Modern Languages Commons^™

Understanding Presence, Affordance And The Time/Space Dimensions For Language Learning In Virtual Worlds, Susanna Nocchi, Françoise Blin

Articles

Notwithstanding their potential for novel approaches to language teaching and learning, Virtual Worlds (VWs) present numerous technological and pedagogical challenges that require new paradigms if the language learning experience and outcomes are to be successful. In this presentation, we argue that the notions of presence and affordance, together with the time/space dimensions of interactions in virtual worlds (e.g. Bakhtin’s (1981) chronotope, Foucault’s (1984) heteropia, and Lemke’s (2000) heterochrony), provide new insights into language learners’ trajectories as they attempt to carry out tasks that are designed to make use of virtual worlds’ characteristics and potentialities. We explore and analyse a critical …

Span 300: Advanced Reading And Writing In Spanish (Special Section For Heritage Speakers)—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Isabel Velázquez

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This is an course portfolio which inquires into an undergraduate class designed to develop the academic reading and writing skills of bilingual students who grew up in Spanish-speaking households and received all or most of their schooling in English.

Cultivating Bilingual Learners’ Language Arts Knowledge: A Framework For Successful Teaching, Isela Almaguer, J. Joy Esquierdo

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

It is essential to support bilingual learners’ language and academic development; however, teaching second language learners English has taken precedence over teaching content area knowledge and vocabulary, specifically for language arts. The focus has shifted from content area instruction to primarily second language instruction due to an increasingly diverse population and an increasing number of bilingual learners in formal school settings. This article introduces a framework for accomplishing both linguistic and content literacy simultaneously. The framework takes into account the four elements of the principles of learning, learner appropriate pedagogy, contextual interaction theory, student language (L1/L2) proficiency level, and a …

Why Did I Ask That Question? Bilingual/Esl Pre-Service Teachers’ Insights, Zulmaris Diaz, Michael Whitacre, J. Joy Esquierdo, Jose A. Ruiz-Escalante

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Questioning techniques have historically been considered the measurement by which teachers challenge and gauge student learning. Much has been said about questioning strategies used by teachers; yet little is known about the strategies used by pre-service teachers, especially those that are working with English language learners. This study presents findings from a qualitative study that explored what types of questions pre-service teachers use and their reflections on the use of such strategies. Eight bilingual/ESL pre-service teachers in South Texas were videotaped during a math and a language arts lesson, attended focus groups, and participated in an exit interview. The findings …

The Use Of A Virtual Guest Speaker As A Catalyst For Deep Learning, Alcione N. Ostorga, Peter Farruggio

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Teaching undergraduate students as they prepare to become bilingual teachers is often a challenge due to their maturational development and the logistical limitations of college courses. Nevertheless, teacher educators must foster preservice teachers’ understanding of factors that impact learning and academic success. This article analyses the use of a virtual guest speaker in an asynchronous discussion as a way to promote critical analysis of policy issues which superseded the memorization of concepts taught in the course. Analysis reveals that the virtual guest speaker served as a catalyst for critical thought about the course content.

Gaining Perspective: Student Learning Perceptions Of The Role Of Tesol Principles In Their English-Learning Experiences, Danielle Christine Westcot

Honors Program Theses

Therefore, the present project concentrates on the student perspective in the ESOL classroom by surveying upper-level or recently graduated students of an intensive English program at a university in the Midwest. The project set out to gather student reflections regarding a set of research-based principles that have become prevalent in the field of TESOL, in order to understand if these principles fit into students' learning experiences in ESOL classrooms. The goal of this study was to determine 1) whether or not students have come to value TESOL principles in their language learning experience and 2) whether or not students have …

Neoliberal Teacher Preparation: Conceptualising A Response In The Us Borderlands, Michael D. Guerrero, Peter Farruggio

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

The current era of neoliberal capitalism has witnessed the domination of public education by business interests which openly promote the spirit of competition among schools, educators and students through a policy of high stakes accountability for immediately measurable educational outcomes. In the USA, this policy proposes to make teacher educator programmes accountable for the impact of their programme completers on student achievement, namely standardised test scores. Consequently, some programmes have begun to rethink their practices in an effort to avoid negative sanctions. Unfortunately, little empirical evidence of improvement is available to teacher educators, particularly those committed to the preparation of …

Reflexiones Sobre Lenguaje, Cultura Y Equidad En La Enseñanza De Matemáticas En Una Escuela Primaria Bilingüe De Estados Unidos, Sandra I. Musanti, Sylvia Celedón-Pattichis, Mary E. Marshall

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Esta investigación cualitativa explora las prácticas y percepciones de dos maestras (K-1), así como los asuntos de equidad implícitos en la integración curricular de problemas de matemáticas contextualizados para adecuar la enseñanza de estudiantes latinos que están aprendiendo inglés como segunda lengua. Este estudio se basa en tres enfoques: el enfoque cognitivo guiado de la enseñanza de matemáticas, el lenguaje y la cultura como recursos pedagógicos, y la enseñanza de matemáticas para la equidad. La investigación se desarrolla en el contexto de una iniciativa de desarrollo profesional situado entre maestras bilingües e investigadoras en una escuela primaria del suroeste de …

Essay Writing Instructional Lexicon And Semantic Confusion, Amir Kalan

English Faculty Publications

“Introduction,” “body,” and “conclusion” are the most accessible words in the instructional lexicon for ESL writing teachers when they want to describe the structure of a typical five-paragraph persuasive or argumentative essay or its shorter variations for standardized tests such as TOEFL and IELTS. They are frequently employed to refer to the three tiers of the hamburger essay in textbooks, on classroom boards, and in YouTube tutorials.

Not surprisingly, English learners also might give you the same words if asked what the main components of an essay are. Like ESL teachers, students usually use the same terms or their equivalents …

Dream Dinner Or Dinner Disaster? French And American Cultures Collide, Wendy W. Amato Ph.D.

French Model Lesson Plans

Sociocultural Model Lesson Plan centered on a translinguistic and transcultural analysis of French and American dinner party conventions.

La Herida De Moctezuma, Mark K. Warford

Spanish Model Lesson Plans

A Sociocultural Model Lesson Plan centered on a folktale about the demise of Moctezuma. La Herida de Moctezuma comes from John Bierhorst's Cuentos Folclóricos Latinoamericanos. A Google search will yield an excerpt, but it is recommended that you use the entire tale. Targeted to Intermediate-High learners.

Héroes Y Corridos, Mark K. Warford

Spanish Model Lesson Plans

No abstract provided.

Répétez S’Il Vous Plaît !: L’Enseignement De La Compréhension Auditive Dans La Salle De Classe, Jordan M. Bessette

Senior Honors Projects

Foreign language acquisition is a subject of increasing importance in today’s world, acting as the backbone of international relations, trade and communication. In addition, through examination of a foreign culture and language, individuals can come to appreciate philosophies and values other than those pertaining to their own society. However, the difficulty and apparent uselessness of the subject material in the “here and now” dissuades many students from continuing language acquisition after obligatory general education requirements have been fulfilled. Through examining acquisition theories and factors which affect students’ motivation to continue second language acquisition; I developed a strategy in order to …

Hall, Deborah Mcguffey (Fa 69), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 69. Thesis: “Using Folklore to Teach English as a Second Language” by Deborah McGuffey Hall in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts, Department of Folk and Intercultural Studies at Western Kentucky University.

Consumos Culturales Digitales: Jóvenes De 13 A 18 Años, Monica Pini, Sandra I. Musanti, Guillermo Kaufman, Mónica Amaré

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

La información que se produce y circula en Internet, el crecimiento sostenido del número de usuarios conectados y el modo en que todos los participantes se apropian de este universo online describen el escenario actual. La escuela, que ya hace tiempo disputa con los medios la tarea de socializar a niños y adolescentes, tiene que buscar nuevas estrategias frente a la incesante multiplicación tecnológica y su penetración en todos los intersticios de la vida cotidiana. El presente trabajo elabora un estado del arte de las prácticas digitales de los jóvenes desde la teoría de los consumos culturales, con especial referencia …

Bibliography Of Central European Women's Holocaust Life Writing In English, Louise O. Vasvári

CLCWeb Library

No abstract provided.

Bibliography For The Study Of Text And Image In Modern European Culture, Natasha Grigorian

CLCWeb Library

No abstract provided.

Reading From The Periphery: Ricardo Piglia And The Liberal Arts, Roy Ketchum

Hispanic Studies Faculty Publications

"At colleges and universities in the United States, the liberal arts are seen as a worthy complement to focused learning in a discipline. A discipline is expected to offer specialization in preparation for further study, for careers and for professions. The liberal arts are charged with providing a broad intellectual background. The liberal arts can also serve as an entry point, a first exposure, to the range of disciplines. This is a special relationship promising balance between depth and breadth. Many of the arguments put forth in favor of a strong liberal arts education also emphasize the practical value of …

Come Si Fa?: Can Virtual Worlds Help Us Promote Intercultural Awareness, Susanna Nocchi

Conference Papers

This paper describes the author’s experience with a pilot course of Italian in SL®2. The course is part of a PhD research on Exploring the potential of virtual worlds to promote Intercultural Awareness in students learning Italian as a Foreign Language. In the paper the author will justify her choice of virtual worlds for the development of language competence and Intercultural Awareness and will present some results of her activity theoretical analysis of the data. Problematic areas and potential moments for the development of Intercultural Awareness were highlighted during the analysis.

Content-Based Instruction における評価の問題と提案, Suwako Watanabe

World Languages and Literatures Faculty Publications and Presentations

本稿では、CBIにおける評価についての問題点を挙げ、今後の日本語教育でのCBIにおける評価の研究課題と実施課題を提案する。CBIの言語習得に及ぼす効果に関しては、スペイン語やインドネシア語などでは言語習得の向上が報告されているが、日本語については、ほとんど研究が見られない。外国語教育の分野で、CBIの重要性が叫ばれ、また、日本語教育界では、日本学との連携が盛んになるという方向性を考えると、CBI が言語習得に及ぼす効果を調査研究することは必須である。また、第二言語習得の見地からも、これからの研究課題として、実践報告のみならず、評価の研究を進めることを提言する。

CBIコースの実施面では、プレイスメントの重要性、そして、学習目標と評価の不一致からくる問題点を指摘する。具体的には、言語習得の他に教科内容の習得も学習目標に入っているものの、言語能力が障壁となって、教科内容の評価が適切に行えないという問題について述べ、その解決策の一つとして、形式的評価・累積的評価を効果的に取り入れることで、言語能力を向上させ、言語能力が障壁とならないように指導していくことを提示する。また、総合評価としても、論文や口頭発表といった典型的な形式以外に、Bloom（1956）の思考の六段階の概念を組み入れることを提唱し、評価方法の具体例を示す。

Abstract

This paper takes on issues related to the assessment in Content-Based Instruction (CBI). The first point talks about the research needs for Japanese CBI in regards to issues over assessment. The second point presents assessment strategies towards implementation of CBI. There have been a few reports from research studies that have demonstrated the gains in one’s language ability, such as in Spanish and Indonesian. However, very little is reported on the effect of CBI in Japanese. CBI is receiving increasing attention in the field of second/foreign language education. It is therefore critical to investigate the effect …

Blogs & Glogs: Revitalizing Class Projects, Krista Bittenbender Royal

INTO Faculty and Staff Publications

This workshop looks at two technologies that can be used to energize traditional poster and writing assignments to bring them beyond text: Glogster and Blogger. Both are free, easy to use websites with which students can create web pages with images, text, and audio to share with their classmates and the world. In the workshop, intended for instructors and curriculum coordinators, we will look at each of these platforms, discuss examples of project assignment guides using each of the sites, and talk about other ways they could be integrated into courses. I will also share some student feedback and some …

Using Ning For Conversation Partner Networks, Krista Bittenbender Royal

INTO Faculty and Staff Publications

Providing opportunities for conversation practice is one way that an IEP can help students improve their English as well as enhance their engagement in the language learning process. However, matching individual language learners to fluent English speakers can be difficult and time consuming. This workshop will introduce participants involved in setting up such interactions to Ning, a free online social networking platform which can facilitate the creation of individualized networks. Participants will gain insights into how one IEP used Ning to connect ELLs to university students interested in having conversation partners.

Failure Is Not An Option: A Look At The Dropout Crisis In America, Aida Mogos

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Abstract not Included

Technology Integration In Teaching Action Research, Alcione N. Ostorga

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This article describes an instructional model designed to teach action research to undergraduate preservice teachers, which uses technology integration to facilitate the learning process that incorporates face to face and distance learning methods. First, a theoretical overview of the instructional design is provided then the instructional model is described. The course design is analyzed through the use of Moore's levels of interaction. Finally, the author discusses the conclusions and implications for future research.

Collaboration And Teacher Development: Unpacking Resistance, Constructing Knowledge, And Navigating Identities, Sandra I. Musanti, Lucretia Pence

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This article presents a study of the Collaboration Centers Project (CCP), which is a pseudonym for a three-year, federally-funded program that focused on helping in-service teachers better address the needs of English language learners (ELLs) in their classrooms. The CCP is important to study because of its clear intention to integrate real teachers--their understandings, voices, selves, and practices--into professional development by providing an experiential, collaborative and school-centered context for ongoing reflection on teachers' practice. It is important to understand the complexities of teacher development in the context of a project that sought to break with the short-term transmission model that …

Teacher Education And Professional Development In The Context Of Argentinean Educational Policies: Current Trends And Challenges, Monica Pini, Sandra I. Musanti, Jorge Gorostiaga, Myriam Feldfeber, Dalila Andrade Oliveira

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the trends and challenges in teacher education and teacher professional development in the context of recent Argentinean educational reforms. This chapter synthesizes several of our studies on the matter. First we analyze the implications of teacher education as a political project, discuss the central components of the educational policies that characterize this century and the present features of the teaching force. Secondly, we discuss the process of educational reform in the 90´s and the impact of international agencies in the main policy decisions in Argentina. In addition, we discuss the new scenario …

Writing Chinuk Wawa: A Materials Development Case Study, Sarah A. Braun Hamilton

Dissertations and Theses

This study explored the development of new texts by fluent non-native speakers of Chinuk Wawa, an endangered indigenous contact language of the Pacific Northwest United States. The texts were developed as part of the language and culture program of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon for use in university-sponsored language classes. The collaborative process of developing 12 texts was explored through detailed revision analysis and interviews with the materials developers and other stakeholders.

Fluent non-native speakers relied on collaboration, historical documentation, reference materials, grammatical models, and their own intuitions and cultural sensibilities to develop texts that …

Culturally Relevant Books: Connecting Hispanic Students To The Curriculum, Alma D. Rodríguez

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Minority students in the United States (US) need to connect with the curriculum in order to have a meaningful schooling experience. This paper promotes the integration of culturally relevant books into the bilingual and English as a second language (ESL) curriculum for Hispanic English language learners (ELLs). A study was conducted with bilingual and ESL pre-service teachers who learned about the benefits of using culturally relevant books in their teacher preparation program. Pre-service teachers realized that culturally relevant books connect Hispanic ELLs to the curriculum and engage them in reading. Through the study, participants gained confidence working with ELLs and …

Ua3/9/7 Wku Confucius Institute Proposal, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Proposal for the creation of the WKU Confucius Institute. The first half of the document is in Chinese with an English translation following.

Microblogging On Twitter: Social Networking In Intermediate Italian Classes, Enza Antenos

Department of World Languages and Cultures Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Second language acquisition (SLA) research has explored the significance of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in educational models for second language (L2) pedagogy. Recently, the proliferation of Web 2.0 technologies has become the focus of many teachers and researchers who study the impact of Web 2.0 innovations on L2 teaching and learning. The majority of students enrolled in language courses in postsecondary institutions, too, are “digital natives”—a generation of “‘native speakers’ of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet”(Prensky, 2001, p. 1)—who desire obtaining information in new ways. Web 2.0 provides the core for an internet experience that is …