Digital Commons Network^™

The Role-Space Of Italian Sign Language Educational Interpreters: An Ethnographic Case Study Of Interpreters At The Istituto Comprensivo Di Cossato, Martin A. Crudo

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This dissertation explores the role-space of educational interpreters at IC Cossato, an Italian public school known for its Bilingualism Project promoting LIS-Italian bilingualism and biliteracy (Rivisto, 2016; Teruggi, 2003). Role-space theory (Lee, 2023; Llewellyn-Jones & Lee, 2013, 2014) conceptualizes interpreters’ roles as dynamic and co-constructed with interlocutors along three axes: Presentation of Self, Interaction Management, and Participant Alignment. Through ethnographic interviews (Spradley, 2016), observations and field notes (Emerson et al. 2011; Glesne, 2016), and policy artifacts (Hornberger & Johnson, 2011), I investigate how three interpreters in IC Cossato’s elementary school perceive and enact their roles, often diverging from their …

Realizing And Practicing Teaching As A Calling: Narratives From Black Women Teachers In Urban K-12 Public Schools, De'ana Renee Mauldin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research and scholarship frequently ignore and dismiss the unique experiences and perspectives of Black women teachers. They bring with them a unique angle of vision through various race, gender, cultural, and historical intersections that inform their spirituality-based pedagogy and outlook while providing instruction in urban public schools.The purpose of this qualitative dissertation study is to examine the narratives and amplify the voices of Black women K-12 teachers in urban public schools to address how they realized teaching as a calling. Teaching as a calling is more than simply a job and source of income for these teachers. Understanding of this …

Exploring The Relationship Of Program Type On Multilingual Learners Students’ English Growth And Promotion In Secondary School, Simone M. Wilkinson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study explores the relationships between tenure as Multilingual Learners (MLs), English proficiency, academic performance, and promotion among middle and high school students. This study is grounded in Bourdieu’s (1967, 2018) theory, which emphasizes that schools perpetuate cultural norms by limiting ML’s language access and post-secondary success. Also informed by Krashen’s (1982, 1985, 2003) theory of Input Hypothesis, this study investigates how meaningful interaction is key for language learning. The primary research questions explore: (1) Is there a relationship between students’ tenure as a ML, English proficiency, and promotion through secondary school? (2) Is the EL program type for MLs …

Rootless - The Body Remembers What The Mind Has Forgotten, Helena Omana-Zapata

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

In repurposing academic spaces for healing, this project is meant to culminate in an artefact that aligns with decolonial educational practices, focusing on accessibility. In doing so, this project braids multimodality, re-represented history, and testimonio of various genres: personal narrative, Latinx story and resistance, critical examination of history and reproductions of information to depict my experience of detaching from cultural identity through assimilation and acculturation in the United States in education. In what I have called the process of leaving me rootless, I no longer had access to the places, people, identity, or language that established belonging. However, through …

Seeing The Bigger Picture: A Comparative Approach To English Language Learner Policy And Practice In Mississippi, Anne Haughton

Honors Theses

As the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in Mississippi’s public schools continues to rise, the state’s current systems of support have been lagging. This thesis examines how English Language Learners (ELLs) are supported in three states with distinct policies and programs: California, Texas, and Arizona. Then, these approaches are compared to the current situation in Mississippi. Using public education policies, state department guidelines, and existing research on instructional models, the study highlights key differences in program options, teacher preparation, and graduation outcomes in each state. The findings show that while states like California and Texas have invested in bilingualism …

“Let Me Be A Bridge”: Language Brokering Among Emerging Adult Latina Professionals In The Midwest, Elise M. Dubord

Faculty Publications

In immigrant families, bilingual children and adolescents regularly act as translators and interpreters for family and community members who are not fluent in the dominant language. These childhood language brokers later shift the focus of their translation activities as they transition into adulthood and develop professional skills. This research explores narratives of language brokering trajectories of three bilingual Latinas who were emerging adult professionals in three cities in Iowa. Based on a series of interviews collected over a 15 month period, this analysis examines how participants described realigning their family language responsibilities while simultaneously transferring their language brokering skills to …

The Multilingual Book Club Model: Engaging Multilingual Learners In Bilingual (Spanish-English) Graphic Novel Book Clubs To Acquire Language And Vocabulary, Maureen L. Flanagan

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

This project explores the importance of using translanguaging to support multilingual learners in predominantly English speaking classrooms. The main intent is to provide an engaging curriculum that provides culturally responsive material for multilingual students whose home language is Spanish. The project explores seminal research in second language acquisition and the importance of vocabulary instruction. It also acknowledges the importance of the Book Club Model

Strategies For Multilingual Student Success In The Classroom, Irene Hvidhyld

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper analyzed current research on the effective instructional strategies used for multilingual learners to be successful in the mainstream classroom. Each year in the United States, there is a growing number of multilingual students in the mainstream classroom (Cunningham & Crawford, 2016). Students whom with the lack of knowledge of impactful strategies are not reaching their full potential and can be looked at as students with greater needs, such as a learning disability (Naiditch, 2021). This paper explored the inherent need for educators to be provided with the appropriate tools and knowledge to make education more accessible for multilingual …

Effectively Preparing Preservice Mainstream Teachers For Teaching Multilingual Learners, Gail R. Olson

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper investigated research-based curricular components for increasing the preparedness of preservice mainstream teachers (PSMTs) to teach multilingual learners (MLs). An increase in MLs in classrooms across the United States and changes in models for delivering English language development services have resulted in the growing need for general education teachers to be proficient in meeting the unique language needs of MLs while also delivering content-area instruction. PSMTs have been historically unprepared to adequately teach MLs within general education or content-area classes (Christison, 2023; Deng & Hayden, 2021; Lavery et al., 2019; Mahalingappa et al., 2018; Prasad & Heidt, 2023). To …

Aquí Y Ahora A Dance Tribute To Gustavo Cerati And The Expression Of Hispanic Immigrant Identity In New York City, Karina Terán

Theses and Dissertations

This Thesis explores how dance serves as a language of cultural identity among Hispanic immigrants in New York City. Through a multidisciplinary performance and research, it reflects lived experiences, blending movement and music to celebrate legacy, resilience, and community, while honoring the influence of Argentine rock icon Gustavo Cerati.

"I Never Really Saw Anybody That Looked Like Me In A Book": A Positioning Theory Analysis Of Preservice Teachers' Critical Reflections., Melissa Lee Zipper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand how preservice teachers develop their criticality within a semester long undergraduate course focused on children’s literature. This study addresses a well-documented practical knowledge gap in education research: although preservice teachers claim to understand the importance of a culturally relevant and sustaining curriculum, they do not know how to effectuate that curriculum when it comes to their future classrooms. Using Positioning Theory as a theoretical lens and an analytical tool, the study explores how preservice teachers position themselves in relation to developing their criticality through participation in a course curriculum purposefully …

‘Maybe It's What We've Been Doing?’: Exploring Mtss For Emergent Bilingual Students With Disabilities, Crystal Nunez

Honors Theses

This qualitative study investigated the interpretation and implementation of Multi-Tiered System
of Supports (MTSS) as it related to emergent bilingual students with disabilities in one of the
largest suburban school districts in Upstate New York. The purpose of this study was to explore
the needs, experiences, beliefs, and practices (individual and collaborative) of teachers who
support a growing population of emergent bilingual students with and without disabilities and their
families in an increasingly diverse suburban community. The goal of this study is to inform best
practices as well as new directions in research, policy, and educators’ continued and supportive
professional …

Re-Imagining Education For English Language Learners: How Educational Leaders Meet Diverse Students' Needs, Maryam Kased

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

English Language Learners are the fastest growing group of students in the U.S. School leaders understanding and decisions influence the programs or services provided to ELL’s (Mavrogordato & White, 2020; DeMatthews, & Tarlau, 2019). Educators and educational leader’s attitudes, perceptions, and understandings of these students impact their learning (Murphy & Torff, 2018; & Garcia et al., 2019). The purpose of this narrative qualitative research study (Riessman, 2008; Arnault & Sinko, 2021) is to examine and understand educational leadership decisions as it pertains to English Language Learners. The research setting and context for the study are education, educational leaders, elementary schools, …

The Global Classroom: A Phenomenological Study Of International Student Experiences In A Reimagined Intercultural Communication Course, Crystal Bock Thiessen

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines the experiences of multilingual international student participants who took part in a semester-long intercultural communication course that was purposefully designed and implemented with half enrollment each of domestic and international students at a Midwestern American university. Despite university efforts towards internationalization, they often fall short of the meaningful engagement needed truly promote intercultural and mutual understanding. International and domestic students share classroom and other spaces on campus, yet they remain overwhelmingly disconnected from one another. Using phenomenology and Baker’s (2011) model of Intercultural Awareness, this study analyzed the international students’ experience in this course to learn more …

Impact Of Bilingual Education On The Academics Of Elementary School Students, Angelica M. Lopez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This research investigates the impact of bilingual education on the academic performance of elementary school students, with a particular focus on Hispanic students in the Soledad area. As bilingual education continues to grow in importance across the United States, understanding its influence on students' academic outcomes is crucial. This study explores the definition, types, and historical evolution of bilingual education, with emphasis on how bilingual programs affect elementary school students' cognitive development, academic performance, and overall school experience. Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the research includes surveys administered to teachers and parents, assessing their perspectives on the availability and …

Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Entretejiendo Voces Bilingües En La Frontera [Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Interweaving Bilingual Voices At The Border], Gloria Sarahi Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

El presente estudio cualitativo explora las autohistorias de cuatro maestras bilingües que viven y enseñan en el Valle del Sur de Texas, una región fronteriza entre Estados Unidos y México. A través de pláticas íntimas, tejimos juntas narrativas que revelan la complejidad de ser mujer, ser educadora, ser transnacional, y ser bilingüe en un espacio donde las lenguas, culturas e identidades se cruzan, se fracturan y se reconstruyen. “Pláticas can provide a space of healing as the platicadoras release past trauma and current struggles rigged with sexism, racism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism” (Morales et al., 2023). Utilizando un …

Exploring Secondary Content And Career And Technical Education (Cte) Teacher Self-Efficacy In Supporting The Literacy Needs Of Long-Termed Emergent Bilinguals: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry, Jennifer Louise Burden

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation employed a mixed-methods convergent design, incorporating survey data and semi-structured interviews to investigate the self-efficacy of high school teachers in content areas and Career and Technical Education (CTE) towards their perceived abilities to support emergent bilingual students, particularly in content-specific literacy.

Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Bandura's (1977) self-efficacy theory and Dweck's (2008) growth mindset, this study explores how educators' perceptions of their abilities impact their instructional practices and student outcomes.

Findings reveal a need for more training and resources to increase student engagement, which impacts academic outcomes and attendance and calls for comprehensive reforms in teacher …

¿Puedo Decirlo En Español?: Teacher Views On Utilizing Translanguaging Pedagogies To Bridge The Language Gap In Secondary Classrooms, Luis Carlos Bocanegra

Theses and Dissertations

Translanguaging disrupts the notion of language as a fixed, separate system, offering a deeper insight into how individuals fluidly navigate and construct meaning across linguistic boundaries. This research study uses narrative research and participatory action research to employ translanguaging as a pedagogical framework to create inclusive spaces where emergent bilinguals could fully utilize their linguistic repertoire in secondary schools in the borderlands of the Rio Grande Vally in deep South Texas.

The findings of this study are organized into two overarching themes: cultural relevance and inclusivity in borderland schools, which brings to light the importance of culture, inclusivity, and supportive …

Mi Testimonio: The Beginning Of My Healing Journey, Maria A. Vega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My testimonio, presented as my dissertation, is a deep and personal reflection on my experiences as an immigrant and multilingual student. I share my story by trenzando—braiding—lived experiences, critical analysis, and relevant research on immigration and trauma, language and identity, and the links between multilingualism and academic success. Through deep reflection and analysis, I draw on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (1943), Giles and Johnson’s Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory (1981), and García’s (2009) translanguaging framework to explore the following questions:

1. How does the oppression of one’s linguistic and cultural practices affect identity development?
2. How does my story—my testimonio—empower the mother, …

Supporting Multilingualism In Early Childhood Education: The Vital Role Of Teacher Development, Ebeny Salazar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The expansion of multilingualism, the ability to speak and understand more than one language, has added to a culturally diverse world today. With these abilities, those who are multilingual from diverse backgrounds are often met with resistance against the dominant Westernized culture. Currently, there is not adequate training in the United States for teachers to be able to implement a multilingual curriculum in early childhood settings and classrooms. There are many benefits to providing a diverse classroom environment, which can have a positive impact on the young learners present. The importance of supporting multilingual children, specifically in early childhood, is …

Pedro Aceves Mfa Thesis, Pedro M. Aceves

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My Work is about looking at Cruising through a queer decolonial lens. Using multiple mediums such as photo, glass, Augmented reality, and film, I explore these queer histories and aesthetics through not just an anthropological approach but also an artistic epistemological approach weaving together narratives of prehispanic and modern queer Latinidad.

The Effect Of Storyline Units On The Self-Efficacy And Science Identity Of High School Multilingual Learners, Kristin Ambrose

All Dissertations

Science can be a complex subject for multilingual learners (MLLs) because it requires investigating science concepts through modeling and analysis in addition to reading and writing skills. This complexity often leaves teachers unsure of how to support the MLLs, leading to MLLs missing out on grade-appropriate content and science experiences. Storyline instruction uses 3D instruction to teach science content necessary to explain a real-world anchoring phenomenon. Storyline instruction grounds learning in real-world contexts through anchoring phenomena and provides coherence for students throughout the lessons. This mixed methods study aimed to discover the impact of storyline units on the self-efficacy (SE) …

The Effect Of Mobile Augmented Reality On The Self-Efficacy Of Adults Learning English In The U.S., Cinamon S. Bailey

All Dissertations

For foreign-born adults living in the U.S., learning, speaking, and understanding English is essential to be able to work, access needed resources, facilitate healthcare, communicate with teachers at a child’s school, and build relationships and communicate with others within their communities. Yet, many of these individuals have limited English proficiency and are unable to speak and understand the language well. There are some opportunities to learn English in the U.S. as a foreign-born adult, but these avenues of learning are limited in the type of personalized, contextualized, and real-world language learning opportunities that are provided. There is a need to …

An Invitation To Language: Fostering Critical Language Awareness Through Assignment Design, Amrutha Smith

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

First-year composition (FYC) instructors are often required to teach institution-issued course outcomes alongside their personal values. The author proposes a pedagogy to identify how teachers can invite rhetorical and linguistic agency in student writers and teach toward institutional objectives. To do so, the author shares her approach for revising existing and creating new FYC assignments that invite students to use their multiple codes and languagings (ways of communicating) in their writing. The assignments are driven by translanguaging approaches in writing instruction, specifically code-meshing and Critical Language Awareness (CLA), a theoretical framework coined by Shapiro, and integrate three settings in which …

Reflections On Teaching Language And Culture In The French Dual Language Immersion Classroom, Aminata Sylla

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This portfolio is representative of the author’s work in the Masters in Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program and classroom experience. The reflection paper explores teaching French in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) and Bridge secondary education context and evaluates specific examples of innovative teaching. The aims of this reflection are twofold: first, to reflect on how the author improved her teaching effectiveness through this experience and through the USU MSLT program; second, to suggest best practices in the French DLI classroom. Both practical and theoretical, the reflection focuses on the author’s own experiences teaching Bridge program intermediate and advanced-proficiency level …

The Art Of Engagement: Personal Connections, Innovative Practices, And Goal-Driven Language Motivation, Margrit Staiger

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This portfolio includes the author’s personal experiences, practices, and perspectives for teaching languages, all refined and revitalized during her time in the Master of Second Language Teaching program at Utah State University. The author’s teaching perspectives have been informed by her experiences teaching French to primary, secondary, and university students, as well as by courses taken throughout the program. The following consists of three main pieces: the author’s teaching philosophy, an overview of research and practical applications of Game-Based Learning, and finally, research on factors that influence continuation of Arabic, French, and German in a university program.

Beyond The Basics Motivation And Assessment In Sustaining Arabic Learning, Laila Eissa

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This portfolio presents the teaching philosophy, examples of teaching approaches and techniques, and a research project of the writer for the Master of Second Language Teaching at Utah State University (USU). It highlights collaboration with colleagues and faculty in Second Language Acquisition research, providing an overall overview of the entire experience. The research in this portfolio explores the theories behind language teaching and assessment through two sections: first, the teaching philosophy, and second, hands-on experience section. The third section focuses on the main research paper, which examines the motivational factors influencing students in Arabic, French, and German classes to continue …

Linguistic (In) Security And Persistence In Doctoral Studies: A Mixed-Methods Study Of The Impact Of Metapragmatic Discourses On The Persistence Of Multilingual Doctoral Students, Germaine Tondji

Theses and Dissertations

Linguistic beliefs and practices in doctoral studies have often been overlooked, partly due to the assumption that advanced students face fewer language-related challenges. However, research on multilingualism in hypernormative academic contexts suggests that linguistic concerns persist even among the most educated. Multilingual doctoral students (MDSs) operate at the intersection of multiple linguistic and epistemic systems. In English-dominant, monoglossic environments, they must not only navigate the complexities of doctoral study but also reconcile competing linguistic and epistemic identities. This study explores the role of linguistic insecurity (LI) in MDSs' doctoral persistence through a mixed-methods design. The quantitative phase draws on survey …

Non-Esl High School Teachers’ Instructional Training And Professional Development Needs And Their Emergent Bilingual Student Classrooms, Brynn Erin Caddell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. emergent bilingual student population continues to grow and is projected to increase nationwide. The growing population of students has specific academic and social needs that need to be addressed and provided for emergent bilingual students to be successful. This qualitative case study examined the instructional needs of high school non-English as a second language (ESL) teachers who serve emergent bilingual students and how the district can support the instructional practices of high school teachers in an urban school district in Texas. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of instructional training and professional development for secondary …

Am I Woke Enough To Serve In Healthcare: A Secondary Analysis Of Pre-Health Students’ Personal And Professional Growth By Engaging In Cultural Competency Assessments, Harolynn Williams

All Dissertations

Healthcare providers must be equipped to serve an increasingly diverse population, yet cultural competence remains underemphasized in undergraduate pre-health education. This study explored how embedded cultural competency training influences undergraduate pre-health students’ perceptions of personal and professional growth. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the research incorporated intercultural assessments, the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and the Global Competence Certificate (GCC), along with qualitative reflections from students enrolled in three versions of a cultural competence course: a year-long course, a semester-long course, and a short-term study abroad immersion six-week course. Findings revealed that students demonstrated measurable growth in cultural awareness, knowledge, communication, …