Digital Commons Network^™

Reading Your Way Into Culture: A Materials Development Project, Marie Nestingen

MA TESOL Collection

The focus of this paper is to help beginning Spanish foreign language students increase and improve their reading skills in the target language while learning about some of the Hispanic culture and customs in Guatemala. In this paper I will combine the two, explaining and giving examples of how students, novice language learners, can learn more about the target language culture while improving their reading skills in the target language.

Teaching Negotiation: The Choices, Ljerka Sedlan Konig

MA TESOL Collection

This paper discusses the choices for teaching business skills in an elective negotiation skills course in the graduate program for entrepreneurs at the Department of Economics, University of Osijek. The paper first describes the author's teaching context. Then, it offers the author's views of learning and teaching, and discusses the relationship between students and the material they learn, between students and teacher, between individual students as well as the relationship the student has with himself . Next, the theoretical frameworks of Reflective Model, Experiential Learning and Reflective Teaching are presented. In the third chapter, the paper discusses techniques and materials …

Integrating Technology Into Standards-Based Instruction For Second Grade English Language Learners, Catherine Levander Enbody

Theses Digitization Project

Rapid growth in the use of technology and the need for education reform resulted in the need for educators to integrate technology and standards-based instruction into their daily lessons. The growing number of students whose first language is not English requires a diverse set of teaching strategies and assessments to provide these students with optimal opportunities for achieving high standards.

Using Technologies Of The Self To Stimulate Students' Intelligences In English As A Foreign Language Learning, Shao-Hung Chen

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this curriculum project is to provide an approach to enrich the process of teaching and learning. This project uses psychological tools to stimulate students' multiple intelligences and to encourage students to know how to manage their learning, so that learning English will no longer be boring; instead it will be creative and practical.

Patterns Of Invented Spelling In Spanish, Mercedes Pérez

Theses Digitization Project

This study proposes to examine the invented spelling patterns that Spanish speaking children create in their writing. Their writing samples were then transcribed and each word was categorized as either conventional or an invented spelling.

A Parent Workshop For Motivating Emergent Literacy In English, Patricia Jean Bohanan

Theses Digitization Project

The goal of this project is to help teachers create a motivation-enhancing literacy environment that increases students' reading ability, improves the understanding of written material, fosters a love of reading, and develops life-long learners.

Teacher Attitudes And The Reading Achievement Of English Language Learners, Sandra Magdalena Ahumada-Penaloza

Theses Digitization Project

English language learners need teachers who are knowledgeable about the children they are teaching and they must be willing to learn more about their students' cultures, backgrounds and languages in order to make their educational experience meaningful.

Incorporating Intercultural Communication Instruction In Programs For Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages, Selin Yildiz

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Academic Success In High School Spanish One Classes Between Hispanic And Non-Hispanic Surname Students, Joshua David Runyan

Theses Digitization Project

This study attemps to discover whether there is a difference in the academic performance of Spanish surname students in high school Spanish 1 language classrooms over their non-Spanish surname counterparts.

Teamwork And Place-Based Curriculum And Instruction In Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages, Mary Kay Bider

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to apply the theories of John Dewey's experiential learning, providing the foundation of place-based curriculum incorporating community investigation, outdoor education, and project-based learning into an EFL curriculum.

Identifying Gifted African-American Students: A Case Study Of A Louisiana School System, Donna Lynn Sutton

Doctoral Dissertations

In 1995, the Office for Civil Rights conducted a compliance review of the Bayou Parish School System (a pseudonym) in Louisiana. The review revealed a statistically significant underrepresentation of African-American students in the Bayou Parish gifted program. This case study examined how African-American representation in a gifted program may be increased through the use of research-based interventions implemented by the Office for Civil Rights.

The researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyze data. Documents from the Office for Civil Rights and the Louisiana Department of Education were examined to: (a) show patterns of African-American and nonminority …

Why Makik Can "Do" Math: Race And Status In Integrated Classrooms, Jacqueline Leonard, Scott Jackson Dantley

Trotter Review

This case study reports on the small group interactions and achievements of Malik, an African American sixth grader, who attended a Maryland elementary school in 1997. Student achievement was measured by the Maryland Functional Mathematics Test (MFMT-I), which was given on a pre/post basis. Students' scores on the MFMT-I were analyzed using the ANOVA. The analysis revealed a significant difference (F = 3-330, p < .05) between the scores of Caucasian (M = 342.12) and African American students (M = 323-56). However, Malik's MFMT-I score rose from 293 to 353. A passing score is 340. This study examines Malik's interactions to ascertain what factors influenced his achievement. The findings are that Malik had a positive attitude about mathematics and a strong command of mathematical and scientific language. Recommendations are that teachers become cultural brokers to help all children learn the "language" of mathematics and encourage all students to become self-advocates to overcome negative social dynamics in small groups.

Multicultural Novels And Activities: An English And Language Arts Curriculum For Middle And High School Students In The Yakima Valley, Karen A. Jenner Gemeinhart

All Graduate Projects

Research in the area of education concludes that both white and underserved populations benefit from the use of multicultural education. The curriculum provided in this project is founded on the research findings of educational specialists who outline these benefits. The use of multicultural education as a way to connect students to the curriculum is crucial in providing all students with an equal opportunity to learn. The Yakima Valley in Washington State is home to a number of Hispanic and Native American students who reflect a lack of academic achievement on standardized tests that assess literacy. Theories and strategies for teaching …

A Handbook For First Grade Children's Literature: A Teacher's Guide To Pre-Reading Comprehension Strategies For The Second Language Learner, Tiffany Lynn Wise

All Graduate Projects

Relevant literature pertaining to reading, reading comprehension, comprehension evaluation, characteristics of readers, findings regarding strategy instruction and its use on comprehension, and specific pre-reading strategies was studied. The need for second language learners to receive comprehension strategies in order to develop schemata, activate prior knowledge, and develop meaning for unknown vocabulary was noted. Teaching specific reading strategies to increase the second language learner's comprehension of a text was emphasized. A handbook of pre-reading strategies to be used with first grade learners was created for teacher use. The handbook outlines each pre-reading strategy, its purpose, and the procedure to follow when …

Promoting Literacy Through Literature And Content-Based Radings In The Secondary English-As-A-Second-Language Classroom In Conjunction With The In Contact 1 Curriculum: A Handbook For Educators, Tanya Lynn Adamson

All Graduate Projects

The use of literature and content-based readings in the secondary ESL classroom was researched. The research suggests that providing second language learners with meaningful readings that provide for comprehensible input will build schema and background knowledge that will help them to be successful in their content area classes. A handbook for educators was created to supplement the existing curriculum, as well as to show readers that this type of supplemental reading handbook can be created by anyone to be used with any type of ESL curriculum. This handbook contains both literature and content-based resources that coincide with the themes and …

The Relationships Between Attitude, Motivation, Anxiety, And Proficiency In English As A Second Language Of First-Year University Students In Puerto Rico, Carmen Mercedes Cortés

Dissertations

Purpose of the study. The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes, motivation, and anxiety levels of first-year university students toward the learning and use of English as a second language. The study also examined the nature of the relationships between attitudes, motivation and anxiety, and English proficiency asmeasured by the College Entrance Examination Board.

Method. A Spanish version of The Attitudes/Motivation Test Battery (Gardner, 1985a), "Espejo de Actitudes: Aprendizaje del Inglés como Segundo Idioma en Puerto Rico," was administered to first-year college students at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. These students came from various …

Three Surveys On Adult Esol Pronunciation: Teachers, Students, Textbooks, Hortensia Louro Bernal

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study used three instruments to examine the current state of the teaching of ESOL pronunciation. These instruments included a survey of 62 teachers, another survey of 508 ESOL students, and a comparative study of ten pronunciation textbooks in widespread use since 1990. The purpose of the study was to characterize the teaching of pronunciation at present through the voices of the teachers, the opinions of the students, and the content of the textbooks. The study also identified the approaches and types of activities being proposed by the experts and recommended additional activities as well as a rationale for their …

Chapter Eight: Are Schools Prepared To Support Excellence For Nonmainstream Children? Latino/A Voices As A Response, Miryam Espinosa-Dulanto

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Trend Of Academic Achievement And Retention For Immigrant Latino Youth, Pamela Humphrey

Graduate Research Papers

This paper discusses the trend of academic achievement and retention for Latino immigrant youth. Research indicates that the general trend for Latino youth is negative – generally achievement is lower than any other immigrant ethnic group, and the drop out rate is higher than for any other ethnic group. Factors such as language and methods of learning, segregation, poverty, low parental involvement in education, discrimination, and stress due to immigration have been identified as factors contributing to low academic success.

The ways in which schools deal with immigrant students is also discussed. Further research is needed on immigrant Latino families …

Referendums Education In The United States: Reform Or Assimilation?, Francisco Ramos

School of Education Faculty Works

The antibilingüe movement that is spreading across the United States has become one of the most controversial in the debate on the education of linguistic minorities issues. Ron Unz, the California millionaire who has managed to eliminate bilingual programs in California and Arizona and trying to do the same today in Colorado and Massachusetts, is a clear example of assimilationist movement, which argues that immigrants should give up their languages and vernacular cultures to integrate into American society. This article summarizes the history of bilingualism in the United States, focusing on decisions that have affected the education of minority students, …

Reflecting Latino Culture In Our Classrooms: A Quick Start For Teachers., Christine Canning, Mary Salazar-Guenther, Julio Polanco-Noboa

Faculty Publications

This paper describes how the University of Northern Iowa's San Antonio Regional Student Teaching Program developed a course to provide cultural information on Hispanic Americans for its predominantly white student teachers. The course was delivered over 2 semesters; with students doing most work in five 2-hour meetings on campus. During the student teaching semester; they implemented the ideas and activities that they had created during the course. The paper presents the course syllabus; which offers a background on Hispanics and five sessions that emphasize how to reach Hispanic students; Mexican and Mexican American culture (holidays; food; art; and music); literature …

Unlv College Of Education Multicultural & Diversity Newsletter, Porter Troutman, Nancy P. Gallavan, John Filler, Steven Grubaugh, Jennifer L. Fabbi, Kyle Higgins, Aimee Govett, Jean Henry, Lisa Bendixen, Cecilia Maldonado-Daniels, Nancy Sileo

College of Education Multicultural & Diversity Newsletter

A newsletter discussing a variety of topics dealing with multicultural topics and diversity in education.

Unlv College Of Education Multicultural & Diversity Newsletter, Porter Troutman, Nancy P. Gallavan, John Filler, Steven Grubaugh, Jennifer L. Fabbi, Kyle Higgins, Aimee Govett, Jean Henry, Lisa Bendixen, Cecilia Maldonado-Daniels, Nancy Sileo

College of Education Multicultural & Diversity Newsletter

A newsletter discussing a variety of topics dealing with multicultural topics and diversity in education.

Exemplary Bilingual Teachers In Puerto Rico: A Multiple-Case Study, Aurea Laracuente Araújo

Dissertations

Problem. Within a context of inadequate pre-service training, insufficient administrative support, and an ambivalent social environment regarding the teaching of ESL in Puerto Rico, a number of conscientious bilingual teachers try to overcome the odds of the system and have an impact on students' ability to speak English. Some even become exemplary teachers. How do they learn to meet so many expectations successfully in spite of real short comings found in their job, and how do they acquire the skills and competencies necessary to be exemplary bilingual teachers in Puerto Rico?

Method. A qualitative multiple-case study design was …

The Effectiveness Of The Writing Workshop Model To Teach An English-As-A-Second-Language College Writing Course In Puerto Rico: A Look At Students' Outcomes, Marie Jacqueline Agésilas

Dissertations

Problem. Questions have been raised regarding the number of limited-English-proficient students who enter undergraduate schools every year. This study was designed to look at the effectiveness of the Writing Workshop model in improving English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) college students' writing skills in a small liberal arts university in Puerto Rico.

Method. Students registered in two Intermediate English-as-a-Second-Language writing classes were asked to take a pretest-posttest related to writing skills and a pretest-posttest related to composition skills to indicate their level of agreement for each of the 22 statements on a Likert-type (survey) instrument--strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (4)--related to their attitudes …

Analisis Kesilapan Ayat-Ayat Bersyarat Bahasa Jepun Di Kalangan Pelajar-Pelajar Melayu, Roswati Abdul Rashid

Student Works (2000-2009)

The Error Analysis study of Conditional Sentences reflected in Japanese Language use among the Malay students, is a huge task considering the history and complexity of the language involved. However, such a study is relevant in an attempt to find out the effectiveness of Japanese Language teaching. This study will also try to find out differences, type and frequency of errors that occurs in Japanese Language. The hypothesis of this study is interference of first language will influence to Japanese Language learners ability in differentiating the functions of Conditional Sentences Seventy-six Malay students of PPKTJ, UTM were used as subjects …

Effective Bilingual Practices For Early Childhood Reading And Language Arts :/ A Professional Development Seminar And Model Thematic Unit For English-Spanish Bilingual Educators, Priscila Palomino De Piper

Graduate Research Papers

This project provides a workshop framework for the implementation of effective bilingual practices in early childhood reading and language arts. It is designed as a series of workshops for English-Spanish bilingual educators, with the purpose of providing ideas and strategies to support the development of reading and language arts programs in both languages. It is important to point out that the success of a language program relies not only on excellent research, but also on the support of parents, teachers, administrators and the whole community. It is important to believe that no language is superior to any other, that the …

Parental Perceptions On Maintaining Heritage Languages Of Cld Students, Ruth Lingxin Yan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The rapid growth of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) students in public schools of the United States has been steady in the past decades. Issues concerning CLD students such as their school failures, high dropout rates, the limited English proficiency, family poverty, and their unequal job opportunities, have caused increasing concerns from policy makers, school administrators and educators at all school levels. Various efforts to modify CLD students' social and academic disadvantages have been attempted through educational approaches, especially in the form of heritage language support in bilingual education programs initiated at the local school levels and funded by …

The Effects Of Multi-Sensory Teaching Practices On The Reading Fluency And Comprehension Of Bilingual 2Nd Grade Students, Gloria Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Language, the heart of the educational process, is the vehicle through which students are primarily being educated and prepared throughout their schooling (Lam, 1996). Language acquisition is described as having four processes: socio-cultural, linguistic, and academic and cognitive. Teaching, learning, and curriculum content must; therefore, be culturally meaningful, interactive, and collaborative. Since a student's learning style is a major contributing factor in teaching and not all students learn in the same manner, educators must know and understand the bilingual and bicultural child's identities and emphasize interdisciplinary, cooperative, and multi-sensory lessons in their classrooms (Chamot,1994). Educators must incorporate the wealth of …

Relationship Between Cognitive Performance And Sociocultural And Linguistic Variables In Bilingual Mexican American Children, Lorraine Geralyn Boudville

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study investigated the relationship between cognitive ability (dependent variable) and 5 independent variables: acculturation, socioeconomic status (SES), oral acquisition of syntactic structures, family size, and family structure. Instruments used were the WISC-III, Bilingual Syntax Measure (BSM), Sociocultural Scales in the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA). The sample consisted of 96 bilingual Mexican American children aged six and seven years, randomly selected from five school districts in south Texas; 47 were female, and 49, male. The method of analysis was multiple linear regression. The null hypothesis was tested at the .05 level of significance, using a F distribution. Results …