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2018

Theses/Dissertations

ESL

Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education

The Alignment Of Esl Materials To Wida And State Standards, Jenna Marie Quanbeck Dec 2018

The Alignment Of Esl Materials To Wida And State Standards, Jenna Marie Quanbeck

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This project analyzed the various 2nd grade English language (EL) materials that were available in a rural elementary school to determine how those materials aligned to Minnesota (MN) state academic standards and the WIDA English Language Development standards. First, the various bodies of literature available on alignment and current recommendations for determining alignment between course content and state academic standards were reviewed. Then, the researcher developed and implemented a checklist-based process for determining alignment. This paper presents the literature review, the checklists, and the results of the analysis. The materials were found to be aligned to standards. The researcher …


In Translation: An Examination Of Esl Policy On Paper As It Relates To The Realities Of Implementation, Grace M. Cuevas Dec 2018

In Translation: An Examination Of Esl Policy On Paper As It Relates To The Realities Of Implementation, Grace M. Cuevas

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This honors research project explores the features of Title III requirements as they relate to the actual experience of students and their families. This paper synthesizes my experience researching English as a Second Language (ESL) specific supports and policy to inform my time spent accompanying an upper-level administrator for the Harrisonburg City Public School (HCPS) system, and interviewing professionals at an area school. In this paper I outline the results of interviews with 13 service providers. Interviews examined the “letter of the law” and the subsequent “spirit of the law” through application of a social work lens to the different …


Conversational Movement Dynamics And Nonverbal Indicators Of Second Language Development: A Microgenetic Approach, Kristine Marie Bragg Dec 2018

Conversational Movement Dynamics And Nonverbal Indicators Of Second Language Development: A Microgenetic Approach, Kristine Marie Bragg

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation study extends on current understandings of gesture and embodied interaction with the eco-social environment in second language development (SLD) while introducing new aspects of movement analysis through dynamical modeling. To understand the role of embodiment during learning activities, a second language learning task has been selected. Dyads consisting of a non-native English-speaking student and a native English-speaking tutor were video recorded during writing consultations centered on class assignments provided by the student. Cross-recurrence quantification analysis was used to measure interactional movement synchrony between the members of each dyad. Results indicate that students with varied English proficiency levels synchronize …


Watch & Learn - A Teacher's Guidebook For Film-Based Esl Course, Xiaoxue Zhu Dec 2018

Watch & Learn - A Teacher's Guidebook For Film-Based Esl Course, Xiaoxue Zhu

Master's Projects and Capstones

Educators in the 21st century are continuously discovering more engaging teaching tools to facilitate language learners. In today's increasingly developing visual world, film stands out from other traditional materials for its unique features, such as the visuality and authenticity. With appropriately designed activities, film could be a valuable resource in teaching English as a second language (TESOL) setting, and also a perfect tool for inspiring cross-cultural communication and promoting critical thinking skills.

However, research has shown that ESL teachers feel reluctant to use film as a significant component in their classrooms even though they have recognized and affirmed the benefit …


Thinking Outside The Box: Incorporating Critical Thinking Strategies In Esl Reading & Writing Instruction, Johanna Carranza May 2018

Thinking Outside The Box: Incorporating Critical Thinking Strategies In Esl Reading & Writing Instruction, Johanna Carranza

Master's Projects and Capstones

ABSTRACT

ESL students in the United States avail the resources of community college to achieve their goal of academic excellence. However, many community colleges struggle to prepare their students for mainstream four-year institutions. Aside from reading, writing, and speaking, learning a second language requires the development of critical thinking skills which are not emphasized enough for many ESL students in contemporary American academia.

As such, there are two major problems that this project aims to address. The first is that English as a Second Language (ESL) and English instructors have different expectations for ESL students. ESL instructors do not focus …


Focusing On The "Learning" For The English Language Learner, Taneka L. Tate May 2018

Focusing On The "Learning" For The English Language Learner, Taneka L. Tate

Theses and Dissertations from 2018

Educators are faced with the challenge of teaching an ever-changing student population. The classrooms are filled with students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and cultures. English Language Learners account for 12% of our student population (Garcia, Jensen, & Scribner, 2009). Providing English Language Learners with effective instruction that integrates both content area knowledge and English language acquisition is necessary. English Language Learners are relying on educators to teach them what they need to know in order to be successful in all academic areas in schools. The purpose of this study was to examine the systemic approach of SIOP as …


“I’M Not A Traditional Teacher Anymore”: Ecuadoran Teacher Perspectives Regarding A Us Professional Development Program, Gail Cappaert Jan 2018

“I’M Not A Traditional Teacher Anymore”: Ecuadoran Teacher Perspectives Regarding A Us Professional Development Program, Gail Cappaert

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In this dissertation, the retrospective perspectives of five Ecuadoran English

teachers regarding their experience in a seven-month professional development program in the

US were investigated. Attention was given to how they believed the program impacted their

identity, self-efficacy and how they perceived the program functioned as a community of

practice (CoP). Data were collected through interviews using stimulated recall based on

classrooms observation notes and memos in the teacher participants’ Ecuadoran schools.

Findings included that the Ecuadoran teachers felt they were positively impacted by the program.

They perceived themselves as more legitimate speakers of English and more effective educators;

however, …


Examining Students' Perspectives On The Use Of First Language In Community-Based English As Second Language Classrooms, Fernanda Da Silva Carvalho Jan 2018

Examining Students' Perspectives On The Use Of First Language In Community-Based English As Second Language Classrooms, Fernanda Da Silva Carvalho

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This survey-based research investigates the perspectives on first language (L1) use by adult students of English as a second language (ESL) in three ESL community-based programs in Michigan, United States. The study focuses on community-based programs because, even though it offers a variety of social, educational, and language backgrounds, this setting has been underrepresented in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) research on L1 inclusion in ESL classes. The key findings of this study demonstrate that students use their L1 regardless of their English proficiency and lack of encouragement by teachers. In addition, students believe specific L1 uses …


Effectiveness Of A University Bilingual Degree Program Among Overseas Chinese, Sherry Liu Jan 2018

Effectiveness Of A University Bilingual Degree Program Among Overseas Chinese, Sherry Liu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The language and communication skills of foreign students have long been a concern in

U.S. universities. The majority of U.S. universities require foreign students for whom English is not their native language to take English language proficiency tests such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as part of admission requirements. Some universities have included interventions to increase the success of Chinese students against their struggle to understand English course content. One such program is the Gateway to Successful Tomorrow Bilingual Degree Program (GST). The gap to be addressed on this study was that the effectiveness of …


Secondary And Postsecondary Teachers' Perceptions Of Esl Students' Barriers To College Graduation, Barbara E. Griffin Jan 2018

Secondary And Postsecondary Teachers' Perceptions Of Esl Students' Barriers To College Graduation, Barbara E. Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Majority of English as second language (ESL) students attending primary and secondary schools in the United States are not considered college ready despite mandated educational strategies aimed at improving language acquisition and academic performance. ESL students are more likely to drop out within the first 2 years of college than their English-speaking peers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore educators' perspectives regarding high postsecondary attrition rates of ESL students in Middle Tennessee. Tinto's retention theory provided the framework for the study. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 6 Middle Tennessee public high school teachers and 6 Middle …


Effective Characteristics Of Rural English Learner Programs, Sarah Huseby Jan 2018

Effective Characteristics Of Rural English Learner Programs, Sarah Huseby

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine specific characteristics of English learner programs in a rural areas in order to determine possible factors that promoted higher English language proficiency growth for English learners. The subjects in this study were English learner teachers and administrators from five micropolitan school districts in a rural Midwestern state. The school districts in this study were identified and recruited based on two specific criteria: a mircopolitan community and a student population of English language learners. The study utilized both survey and archival data. The survey was administered to all EL teachers and administrators …


International Student Participation In Postsecondary U.S. English Language Programs, Valeriana Colon Jan 2018

International Student Participation In Postsecondary U.S. English Language Programs, Valeriana Colon

Theses and Dissertations

Postsecondary English language education is a growing industry in the United States. While there has been considerable research on international student mobility in higher education, there is limited research on the population’s participation in U.S. English language programs (ELPs). The purpose of the study was to apply existing theories and data analysis to understand postsecondary English language program participation and create a foundation for future studies. This exploratory study examined the characteristics of international students enrolled in U.S. postsecondary ELPs. The researcher investigated the relationship between ELP enrollment with U.S. higher education enrollment as well as the relationship between ELP …