Digital Commons Network^™

Bridging Cultural Identities: Empowering El Students Through Acculturation, Sarah D.T. Corder

Masters Projects

English learners (ELs) are more likely to develop positive social and psychological outcomes when they acculturate to American society, which is to develop cultural competency while maintaining their home language, customs, and traditions (Berry et al., 2006). Yet, multiple factors in our current society cause ELs to lose connection to their heritage culture by assimilating to American society (Chen, 2018). This project first explores the factors that contribute to assimilation behaviors among elementary-age ELs and limit the positive social, emotional, and academic effects of acculturation. Using Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory as a framework, it then examines culturally responsive pedagogy as a …

Impact Of Differentiation On Long-Term Emergent Bilingual Outcomes, Tara Cargill

Education Theses and Dissertations

The No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 and the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015 mandated reforms for English Learners in K–12 schools across the nation. This led to a focus on language development and instruction for emergent bilinguals. This dissertation uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to implement interventions for long-term emergent bilinguals in general education classes. The study aims to refine the cycle and impact system changes for improvement. Emergent bilinguals are identified through state-approved English language proficiency exams. Students scoring less than proficient are labeled as limited English proficient/emergent bilingual and offered English as a Second Language …

Freewriting With Multilingual Learners, Tori Lands

Wellspring: A Practitioner-Oriented Journal of Literacy and Language Education

In this article, an ESOL teacher shares their experience implementing "Free Write Friday" with multilingual learners in a rural district in Maine. This simple but effective activity is laid out for fellow educators. Through this instructional approach, students had the space to write in English or their home language, fostering translanguaging and deeper connections between students and teachers. Benefits of implementing freewriting included increased collaboration, motivation, and cross-cultural connections.

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Language Shift Of Ikalanga In Botswana: Implications For Language Revitalization, Annah Sephene Macha

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study explores the phenomenon of language shift among the Bakalanga community in Botswana, focusing on the gradual displacement of the iKalanga language by dominant languages such as Setswana and English that hold official status for education and broader communication. iKalanga faces significant challenges, as minority languages face extinction globally, the Bakalanga’s experience reflects broader trends where dominant languages supplant indigenous ones in education and wider communication. This research employed a phenomenological approach to investigate how the Bakalanga transmit knowledge amidst this language shift. Data was collected through focus groups, life history narratives, documents, and individual interviews, and analyzed using …

Embracing Social-Emotional Learning And Nurturing Character: A Systematic Review Of Intersectional-Eq Strategies For Educational Leaders, Leticia G. Candelaria-Archuleta

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded education beyond traditional academics, highlighting the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) and character education (CE) for positive youth outcomes. This study examined the role of educational leadership in implementing SEL and CE in schools through a term coined Intersectional-EQ. This study centered on a cutting-edge approach using grey literature, specifically doctoral dissertations, to capture current trends in unprecedented times. A systematic review through Covidence, guided by PRISMA and PICO frameworks, was conducted. Findings highlight the impact of leadership on SEL and CE through an intersectional lens. Future work is aimed to support holistic student growth by …

Can Vocabulary And Grammar Hold The Doorway For College Reading Success? The Case Of Arabic Learners Of English, Zainab A. Allaith

International Journal for Research in Education

Reading is an important skill for college success. This study investigated cognitive predictors of English reading comprehension success among college students whose first language is Arabic. Knowledge of vocabulary/grammar emerged as the strongest predictor of reading success, followed by silent reading fluency, and then decoding skill. However, metacognitive awareness of reading strategies did not statistically significantly contribute to the model. Findings suggest that Arabic speakers draw on their vocabulary and grammar knowledge when tackling an English reading comprehension task, skills that are language specific to L2. Implications include the recommendation for placing the development of college students’ language reservoir at …

Better Together: Attitudinal And Institutional Change For Stereotype And Prejudice Reduction, Diana Quito

Essays in Education

This article begins by examining the adverse effects of ostracization on students' mental health and academic performance. It identifies deficit thinking within educational institutions as contributing to the social exclusion experienced by students, leading to their psychological need for belonging going unmet. Deficit thinking, fuelled by racist and classist ideologies, theorizes that the blame for a student’s failure in school results from their inherent deficiencies. Deficit thinking oppresses and marginalizes students by justifying harmful practices such as school segregation and scientific racism. Schools serving communities of color are disproportionately impacted, compromising students’ educational achievement and prospects. To disrupt deficit thinking, …

Influence Of The Linguistic Context On The Comprehension Of Complex Sentences, Angeline Miersma, Ligia Gomez Franco

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Abstract

This study examined English learners' comprehension of complex sentences and compared scores between a school in Boston and an American school in Bolivia. Studies have covered topics such as home language input, societal interactions, classroom influences, and language of instruction. Other research has centered on the comprehension of specific linguistic structures and the requisite skills. A considerable amount of the data is acquired from sample populations of bilingual students living in the United States, attending an English immersive school. The current study compared language comprehension scores between kindergarteners attending school in the greater Boston area in the United States …

Introduction: Leading Social Change From The Lived Experience Of Intersectionality, Margaret Grogan, Aubrey H. Wang

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

This introductory chapter explains why education leadership for social change is an urgent priority and how principals, superintendents and other leaders who identify as anti-racist, inclusive, and activist can conceptualize their work. To frame the examples of Critical Leadership Praxis (CLP), (Pak & Ravitch, 2021) that the seven practitioner-scholars write about, Grogan and Wang describe the current context of leadership expectations and review the development of leadership theories alternative to the mainstream discourse. They outline current theories of intersectionality, and consider how storytelling and counter stories can illuminate the value of lived experiences of multiple marginality. This introduction also describes …

Language Equity In The Undergraduate Classroom: Fostering Language Diversity In The World Of Standard Academic English., Gabriela Johnson

Higher Learning Research Communications

In this essay, I explore the complex intersection of language, identity, and education with a particular focus on the importance of fostering linguistic equity in higher education settings. It is imperative for higher education institutions to reevaluate language-related practices and foster linguistic diversity and equity. Drawing upon linguistic theories and real-world examples, I highlight how language is deeply intertwined with personal identity, culture, and heritage. Various English dialects, such as African American Vernacular English, Chicano English, and others, are highlighted as valid linguistic expressions rather than deviations from a supposed standard. The role of standard academic English (SAE) in academia …

Speaking Up: A Narrative Inquiry Of International Students' Active Verbal Engagement In Classrooms At A Southeastern American University, Sabrina Xiaoyan Liu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This qualitative narrative research investigated successful cases of international students who actively verbally participate and speak up during academic or coursework discussions in the classrooms. More specifically, the aim of this narrative inquiry was to capture the lived and living experiences of English language learners (ELLs) navigating American mainstream classrooms. Moreover, this qualitative study explored how they perceive the impact of their English language proficiency on their verbal engagement during class. I recruited participants through the international office at a southeastern university in the United States. After an initial phone screening session to verify that each interested participant met the …

Diversifying The ‘Hsi Bubble’: Black And Asian Women Faculty At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Elena M. Venegas, Jacqueline B. Koonce, Lorenza Lancaster, Julissa Bazan, Adriana Garza

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This qualitative case study explored the experiences of seven Black and Asian women faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The unique experience of each woman is shared in this paper. Three themes highlight the interconnectedness of participant experiences. The first theme indicated that these Black and Asian women faculty operated in unsupportive microclimates within their HSIs. Secondly, participants communicated a need for representation within the ‘HSI bubble.’ Finally, our participants felt as though their HSIs needed to exercise greater intentionality in terms of truly serving their student populations. Amongst the implications of this research is a better understanding of the experiences …

Exploring The Mutual Benefits Of Reciprocal Mentorship In A Community-Based Program: Fostering Community Cultural Wealth Of Latino Students And Families, Elizabeth Gil, Ceceilia Parnther

GSE Faculty Publications

This case study examines reciprocal mentoring in a community-based program (CBP) serving immigrant Latino families with school-aged children. University student volunteers shared technological and college knowledge and grew in leadership skills. Simultaneously, they gained familial and cultural support and belonging from program families. The CBP fostered all forms of community cultural wealth capital. Study findings can inform educational leaders seeking to develop mutually beneficial partnerships between education institutions and community organizations to support student success

Women Strength: Using Photovoice To Explore Female Chinese International Students’ Experiences, Yue Cai

Doctoral Dissertations

Female Chinese international students face discrimination and stereotypes in Western academia based on race and gender, yet they possess unique “Women Strength” characterized by agency, resilience, and self-advocacy. This study explores how these students navigate cultural differences and develop their strengths while studying in the U.S. Drawing upon “Women Strength” as a theoretical framework, including Community Cultural Wealth, Critical Feminist Theory- Chinese feminism, decolonial feminism, and transnational feminism, transformative agency, resilience theory, and self-advocacy theory, this research employs a qualitative approach, including Photovoice and autoethnography. Three research questions guide the study: 1) What cultural differences do female Chinese international students …

Attitudes Of Algerian Emi And Non-Emi Lecturers And Students Toward English, Sana Touahmia, Farhana Bakar

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the attitudes of English medium instruction (EMI) lecturers and students and non-EMI lecturers and students toward English in Algeria. The Algerian government plans to implement English as a medium of instruction in higher education.

Methods: The research was carried out at an Algerian university where French is the primary language of instruction, but English is used as the medium of instruction for certain courses in the engineering department. Data were gathered through a questionnaire, which was distributed to a group comprised of 52 EMI lecturers, 226 EMI students, 70 …

Navigating Foreign Language Anxiety In Saudi Classrooms: Examining Classroom Environment, Teacher Strategies, And Learner Perspectives, Amal Obaid Alnefaie

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates foreign language anxiety (FLA) in the context of Saudi Arabian classrooms, focusing on perceptions from both teachers and students. The research aims to identify factors influencing FLA, examine classroom environments, and offer insights to enhance foreign language teaching and learning in Saudi Arabia. Using a survey-based approach, data were collected through Likert-type scales and open-ended questions to explore FLA across various dimensions.

Section 1 analyzed Likert-scale responses, revealing diverse levels of FLA among participants, with students often expressing neutral to disagreeing attitudes towards statements reflecting anxiety about language learning and classroom participation. Section 2 explored sociocultural factors …

Bridging Words And Worlds: Innovative Writing Strategies For Adolescent Multilingual Learners, Robert A. Griffin

Journal of English Learner Education

This paper presents culturally responsive writing prompts, peer collaboration and language exchange, and multimodal writing experiences as three strategies to enhance adolescent multilingual learners’ English writing skills while leveraging their linguistic and cultural diversity. Culturally responsive writing prompts connect students’ personal experiences with academic tasks to enhance engagement and authenticity in writing. Peer collaboration, language exchange, and peer review foster a supportive learning community and improve writing skills through shared linguistic and cultural knowledge. Multimodal writing experiences broaden students’ expressive capabilities beyond traditional text by utilizing visual, digital, and oral modes of communication. Technology and AI integration in writing instruction …

Empowering English-Language Learners Through Acting, Translanguaging, And Collaborative Devising, Natasha L. Yannacanedo

Journal of English Learner Education

The author explores the transformative potential of using acting, translanguaging, and collaborative devising as tools for linguistic and personal development among English Language Learners (ELLs). Through a reflective narrative of teaching Acting I to ELL students, the paper delves into the challenges and successes encountered in integrating acting, translanguaging, and devising into the curriculum. Emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between acting and language learning, the author discusses how expressive language development, vocabulary acquisition, and enhanced pronunciation skills were cultivated. Additionally, the paper considers the role of translanguaging in creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, where students' linguistic diversity is celebrated …

Teacher Candidates’ Service-Learning With English Learners, Hsiaoping Wu

Journal of English Learner Education

This study explores the impact of a service-learning project with English Learners (ELs) on the instructional, conceptual, and emotional development of teacher candidates. Participants are pre-service teachers who work with ELs enrolled in elementary schools in Texas through a partnership with the Community in Schools (CIS) organization. The participants’ reflective journals provided qualitative evidence of the field experience and the students’ in-class discussions and projects. A qualitative analysis indicated four themes related to instruction techniques and emotional development from these field experiences: (1) the modified strategies can facilitate students’ comprehension, (2) the domains of languages, (3) increased confidence and empathy, …

Cooperating Teachers’ Views And Practices About Teaching Emergent Bilinguals In General Education Classrooms, Tunde Szecsi, Janka Szilagyi

Journal of English Learner Education

Cooperating teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and practices influence teacher candidates’ views and practices. Therefore, this study examined mainstream cooperating teachers’ perceptions about critical components of effective instruction for English learners, and the relationship between these teachers’ perceptions and classroom practices. We interviewed 55 teachers and completed a 90-minute observation in each classroom. We analyzed the interviews for common themes, and we used descriptive statistics to summarize the observation data. The findings indicated that teachers were well-versed in evidence-based instructional activities and strategies. However, many teachers found it challenging to infuse ELs’ language, culture and experiential background into their instruction.

Addressing Language And Content In Civics Through A Language-Based Approach To Content Instruction For Multilingual Learners, Jia Gui, Luciana C. De Oliveira

Journal of English Learner Education

This study explores the integration of a language-based approach to content instruction’s (LACI) six Cs of support into an existing civics lesson plan to improve content and language learning for multilingual learners. We used the Civics for All curriculum from the New York City Department of Education to identify lesson plans that could be enhanced for teaching multilingual learners. The findings of integrating the LACI framework indicated that the existing lesson plans could be enhanced by adding all the Cs to ensure full support for multilingual learners. We conclude with strategies for integrating the LACI framework into existing civics lesson …

Exploring Language Ideologies: Integrating Digital And Computational Literacies In Bilingual Teacher Education, Jessica Velez Tello, Veronica Paredes

Publications and Research

This research takes place in a graduate online course, part of a teacher education program leading to bilingual certification in the United States. As teacher educators, the authors noticed that bilingual teachers are seldom given the time to deeply reflect on themselves and how their identities and lived experiences may affect their instructional pedagogy for linguistically diverse students. To provide students with the digital space to rethink their design choices before moving to instructional practice, the authors intentionally used collaborative methodology to guide course design to 1) weave content knowledge with computational and digital literacies and 2) explore the intersections …

Bilingual Education Program Type And The Reading Performance Of Emergent Bilingual Children: A Multiyear, Texas Investigation, Clare A. Resilla, John R. Slate

School Leadership Review

In this study, we examined the extent to which Grade 3 reading performance of Emergent Bilingual students differed by bilingual education program type (i.e., Dual Language Two-Way, Dual Language One-Way, Transitional Early Exit, Transitional Late Exit). We specifically analyzed data for three consecutive years (i.e., 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019) of data about their performance in the three reading reporting categories (i.e., Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3) and the three grade level performance measures (i.e., Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, and Masters Grade Level) before the pandemic. In all 18 analyses, Emergent Bilingual students in the Dual Language …

Honoring Indigenous Worldview: Cultural (Un)Responsiveness In Gifted Education, Vicki Boley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many working understandings of giftedness exist within dominating Western frameworks, gatekeeping gifted education from students who do not “fit” inside such frameworks (Owens et al., 2018; Rinn et al., 2020; Sternberg et al., 2021). As a result, K- 12 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students are underrepresented in gifted education programs (Sternberg et al., 2021) and overrepresented in special education programs (NCLD, 2023). When considering Indigenous students in particular, Western orientations surrounding giftedness perpetuate assimilation, dominance, and continued colonization (Battiste, 2013; Dunbar-Ortiz, 2014; Gentry & Gray, 2021a). Leveraging Positionality and The Pedagogy of Listening as conceptual frameworks, this …

Culturally Responsive Leadership For Newcomer Students: A Case Study Of An Elementary Newcomer Program School Leadership Team, Ahmad Fayaz Amiri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study focuses on the pivotal role of an urban elementary school leadership team with a newcomer program. It aims to uncover how school leadership decisions, practices, and policies address the diverse needs of newcomer students. Challenges faced by newcomers, including economic and social needs, cultural adjustments, and potential feelings of alienation despite academic success, are explored. The tension between preserving home culture and adapting to a new one adds complexity to newcomer students’ identity formation.

This study examines the practices of a newcomer school leader who addresses the diverse needs of vulnerable newcomer students. With schools being …

Culturally Responsive Coaching: Supervision With A Cultural Lens, Jouanna Crossland-Wells

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Culturally Responsive Practices (CRP) are a focal point for many districts across the country. The emphasis of CRP is on how the institution enacts policies and practices for the benefit of the students they serve. This study views CRP from a different lens. The focus of this study is to 1.) center the voice of Black teachers and 2.) explore culturally responsive practices for the support and edification of the teacher from their coach/supervisor. The eight Black teacher participants and their instructional coaches engaged in interviews discussing current coaching models and the dynamics of their coaching relationships.

The relevant findings …

The Disconnect Between General Classroom Teaching Techniques And English Language Learner Needs, Marliese Belt

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

This project will seek to identify gaps in pre-service teacher education as it relates to appropriate instructional strategies for English Language Learners (ELLs). First, public and private liberal arts schools of higher education in Kentucky will be analyzed for relevant programs and courses addressing the needs of ELLs and research-driven instructional techniques used to educate them. It will be determined that many of the schools offer undergraduate or graduate level endorsements and certificate programs, but only one, Murray State University, offers an undergraduate degree-bearing program. Next, ELLs, their characteristics, and unique needs will be defined to ensure that all stakeholders …

Contrastive Analysis Of English And Pashto Adjectives, Abdul Raziq Safi

Journal of Research Initiatives

Language is a systematic means of communication that employs sound or conventional symbols. Using a foreign language can be problematic when attempting to communicate or translate written or spoken language from one's native language due to structural differences between languages. Among the most widely spoken languages in the world, English is understood by approximately half of the global population. However, it is neither an official nor a second language in our country. Nonetheless, due to its significance, it is often taught as a foreign language at schools, institutes, and universities. As previously mentioned, Pashto, our language, shares structural similarities and …

Analyzing Common Mistakes In First-Year Medicine Faculty Students’ Paragraph Writing, Pervaiz Yaseeni, Fahim Rahimi, Fareed Sahil

Journal of Research Initiatives

Academic writing is a salient skill for medical students all over the world. Academic writing starts with composing effective paragraphs, laying the foundation for students' advancement in writing during college. This study investigated common mistakes in English paragraph writing committed by the first-year medical students of the Medicine Faculty at Kabul University of Medical Sciences. Additionally, it measured the challenges that Medicine Faculty students tackled in paragraph writing. This quantitative study was conducted through an action research design. The data were collected from 52 medical students, and their work was analyzed using the developed rubrics. The data were analyzed in …

“I Tell Them Generics, But Not The Specifics”: Exploring Tensions Underlying Familial Support For First-Generation Latinx Undergraduate Students, Stephany Cuevas

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Families continue to play an essential role in the experiences of first-generation Latinx undergraduate students and can serve as powerful partners to support student retention and socioemotional wellbeing. This qualitative phenomenological study uses the notion of emerging adulthood to explore how first-generation Latinx undergraduate students (n = 16) conceptualize their families’ role in their college education. Specifically, this study shows that while students describe feeling supported by their families, they also experience distinct and unique tensions tied to this support, which students associate with their first-generation student status. These tensions include (1) the family’s unfamiliarity with college culture; (2) bidirectional …