the linguistic, social, and cultural factors of the region are not well documented and therefore are not addressed by the mainstream theory and practices of other universities. With …


Adult Hispanic Students' Attitudes Toward Writing In English In A U.S. Bilingual Community, Analynn Bustamante May 2016

Adult Hispanic Students' Attitudes Toward Writing In English In A U.S. Bilingual Community, Analynn Bustamante

Theses and Dissertations

Attitude is widely regarded as a key component for writing achievement. This study explores the relationship between students’ language dominance and their attitudes toward writing in English. Seventy-seven Hispanic adult students were recruited to participate in a survey. Four writing domains were tested: writing in general, writing in STEM courses, writing in humanities courses and writing in electronic communication. Participants’ attitudes toward four different writing domains were compared. Significant difference was found between attitudes toward general writing attitudes and attitudes toward writing STEM courses, as well as between general writing and writing in humanities courses. Additionally, participants were divided by …


Palatalizacion Del Fonema /D/ Ante Vocal Anterior En El Español Como Segunda Lengua De Los Brasileños En El Sur De Texas, Carlos Cornejo May 2016

Palatalizacion Del Fonema /D/ Ante Vocal Anterior En El Español Como Segunda Lengua De Los Brasileños En El Sur De Texas, Carlos Cornejo

Theses and Dissertations

Este trabajo de investigación se enfocará en la palatalización del fonema dental /d/ antes de las vocales /i/y /e/, por personas de origen brasileño que hablan español en el área del sur de Texas. El estudio se realizará a nueve participantes de origen brasileño, que hablan como L2 el español a los cuales se les hará una entrevista con duración de más de 30 minutos. Los participantes aprendieron el español de diferentes maneras, ya sea de forma académica o de manera independiente. Considerando una transferencia de L1 en la producción del español por lo parecido de estas dos lenguas.


The Effects Of Project-Based Learning On The Academic And Linguistic Achievement Of Emergent Bilingual Learners: A Mixed Methods Approach, Melinda Hardy May 2016

The Effects Of Project-Based Learning On The Academic And Linguistic Achievement Of Emergent Bilingual Learners: A Mixed Methods Approach, Melinda Hardy

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the academic and linguistic impact of teaching emergent bilingual leaners through robotics project-based learning aligned to state standards. Two hundred ten middle school students attending a public charter school in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas participated in the study. Twenty percent of the students were emergent bilingual learners. Qualitative observation notes recorded students’ learning process as they completed an adapted Khan Academy robotics project. The students also completed pre- and post-assessments that quantitatively measured academic and linguistic gains. Emergent bilingual learners grew 20.1% points in academic content and 28.6% points in language development (p …


Alzamiento De Vocales Medias En El Español Como L2 De Brasileños En El Sur De Texas, Estela Hernandez May 2016

Alzamiento De Vocales Medias En El Español Como L2 De Brasileños En El Sur De Texas, Estela Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

En este trabajo examinaré el alzamiento de vocales en el español como L2 de brasileños en el sur de Texas. Analizaré este fenómeno desde un punto sociolingüístico variacionista. Propongo que el alzamiento de vocales medias en posición átona entre los participantes es afectado por factores lingüísticos y sociolingüísticos. Algunos de los factores lingüísticos que se estudiarán son; posición de vocal, número de sílabas, sonido previo y sonido posterior. Los factores sociolingüísticos que se verán son tiempo viviendo en un país hispanohablante, años de educación formal en español, y primera lengua de pareja. Los resultados serán analizados en el programa estadístico …


The Effect Of A Writing Course On The English Language Arts State Assessment Examination In A South Texas High School, Esmeralda V. Munoz Dec 2015

The Effect Of A Writing Course On The English Language Arts State Assessment Examination In A South Texas High School, Esmeralda V. Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact a writing course will have on test scores for At-Risk students who are taking the English I and/or English II State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness End-of-Course exam. The group analyzed was comprised of 2nd and 3rd year cohort students.


Estrategias Utilizadas En Aulas Bilingues En La Ensenanza De La Lectura En Espanol, Maria Marquez Dec 2013

Estrategias Utilizadas En Aulas Bilingues En La Ensenanza De La Lectura En Espanol, Maria Marquez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Para este estudio se observaron las diferentes estrategias utilizadas en aulas bilingües en la enseñanza de la lectura en español. Asimismo, este estudio cualitativo observó las diferentes estrategias utilizadas por los maestros en los salones de clase bilingües donde se enfocó la lectura en español. La meta de este estudio es que los maestros bilingües del preescolar rebasen todos las expectativas de la enseñanza en la lectura, que estén capacitados para la enseñanza en español y que faciliten las estrategias de la lectura para promover la fluidez lectora. Las estrategias investigadas son aquellas que promueven la fluidez y la comprensión …


Re-Envisioning Professional Development For The Teaching Of Writing: Lessons Learned From The National Writing Project And Where We Go From Here, Susan M. Diaz May 2012

Re-Envisioning Professional Development For The Teaching Of Writing: Lessons Learned From The National Writing Project And Where We Go From Here, Susan M. Diaz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In this thesis, I compare what we know about the teaching of writing from thirty years of disciplinary research and development versus what secondary pre-service and in-service teachers know about it. In terms of theoretical and practical alignment, I also examine the transition in Texas from one standardized test (TAKS) to another (STAAR) and the implications for teachers. Finally, I outline a Professional Development sequence for secondary school teachers that would better prepare teachers to teach writing across the secondary school curriculum, including an argument for particularly effective methods of delivery for communicating this information. This professional development design includes, …


Hijos Como Mediadores Lingüísticos Entre Padres Y Diferentes Entidades Sociales, Mercedes Huerta May 2011

Hijos Como Mediadores Lingüísticos Entre Padres Y Diferentes Entidades Sociales, Mercedes Huerta

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Este estudio se apoyó fundamentalmente en el análisis de encuestas en las que participaron hijos de familias migrantes. Los encuestados, cuando eran menores de edad, sirvieron como mediadores lingüísticos entre sus padres y diferentes entidades sociales. El objetivo del estudio fue descubrir el impacto emocional, académico, intrafamiliar y social que la experiencia de ser mediadores lingüísticos dejó en la vida de los participantes. Los encuestados, que ahora son mayores de edad, analizaron en retrospectiva las experiencias que vivieron cuando ayudaron a sus padres fungiendo como mediadores lingüísticos. Así mismo, los participantes tuvieron la oportunidad de compartir anécdotas y comentarios con …


Attitudes Of Mexican Nationals Toward The Use Of Code Switching In The Rio Grande Valley, Jennifer M. Vojtko May 2004

Attitudes Of Mexican Nationals Toward The Use Of Code Switching In The Rio Grande Valley, Jennifer M. Vojtko

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to establish the beliefs and attitudes of Mexican Nationals living in the Rio Grande Valley toward the use of code switching, or the use of two or more languages during a speech act. Because of the high influence of the Spanish language in the Rio Grande Valley, code switching is more commonly referred to as Spanglish. Researchers have been studying code switching since the early fifties; however, limited research has been conducted on attitudes toward code switching. The goal of this study is to offer a comprehensive look at the attitudes demonstrated by Mexican …


A Content Validity Analysis Of The University Of Texas-Pan American English 1320 Grammar And Usage Exam, Cynthia Eilene Elder Aug 1992

A Content Validity Analysis Of The University Of Texas-Pan American English 1320 Grammar And Usage Exam, Cynthia Eilene Elder

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the degree of content validity of the grammar and usage exam administered to The University of Texas-Pan American's developmental writing classes (English 1320). Final exam essays from the freshman composition course (English 1301) were divided into groups according to their scores and examined for the occurrence of adjective agreement, apostrophe, pronoun usage, punctuation of clause, sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, and tense usage errors, which are tested on the exam. An Analysis of Variance was then calculated for each error type; none of the error types proved statistically significant at the.05 level. The students within each group did …