Education Commons^™

A Learning Nightmare For An Immigrant Family, Arlyn J. Sorto

Capstones

Just two years after settling in Texas, a Honduran mother and her two kids must grapple with the hardships of remote learning due to limited access to the internet and a language barrier during a global pandemic.

Alumnus Profile: Welcome Committee

Action in Education

The Newcomer Center, an English language learner high school co-founded in 2003 by College of Education alumnus Mario Perez, gives its immigrant students and their families an opportunity to be successful in America, and to see themselves as agents for change regardless of language ability. The Q&A article discusses Perez, his school, and his time at DePaul.

Critical Thinking During A Pandemic, Cheryl Comeau-Kirschner

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article explores how a sudden shift to distance learning created unique challenges in a co-requisite course for English language learners. Focusing on critical thinking and advanced ESL composition during the COVID-19 Pandemic required course adjustments and a new way of thinking about how to teach and learn in unprecedented times.

Post-Program English Language Learners: Successful Learners Or Struggling Learners?, Tianna Bankhead

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As an educator in the field of English Language Development, I have chosen to explore the experience of four participants that have exited their ELL program within the last 1 - 2 years in Lincoln Public Schools. I wanted to capture the first-hand experience of secondary students by exploring where they are finding successes since being formally considered proficient in English and where they are struggling. I interviewed these students and explored their academic world as well as the social world within the school setting. At the conclusion of the study, I found that students are academically achieving success in …

Exploration Of Lived Experiences Of Science Teachers Of English Language Learners: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Uma Maheshwari Ganesan

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

English language learners (ELLs) are a talented pool of culturally and linguistically diverse students who are persistently increasing both in absolute size and percentage in the U.S. school population; however, they are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in college as well as in the workforce (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). Although educational leaders, policy makers, and researchers have emphasized the importance of STEM for the country’s continued prosperity, both education and scientific communities have found it challenging to improve students’ participation in STEM fields (Martinez et al., 2011). Exploring science teachers’ experiences could …

The Effects On Instructional Conversations On English Language Learners, Elizabeth Hendy, Joshua Cuevas Dr.

Georgia Educational Researcher

This research examined the effectiveness that the Instructional Conversations (ICs) teaching method had on elementary-aged English Language Learning (ELLs) students. Specifically, how ICs impact student academic achievement, academic language usage, and student engagement. The study compared two first grade classrooms, 39 participants, consisting of majority ELL students. The experimental group received math instruction through Instructional Conversation activities while the comparison group was taught using traditional math instruction and centers. After controlling for initial ability in math, results indicated that ICs did not lead to an increase of academic achievement or academic language usage when compared to students taught through traditional …

Social And Emotional Development To Foster Academic Growth In English Language Learning Preschoolers, Donna Mangone

Graduate Teacher Education

The fastest growing population of students entering preschool classrooms are English language learners (Winsler et al., 2014). Not only is the population of English language learners growing (Winsler et al., 2014), but there is a steady increase in the academic achievement gap. Further, the growth of ELL students corresponds with the gap. Related to both is social and emotional development. Social and emotional skills provide the apparatus for all learning. The early childhood educator is well-versed in teaching these skills. Therefore, an early childhood educator teaching social and emotional development to English language learners provides opportunities to remedy the academic …

Breaking Silence: The Voices Of Syrian Refugee Children In The Canadian Classroom, Sara Shahbazi, Alyssa Palazzolo, Geri Salinitri

Journal of Global Education and Research

The researchers in the study explored the lived experiences of Syrian refugee students in the Canadian classroom. The participant sample included four students who entered their first year in a South-western Ontario public school as of the 2015-2016 calendar year. Data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Analysis of results indicated the District’s growing need for understanding refugee students using a holistic approach, utilizing and building peer relationships for language acquisition, and recognizing the effects of the structure of the learning environment on student experiences.

Promoting Learner Agency Through Critical Pedagogy In The English Language Classroom, Susan Zyphur

School of Leadership and Education Sciences: Student Projects

In this self-study action research project, I explored how students exercised agency and how it may be affected by a critical pedagogy approach in a community college English as a Second Language (ESL) setting. The participants were adults enrolled in an advanced ESL course in a community college in the greater San Diego area. Students engaged in three dialogic circles as part of a needs assessment dialogue and two successive critical pedagogy dialogues. Data were collected using a classroom observation protocol (supported by audio recordings of the dialogues), student writings in response to journal prompts, and an analytic journal which …

A Theoretical Perspective Of Culturally Responsive Andragogy For International English Learners In American Higher Education Institutions, Marcia P. Livingston-Galloway, Janet George

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Christians in Higher Education

“Higher education institutions throughout the United States and other countries are experiencing signifi cant increases in the number of international students enrolled at their campuses” (Washburn & Hargis, 2017, p. 2). However, the rate of growth for this cohort of culturally, linguistically, economically, and ethnically diverse (CLEED) students exceeds the rate of faculty preparation and capacity to effectively serve their needs. Statistical evidence corroborates the view of Enright (2011) and others that today’s diverse student body is now “the ‘new mainstream’ of the 21st century classroom” (p. 80). Research in the last two decades points to a real need for …

Concepts To Remember For Preservice Teachers When Working With English Learners Students During Caltpa Cycle 1, Jacqueline Romano

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

The Community of Practice Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy where I participated focused on “Supporting and Mentoring Teacher Candidates during Teaching Performance Assessment”. This CP discussed and shared information on best pedagogical practices for teaching, supporting, and mentoring preservice teachers as they engage in identifying students with specific academic needs before planning, delivering, assessing and reflecting on tasks required by the state-mandated assessment (CalTPA). This test is required for certification. My contributions to this CP resulted in this reflection/handout. The most salient topics were Implementing Effective Instruction, which means being able to know and apply Standards-based Instruction, SDAIE methods, Lesson Planning, …

Reducing Accent In English -What Will Native Japanese Speakers Benefit From Most?, Asako Higurashi

Individual Projects

This paper examines some of the characteristic phonetic differences between Japanese and English and points out major difficulties in pronunciation for Japanese learners of English.

English education in Japan focused on mainly reading and writing English for a long time, and little attention has been given to pronunciation teaching and to the development of effective strategies to address the problem (Saito, 2007). Therefore, Japanese learners of English tend to have difficulty in learning English pronunciation. In addition to that, English classes cannot always have native speakers of English as teachers and Japanese English teachers often lack self-confidence in English pronunciation …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Challenges Of Teaching English Language Learners In Bilingual Education Versus English Immersion, Dea Wheeler

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding about the perceptions of teachers regarding the challenges experienced instructing ELLs in the English immersion and bilingual classrooms. The conceptual framework was centered on Cummins (1979) Linguistic Interdependence Theory suggesting that a student’s native and second language are interdependent and necessary for optimal language acquisition. This study addressed the research question: “What do teachers perceive to be the greatest challenges for teaching ELLs in English immersion classes as compared to ELLs in bilingual classes?” The non-probability purposive sampling was used in this study. The qualitative data collection process included two …

Mentoring Secondary Novice Teachers To Develop Academic Language Of English Language Learners, Susan O'Hara, Joanne Bookmyer, Robert Pritchard, Robin Martin

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This exploratory, qualitative study examines the foundational knowledge and instructional methods needed for academic language teaching of English language learners (ELLs). It also examines how mentoring practices can build secondary content-based novice teachers’ instructional capacity in this area. The study uses synthesized data from two independent studies to contextualize findings on essential instructional practices within the process of mentoring new teachers. Three themes emerged: novices need the foundational, theoretical and practical knowledge underlying essential practices for academic language development; essential practices must be articulated in detail for enactment by teachers; and balancing explicit and immersive academic language instruction is a …

Teachers’ Beliefs About English Learners: Adding Linguistic Support To Enhance Academic Rigor, Audrey Figueroa Murphy

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

A persistent achievement gap for English learners (ELs) has prompted educators to search for contributing factors and pedagogical solutions. Our research shows teachers’ beliefs about rigor of curriculum may contribute to the problem; teachers supported less rigorous curriculum for ELs, evincing a “rigor gap” likely to exacerbate the EL achievement gap. We suggest that systematic analysis of the linguistic demands of classroom tasks can facilitate the design of appropriate linguistic supports, allowing ELs to engage in academically rigorous instruction comparable to that afforded English-proficient students. Counteracting the rigor gap as such has promise to ameliorate the EL achievement gap.

Attending To Conditions That Facilitate Intercultural Competence: A Reciprocal Service-Learning Approach, Rachel M. B. Collopy, Sharon Tjaden-Glass, Novea A. Mcintosh

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

Although service-learning can support the development of intercultural competence, it has also maintained power differentials, reinforced privileged perspectives, and strengthened deficit thinking. Recent research has investigated the conditions within service-learning associated with positive change in diversity-related attitudes. We extend that work, conceptualizing a reciprocal service-learning (RSL) approach that integrates conditions posited by contact theory and the process model of intercultural competence into service-learning’s core features of reflection and reciprocity. In an RSL approach, transformational reciprocity at the participant level supports cultural awareness, interdependence, and parity between participant groups. We created an RSL experience and measured change in three attitudes fundamental …

Examining The Longer-Term Impact Of A Home-Visiting Intervention Program On The School Readiness Skills Of English Language Learners In Kindergarten, Michelle Mccann

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Young English Language Learners (ELL) present with varied profiles in their language and literacy development with parental involvement promoting development. The Home Instruction for Parents and Preschool Youngsters Program (HIPPY) is a free home-visiting intervention designed to empower parents to be their child’s first teacher. The current study examined the effectiveness of the HIPPY program on language, reading, and social/emotional skills of kindergarten aged ELLs. The HIPPY group was compared to an English as a first language group (EL1) and a control group of ELL students who did not participate in HIPPY (ESL). Participants were assessed at two time points, …

Best Approaches For English Acquisition With Primary English Language Learners, Roxanna Gario

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The education reform that took place in the emirate of Abu Dhabi set the standard that all students attending state-governed schools would be literate in their native language of Arabic as well as English, which was being taught in schools as a second language. However, school data documented achievement gaps in English reading among English language learners (ELLs) at a primary school in Abu Dhabi. The purpose of this study was to investigate the best approaches used by English medium teachers to teach reading to ELLs in order to provide recommendations for student improvement. Guided by Krashen’s monitor model, this …

Using Think-Alouds To Support And Enhance English Language Learners' Comprehension Of Multimodal Texts, Daibao Guo, Eun Hye Son, Katherine Landau Wright

Literacy, Language, and Culture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research has demonstrated that elementary students may not be skilled interpreters of multimodal science texts (McTigue & Flowers, 2010). This challenge may be enhanced for English language learners (ELLs), whose language skills are still developing. Therefore, in this qualitative case study, we implement think-aloud protocols to understand three striving ELL readers’ comprehension processes and use of comprehension strategies. Then we collaborated with three pre-service teachers to design individualized comprehension instructions. After 7-weeks of intensive tutoring, findings show students were able to use a greater variety comprehension strategies. Classroom implications are discussed to provide best instructional practice for striving ELL readers.

An Exploration Of Federal, State Of Florida, And Local Policies And Classroom Implementation In Early Childhood Education, Brittany Baggaley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis identifies the English Language Learners (ELL) policies according to federal, state, and districts and compares these policies to what is currently implemented in Orange County Public Schools in the state of Florida. The introduction includes vocabulary for ELL and personal rational. They are followed by the history of the court cases and policies pertaining to the state of Florida that create a timeline. Immediately after, a literature review compares policies to what is being implemented in various states across the United States. Next, interviews with two former or retired Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) were conducted with findings …