Digital Commons Network^™

Facilitators Of Diné (Navajo) Student Access, Enrollment, And Persistence In Postsecondary Education: An Ecological Systems Perspective, Christina Hartman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Diné (Navajo) students drop out of high school and postsecondary education at higher than average rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Diné students currently enrolled in college describe the factors that supported their pursuit of higher education. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was used as a framework and to identify and analyze factors that influence access, enrollment, and participation in higher education. The Diné participants in this study were six students enrolled in postsecondary education at the time of this research, recruited from two university campuses in the Southwestern U.S. Each student participated in a semistructured interview …

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, College Of Humanities And Social Sciences, April 27, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Utah State University requests approval to offer the following Baccalaureate degree(s): Portuguese effective Fall 2018.

Promoting Second Language Socialization Through Course Projects, Elena Shvidko

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

For many international students who are second language (L2) learners, successful integration in the new academic and socio-cultural environment is inseparable from their language socialization. Classroom teachers are well positioned to support students’ adaptation, and through course materials, projects, and activities they can encourage students’ successful socialization and promote their learning. Based on the principles of L2 socialization theory, this article describes how the projects of the course taught in the Intensive English Language Institute aimed at achieving two objectives: 1) foster students’ cross-cultural interaction and participation in various activities in- and outside the classroom, and 2) increase students’ opportunities …

Interpreting Mmse Performance In Highly Proficient Bilingual Spanish-English And Asian Indian-English Speakers: Demographic Adjustments, Item Analyses, And Supplemental Measures, Lisa H. Milman, Yasmeen Faroqi-Shah, Chris D. Corcoran, Deanna M. Damele

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), among the most widely used global screens of adult cognitive status, is affected by demographic variables including age, education, and ethnicity. This study extends prior research by examining the specific effects of bilingualism on MMSE performance.

Method: Sixty independent community-dwelling monolingual and bilingual adults were recruited from Eastern and Western regions of the United States in this cross-sectional group study. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare two bilingual groups (Spanish-English and Asian Indian-English) with matched monolingual speakers on the MMSE, demographically adjusted MMSE scores, MMSE item scores, and a nonverbal cognitive …

Chinese 1010: Analyzing My Language Learning Journal, Emily Mower

Student Research Symposium

This paper examines challenges native English speakers face in learning Mandarin Chinese, a language "culturally and linguistically remote" (Pyun, Kim, Cho, & Lee, 2014, p. 111) from their native language (L1). The author documented her language learning experience in a beginning Chinese course through daily journal entries reflecting on progress, challenges, and successes. Emotive descriptors from a total of 47 entries were identified and categorized according to positive or negative affect; out of 42 emotive descriptors used 125 times, the most common was "frustrating". These frustrations proceeded from two categories: (1) challenges specific to learning Chinese, such as tones (Zhang …

Exploring Relationships Between Students’ Discussion Patterns, Emotions And Learning Outcomes In An Online Mathematics Course, Ji-Eun Lee

Student Research Symposium

This study aims to 1) identify and characterize groups of students based on their online discussion patterns, emotions, and contents; and 2) investigate associations between these patterns and their learning outcomes in an online developmental mathematics course. Data mining of both clickstream and textual data collected by a Learning Management System (LMS) enabled an analysis in terms of how students meaningfully engaged with discussions, conceived as both online speaking and listening behaviors. Findings revealed six groups of students that exhibited similar online discussion patterns and emotions. Moreover, higher performing students showed higher levels online listening and were more engaged in …

Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy And Related Outcomes, Kelsey Girardelli

Student Research Symposium

Recent scientific literature is uncovering important associations between vitamin D during pregnancy and related outcomes for maternal health, fetal health and early childhood development. Many studies have shown that large portions of the population are vitamin D deficient, especially in northern latitudes where there is a relative lack of sunlight. This problem is exacerbated when analyzing communities where dark-skinned immigrants have migrated to more northern latitudes (Datta, et al., 2002).This is because increased levels of melanin pigment in the skin make it much more difficult for people of darker skin tones to absorb the necessary UVB light to produce sufficient …

Using Multilingual Literature To Enhance Multilingual Students’ Experiences In Second Language Writing Classes: An Innovative Classroom Practice, Ekaterina Arshavskaya

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Research on second language writing instruction consistently shows low levels of student engagement (Lee, 2012) in writing classes. In order to address this challenge, researchers have argued for the need to introduce various forms of expressive writing (Bilton & Sivasubramaniam, 2009), including student interpretive practice with texts (Kramsch, 1997).

Another common problem associated with second language writing instruction is lack of connection between writing and reading activities. Prominent language educators have long recognized the benefits of connecting reading and writing activities with English learners (Krashen, 1992). According to Krashen (1992), we learn to write through reading. To resolve these multiple …

Wordcruncher: A Digital Research And Teaching Assistant, Jason W. Dzubak, Monte F. Shelley

The 3rd Utah Symposium on Digital Humanities

For humanities research or teaching projects, we each pick tools from our digital toolboxes. If we have few tools, our projects may be limited or take longer. When we become familiar with other tools, we may get ideas for other projects and learn how to do projects faster and better.

WordCruncher is a free digital toolkit with tools to help you search, study, analyze, download, create, and share eBooks or corpora. For example, you can add searchable notes, highlight text, do advanced searches, see search keywords in context, and find collocates or n-grams in WordCruncher books that may include formatted …

The Utah Statesman, February 13, 2018, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, January 4, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

Mentoring International Teaching Assistants: A Case Study Of Improving Teaching Practices, Ekaterina Arshavskaya

World Languages and Cultures Faculty Publications

While there exists a considerable body of research focusing on international teaching assistants’ (ITAs’) linguistic, sociocultural, and instructional challenges, less is known about the successful developmental trajectories of this group of international educators of American students. This research aims to fulfill this research gap using a case study approach (Yin, 2003). The study involved ITAs from STEM majors in six collaborative mentoring sessions prior and upon video recording of three lessons taught by the ITAs to undergraduate students. The mentoring sessions were designed to facilitate ITAs’ reflections on their teaching with the use of structured protocols to help guide the …

The Body Disordered: Diagnosing The Philippine Nation In José Rizal’S Noli Me Tángere (1887), Azariah Alfante

Decimonónica

José Rizal (1861-1896) was a Philippine nationalist, writer, and physician, whose status as national hero is manifest in the mandatory study of his works in educational institutions across the Philippine archipelago since the enactment of the nationalist Rizal Law (Republic Act No. 1425) on 12 June 1956 (Francia, “José Rizal” 44-45). Joan Torres Pou describes Rizal as a “médico oftalmólogo, licenciado en Filosofía y Letras, políglota, filólogo, antropólogo, escritor, agricultor, liberal, asimilacionista, independentista y masón” (7). In his profile of the Filipino polymath, however, Torres Pou omits a salient dimension of Rizal’s identity: his Catholic religion. Although during his life …

Performing The Closet In Clarín’S La Regenta, Mehl Allan Penrose

Decimonónica

In La Regenta (1884-1885), the best-known and arguably the best work written by Leopoldo Alas or Clarín, gender expression and sexuality that diverge from societal convention pervade the novel, as many scholars have rightly pointed out.¹ Indeed, the plot revolves around a love triangle between Ana, Fermín and Álvaro, all of whom are involved in sexually transgressive relations. Within this milieu fraught with heterosexual illicitness, characters who exhibit queer gender and sexual expression are silenced, made ambiguous, or revealed as one-dimensional figures by the narrator. Their queerness is for the most part not recognized or acknowledged by other characters. …

Combining Degradations: The Effect Of Background Noise On Intelligibility Of Disordered Speech, Sarah E. Yoho Leopold, Stephanie A. Borrie

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Faculty Publications

The effect of background noise on intelligibility of disordered speech was assessed. Speech-shaped noise was mixed with neurologically healthy (control) and disordered (dysarthric) speech at a series of signal-to-noise ratios. In addition, bandpass filtered control and dysarthric speech conditions were assessed to determine the effect of noise on both naturally and artificially degraded speech. While significant effects of both the amount of noise and the type of speech were revealed, no interaction between the two factors was observed, in either the broadband or filtered testing conditions. Thus, it appears that there is no multiplicative effect of the presence of background …

A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation Of Speech Production During Reading, Nick Wan, Allison S. Hancock, Todd K. Moon, Ronald B. Gillam

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study was designed to test the extent to which speaking processes related to articulation and voicing influence Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) measures of cortical hemodynamics and functional connectivity. Participants read passages in three conditions (oral reading, silent mouthing, and silent reading) while undergoing fNIRS imaging. Area under the curve (AUC) analyses of the oxygenated and deoxygenated hemodynamic response function concentration values were compared for each task across five regions of interest. There were significant region main effects for both oxy and deoxy AUC analyses, and a significant region x task interaction for deoxy AUC favoring the oral reading …

The Business Of Writing, Mikayla Doyle

Tutor's Column

One of the greatest aspects of university study is the ability to learn from a wide variety of sources. Often, we assume that most of our knowledge about writing comes from our English classes. However, as a business student, I have learned many things that have helped me to become a better writer. In this essay I will address the importance of writing a purposeful thesis, creating a logical argument, using concision in writing, and making writing understandable.

Recognizing Linguistic Cues To Align Financial Coaching Strategies With The Transtheoretical Model Of Change, Lucy M. Delgadillo

Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Faculty Publications

Financial coaching is more effective if a finance professional understands where a client is in the process of change. This article presents five mini scenarios exemplifying the stages of change as they apply to clients receiving financial coaching as well as a sampling of coaching strategies useful for helping clients move through those stages. In particular, the focus of each mini scenario is language used by clients that can provide clues about the stage of change the client is in. Financial management Extension professionals can use the information presented to recognize linguistic cues related to stages of change and align …

Code-Switching And Its Challenges: Perspectives On Translanguaging In The Efl/Esl Classroom, Michael Spooner

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Structured in sections that represent the author’s teaching perspectives and research perspectives, the portfolio comprises reflective pieces written at the end of the Master of Second Language Teaching program and other pieces written as coursework during the author’s study in that program. In the first section, the author describes the principles that guide his own teaching and, in light of those principles, he reviews his experience as a learner, reports on observations of other teachers, and assesses his own performance based on observations done by others. The second section offers a set of four research papers that progressively develop and …

New Perspectives For Teaching French In Iraq: Principles And Practices, Marwan Ahmed

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio embeds the author’s perceptions and beliefs with regard to modern foreign/second language teaching and learning. The first section includes the author’s teaching philosophy, which presents the importance of the communicative language teaching (CLT) in a student-centered classroom, the role of grammar instruction in support of communication, and the effective use of technology in language teaching and learning. The second section consists of three research perspectives: the first reflects on the effective types of oral corrective feedback in language classes, while the second includes teaching French apologizing strategies to Iraqi-Arabic speakers, and the third investigates the use of Facebook …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Use Of A Selected Phonics Curriculum And The Oral Reading Fluency And Nonsense Word Fluency Scores Of First-Grade Students, Bryce B. Day

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effects, if any, of a supplemental phonics curriculum, Saxon Phonics, on the reading achievement of first-grade students in one mountain-west, semirural, school district. The design was casual-comparative and ex post facto, and answered the questions: (1) Do students taught using a traditional basal program and students taught using both the traditional basal program and a supplemental phonics program (control vs. treatment) differ on selected end-of-year reading achievement scores (i.e., portions of the DIBELS Next assessment—nonsense word fluency [NWF], oral reading fluency [ORF], and accuracy [ACC])? (2) do any possible …

Language Proficiency And Cultural Intelligence In Distance English-Language Learning, Jared Marcum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the viability of an international distance English-language program in the development of language and cultural proficiency. Students participated in tests at the beginning and at the end of the course to determine how well they developed both language and cultural proficiencies. The measures included (a) the computer-administered Oral Proficiency Interview (OPIc) from theAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), (b) ACTFL-aligned assessments of reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary skills, and (c) the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS). In addition, course activities surveys provided additional information about student perceptions of course activities. …

Acculturation And Language Use In Intimate And Sexual Relationships Among Chinese Bilinguals, Tianyi Xie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

People of Chinese heritage often face complex challenges because of the conflicting values from China and America, especially on sexuality. Through two thousand years of socialization, Chinese culture grew to endorse conservative sexual values and gender roles. In traditional Chinese culture, women are expected to remain chaste and play submissive roles in marriage. Sexuality is treated as a taboo topic that should not be discussed directly. Asian American youth who endorse less traditional Chinese values experience lower sexual satisfaction, lower confidence in their own abilities, and higher adherence to traditional gender roles. Language has also been found to potentially influence …

Others' Publications About Ehdi: May Through October 2017

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Norwegian Missionary Linguistic Mishap, Ben Bowen

USU Student Folklore Fieldwork

[Interviewer introduces the topic of a family legend about the informant’s religious, LDS mission to Norway, and some of the linguistic troubles some of the American missionaries had while learning Norwegian.]

Well the fun part about learning a new language is that you get to learn that they have, different words for, to mean different things. So a good example of that in English is change, and, in English you can have change on a dollar and so you have coins, or you can have, um, a, change your clothes, from you know, change your clothes, you can change you …

Emily Dickinson's Funeral And The Paradox Of Literary Fame, Paul Crumbley

English Faculty Publications

In the months preceding her death on May 15, 1886, Emily Dickinson requested that Emily Brontë's poem "No coward soul is mine" be read at her funeral, thereby enlisting Brontë's defiant declaration of immortality in what can be interpreted as Dickinson's own equally defiant final statement on the relation of fame to enduring art. Dickinson expressed the logic behind this request four years earlier in an 1882 letter to Roberts Brothers editor Thomas Niles in which she refused his request for a "volume of poems" (L749b) and instead sent him "How happy is the little Stone" (Fr1570E), a poem in …

Hidden Curriculum, Language, And Math: How To Help Emergent Bilinguals To Succeed In Stem, Marialuisa Di Stefano, Idalis Villanueva

Engineering Education Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Examining Justice In Social Studies Research, J. Spencer Clark, Steve P. Camicia

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Our article is an extension of a project involving a content analysis of two social studies journals, Theory andResearch in Social Education (TRSE) and The Social Studies. We performed an analysis on all articles in thesejournals from 2006-2016. Our findings from the analysis indicated a narrow frame of perspectives related toepistemologies and methodologies, and an increasing interest in examining a range of researcher andparticipant positionalities. We interpreted the range of perspectives in social studies journals in light of thepossible impact upon democratic education and social justice through Sen’s (2009) framework for theorizingjustice. We illustrate aspects of this framework by presenting …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, September 7, 2017, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Adding a school-based and community-based emphases to the Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education
• Offering a Masters in Communication Sciences
• Offering an Interfaith Leadership Certificate of Proficiency

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Revised R401 Process and Timeline
• Syllabus Updates
• Curriculog Update

Promoting Intercultural Competence In Diverse U.S. Classrooms Through Ethnographic Interviews, Ekaterina Arshavskaya

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

To meet the demands of contemporary society, students needs to develop the ability to interact effectively with people from different cultures. To advance this goal, a project involving ethnographic interviews was introduced to an intercultural communication course. Participating students' attitudes toward other cultures were measured on a Likert scale at the beginning and end of the project. The findings show that through the interviews, the students developed greater awareness of their own cultures and of themselves within their culture and deepened their knowledge of other cultures. Yet, the majority of the students did not show greater interest in learning a …