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Los Inicios Del Género Detectivesco En España Y Sus Antecedentes Anglo-Americanos: Una Antología Bilingüe, Enrique Torner

World Languages & Cultures Department Publications

A bilingual anthology of detective writing in Spain and the UK/US, with a preliminary study by Enrique Torner.

This work was originally first available online through the World Association of International Studies at https://waisworld.org/en/wais/publications/books.

“Writing Is Hard, But I Think I Like It”: Identity (Re)Construction Of Female Refugee And Immigrant Adult Language Learners In The Us., Svenja Trommler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper examines how identity is reconstructed in second language literacy of adult female refugees and immigrants, and how their prior literacy and language experience influences their current literacy usage which develops slowly due to a lack of suitable education for them in the United States, causing difficulties during their integration process. Responding to the low representation of immigrant women in research, three major research methods to collect the qualitative data were used: (1) prompted journal entries as narrative inquiries, (2) observations and field notes, and (3) semi-structured interviews to understand the participants’ previous and current literacy development and identity …

Los Inicios Del Género Detectivesco En España Y Sus Antecedentes Anglo-Americanos: Una Antología Bilingüe, Enrique Torner

MSU Authors Collection

A bilingual anthology of detective writing in Spain and the UK/US, with a preliminary study by Enrique Torner.

This work was originally first available online through the World Association of International Studies at https://waisworld.org/en/wais/publications/books.

L1 Use In L2 Writing: A Case Of Multilingual Undergraduates In A Basic Writing Course, Lal Bahadur Rana

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The study entitled "L1 Use in L2 Writing: A Case of Multilingual Undergraduates in a Basic Writing Course" is a qualitative case study research carried out to find out the purposes for which undergraduate students use their L1s in an L2 Basic Writing course in the US university context, their perceptions regarding the effects of their use of L1s in L2 writing, and the ways they utilize their prior experience of writing academic essays while they are writing similar types of texts in L2. To these ends, the data were collected from the students enrolled in the Basic Writing course …

Race, Stigma, And The Politics Of Black Girls Hair, Vanessa King

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Historically, black girls and women has been subjected to high public scrutiny that represents their bodies and hair styles as deviant from a European standard of beauty and respectability. Black women have endured many social pressures that have shaped their hair choices in various ways. I will explore assimilation theories of culture and the construction of dominant ideals of worth and respectability within K-12 settings, to document the ways in which black girls' hairstyles have been stigmatized. For this this study, I conducted a media and discourse analysis to document the language that is used to stigmatize black women's hair, …

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 …

Comparison Between Mexican And American Parentese: A Qualitative Case Study, Elayna S. Dyke

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This single case study examines possible cultural implications of the current definition of Parentese, also called caretaker speech, based on the personal accounts of a person who is bilingual in both English and Spanish. This case study was conducted in one interview in order to find possible differences in Parentese with the Spanish language in Mexican culture in contrast to Parentese in the English Language in American culture. The purpose of this study was to find if there were differences between parentese between these cultures, and in which ways they were different. According to the subject’s personal experiences within her …

Multilingual Students' Perceptions Of And Experiences With Instructor Feedback Methods In A U.S. First-Year Composition Class, Hong Thi Tuyet Vo

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

While instructor feedback has generally been recognized as an essential factor in enhancing writing proficiency for multilingual writers, little known research has focused on students’ perceptions of and their experiences with different modes of instructor feedback. In addition, impacts of various feedback methods on students’ writing have remained debatable. This case study seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning and significance of three instructor feedback methods, namely written, oral, and audio-visual feedback, from students’ perspectives. Furthermore, it offers additional insights into the impacts of these three instructor feedback methods on students’ writing. To be more precise, this study …

Multilingual Writers’ Perceptions And Use Of L1 In A U.S. Composition Class: A Case Study Of Nepalese Students, Shyam Bahadur Pandey

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis shares a qualitative study of multilingual student writers’ perceptions and attitudes toward the use of L1 (i.e., Nepali) in L2 (i.e., English) writing. The research questions include: 1) What are Nepalese students’ attitudes toward using their L1 in a first-year composition class in the U.S.? and 2) How do Nepalese undergraduate students in a U.S. composition class use their L1 for the research writing process? A case study research design was adopted to shed light on the lived experiences multilingual writers in U.S. university writing programs. Nepalese students were recruited from two multilingual sections of English 101 Composition …

Exploring Nnests’ Beliefs And Identities: A Case Study Of Japanese Efl High School Teachers, Ryosuke Aoyama

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Studies have suggested that, to understand language teaching and learning, it is critical to examine teachers’ beliefs and identities, along with their impacts on actual teaching practices in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to explore teaching beliefs and teacher identities of eight non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) in Japanese public high schools. Three research questions were addressed to examine what teaching beliefs they have, what influences their belief formation and professional identity development, and what identities constitute their teacher identity. To do this, a qualitative case study was undertaken. An in-depth analysis of the interview transcripts revealed …

Teaching In A Mixed Secondary Spanish Classroom: A Case Study Of Strategies And Successes Of Minnesota Teachers, Meredith Gunderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The population of Spanish heritage language learners is increasing throughout the state of Minnesota. This change in demographics impacts schools in a variety of ways; one such consequence is the creation of classes for Spanish for Native Speakers in locations with high Latino populations. However, in most locations, such programs currently do not exist, resulting in Spanish heritage language learners enrolling in Spanish foreign language classes. These classrooms, called mixed classes due to the combination of second language learners and Spanish heritage language learners in the same classroom, pose a unique challenge to the foreign language instructors. This qualitative multiple …

Perceptions Of Students With And Without Limited Formal Schooling, Sarah Schmidt De Carranza

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the perceptions that refugee and non-refugee English language learners hold of their academic performance and their perceived sense of membership in a school community. Students currently served in EL programs in grades 9-12 in a large urban school district were invited to participate in the study. Student perceptions were measured using the Morgan Jinks Student Efficacy Scale (MJSES) and Goodenow Pyschological Sense of School Membership (PSSM) scale.

Unexpectedly, the results indicated that differences of perceptions of student efficacy and school membership between the two groups of students were not statistically …

Comparison Of Intercultural Competency Between Russian And American University Students = Сравнение Межкультурной Компетенции Студентов Российских И Американских Университетов, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Olga Victorovna Klypa, Elizabeth A. Lohrenz, Oleg Voskresensky

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

Intercultural competency influences the quality of international relations as cultural and global perceptions impact individual and collective attitudes and levels of participation. Research addressing differences and causes of varying levels of intercultural competency could ultimately provide insight, understanding, and progress towards enhancing global awareness. The purpose of this study was to compare American undergraduate university students' intercultural competency to that of Russian undergraduate university students. This study was theoretically based on the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), developed by Bennett (1986). The DMIS described six stages of intercultural competency: (a) Denial or Unaware; (b) Polarization or Defense; (c) Minimization; …

An Investigation Into Native And Non Native English Speaking Instructors' Assessment Of University Esl Student's Oral Presentation, Rubaiyat Jabeen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis aims to conduct a mix-methods investigation into native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) and non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) assessment of university level English as a second language (ESL) student's oral presentation. To collect data for this study, all faculty members and instructors currently teaching in at the departments of English and Communication Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) were invited to participate in an online survey using Qualtrics Survey Software (Qualtrics). After receiving email invitations, altogether 31 people provided their consent to participate. Among the 31 teacher-participants, there were 19 NESTs and 12 NNESTs. The participants then took part …

How Multilinguals Perceive Linguistic Interference, Amanda Ruskin

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

When someone begins a third (or nth) language they often struggle to inhibit previously learned languages, something that established multilinguals do without much difficulty. In this qualitative survey encompassing 298 multilinguals representing different languages, proficiency levels, and learning histories, an attempt was made to identify what strategies, if any, multilinguals are aware of using which help them to successfully inhibit competing lexemes from non-target languages, with the goal of identifying strategies or commonalities that may assist budding multilinguals. Multilinguals reported noticing their interference most in conversing and mostly as applied to vocabulary; however, for most it did not occur very …

A Graduate Student Perspective On How Student Engagements Enrich And Enhance Multicultural Awareness On The Campus Of Minnesota State University, Mankato, Tomoko Matsui

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The challenges of enhancing and enriching student engagement, in order to promote multicultural awareness, on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato are the impetuses of this study. Multicultural awareness involves a greater understanding, sensitivity, and appreciation of the history, experiences, and lifestyles of different racial and ethnic groups. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to promote multicultural awareness through domestic and international students' engagements on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Four different theoretical perspectives explained the study, for example, Tinto's (1975) social integration theory, which emphasizes that one main function of higher education is to …

Not Another One: The Over Identification Of Hispanic Children In Ecse, Gail I. Becker, Aaron R. Deris

Special Education Department Publications

This session presents a current study that examined the overrepresentation of Hispanic English language learners in early childhood settings. Results of this phenomenological study will be reviewed along with implications for practitioners. Participants will gain an understanding of the needs of English language learners and ways to increase school professionals' efficacy.

Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers' Capacity For Culturally Responsive Teaching, Anna Currens

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Cultural Responsive Teaching, according to Irvine and Armento, may be defined as “incorporating elements of the students’ cultures into their teaching” (2001). The purpose of this study was to apply Cultural Responsive Teaching (CRT) to the review of classroom-based learning materials and instructional strategies. The question was: What instructional strategies will respond to cultures of students in ways that meet academic standards? 1. What is Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT)? 2. What are the most frequent home languages of students in Mankato Public Schools? The literature review demonstrated the importance of integrating students’ cultural backgrounds into the traditional academic domains of …

Where Cultural Competency Begins: Changes In Undergraduate Students' Intercultural Competency, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Samantha J. Tupy

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

Teacher preparation programs and accreditation organizations have acknowledged need for educators to demonstrate intercultural knowledge, skills, and abilities. Teacher educators are responding to emphasis in higher education to assure that graduates achieve intercultural competence (NCATE, 2008). This study compared the cultural competency of university students before and after participation in domestic intensive and intentional cross-cultural undergraduate courses. Data analysis showed that undergraduate students began their classes at the same levels of intercultural competence, with ethnocentric views that minimize cultural differences between themselves and others. Students usually began with over-estimating their intercultural competence. However, their actual developmental orientation toward cultural differences …

The Impact Of Performance-Based Assessment On University Esl Learners' Motivation, Kadidja Koné

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the impact of performance-based assessment on university ESL learners' motivation. To reach this aim, data were collected from 21 international ESL students taking an intensive oracy course for non-native speakers. Online motivation questionnaires were used in order to find out how these learners responded emotionally and motivationally to performance-based assessment, specifically an oral presentation project both before and after the project. The results revealed that the students responded positively to this type of project. However, their motivational and emotional states varied across time depending on their experience with the oral presentation, their performance, and the cohesion of …

Rwandan University Efl Teachers' Perceived Difficulties In Implementing Communicative Language Teaching (Clt), Jean Bosco Ntirenganya

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis examines Rwandan University EFL teachers' perceived difficulties in implementing Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). The data were collected using an online survey questionnaire that was completed by 16 teachers. The results indicated that participants faced several challenges including overly large classes, students' lack of opportunities to use English outside the classroom, the students' tendency to always use their L1 in pair and group work, students' passive learning style and dependence on the teacher, students' low proficiency level in English, insufficient time allotted to English, and teachers' little time to develop CLT materials mainly due to a large number of …

Traditional Methods Versus Tprs: Effects On Introductory French Students At A Medium-Sized Public University In The Midwestern United States, Rishani Samari Merinnage De Costa

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of introducing a Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) approach in a French immersion classroom in comparison with a method which does not incorporate a story context within the lesson. This research was conducted in an introductory college level classroom setting. It is hypothesized that the language skills of the students in the experimental group using the TPRS method would show greater improvements on measures of listening, vocabulary, culture, grammar and writing abilities than those taught using methods which do not incorporate the story context. The research utilized a …

Public Education And Teacher Understanding Of Dakota And Lakota Culture, Kiley Theede, Maggie Looft

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This project was designed to collect and to share information in order to better prepare teachers of Native students. This study involved five in-depth, in-person interviews with Dakota and Lakota elders between 40 and 70 years old. Elders provided reflections on experiences of past generations, on their own educational experiences, on the preferred learning methods of Native students, and on their visions for teachers‟ practices and influences on Native children. Through grounded theory, data analysis was conducted to identify themes. Stories and comments from elders were organized around those themes. Future studies might include use of the videotaped interviews in …

Change In Cultural Competency Among Students During An Intentional Human Relations, Camille Mcnabb, Samantha Tupy

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study measured changes in the intercultural competency of undergraduate students in a course, Human Relations in a Multicultural Society. The hypothesis for this study was that the intentional, cross-cultural experiences in the course will have an impact on the cultural competency of each student. This course is taught each semester at a Midwestern public university. The study included 70 undergraduate students between 18 and 35 years old who voluntarily enrolled in the course and represented students in academic majors such elementary education, sports management, social work, mass communications, journalism, and pre- professional studies (e.g., mortuary science, veterinary medicine, therapy). …

Second-Language English Fluency Change In Native-Speaker Context, John Zehnder

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study examines the influence of social context on oral proficiency change among English language learners on the campus of an American university. Speech samples were taken from 2 rounds of interviews with 9 East Asian women. These were analyzed using the phonetic analysis program Praat in order to determine each speaker’s rate of stressed syllables at the beginning and end of the study. The change in these rates was used as a proxy for fluency change. This was then compared with each speaker’s social context. The results suggested that English language learners improve their fluency when they have at …

The Relationship Between Temperament And Changes In Cultural Competency Among Undergraduate Students, Kwame Opoku Akyeampong, Olufolajimi Onadipe

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The study examined the relationship between Temperament Type and changes in Cultural Competency among a group of university undergraduate students. For this study, Temperament Type (Keirsey, 1998) was considered to be a set of observable personality traits, e.g., communication, habits, behavior patterns, values, attitudes, talents, etc. Cultural Competency, according to Hammer and Bennett (2010), was defined as “the capability to accurately understand and adapt behavior to cultural difference and commonality.” The study responded to this research question: To what extent does Temperament Type affect changes in the Cultural Competency of undergraduates? Data was collected using two computer-based, online inventories. First …

What Constitutes A Welcoming Community? Mankato Leaders Go Beyond The 'Welcome Wagon' For New Immigrants, Sarah Lieske, Sadie Leidall, Philip Munkvold

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The purpose of this study was to understand how leaders responded to the community’s increasing diversity. According to previous research, “adults in the state demonstrate both marked support for programs and policies supporting immigrants and refugees, and considerable xenophobia” (Fennelly, 2006). Of all the states receiving new immigrants, Minnesota has the greatest diversity (Somali, Hmong, Sudanese, Hispanic, Russian, South Asian) (Brower, 2013). Fennelly & Federico (2008) also found that rural residents hold more negative attitudes toward immigrants. Intergroup contact theory and acculturation studies address these issues. The study responded to these research questions: How do leaders conceptualize the ideas of …

Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching In The Elementary Classroom, Michelle Burke, Gretchen Hinrichs

Undergraduate Research Symposium

This is a qualitative study investigating the procedure of preparing undergraduate teacher candidates for culturally responsive teaching in the elementary classroom. The hypothesis for this study is that intentional experiences and collaborative discussion activities will increase students’ knowledge of implementation of culturally responsive teaching in the classroom. “Culturally responsive teachers not only know their students well, they use what they know about their students to give them access to learning” (Lucas and Villegas). This project is significant because classrooms in the United States are rapidly growing in diversity. The twenty-first century teacher needs to be fully equipped in how to …

A Phenomenological Examination Of The Influence Of Culture On Treating And Caring For Hispanic Children With Autism, Lynette Estrada, Aaron R. Deris

Special Education Department Publications

Researchers have found that cultural factors may lead to lower rates of diagnosis in Hispanic children with autism and that parents lack the knowledge of therapies and practices used in the treatment of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Five research questions guided this phenomenological study. The focus of the first two questions was how culture may affect families seeking assistance; the third question queried how professionals play a part in the choice of therapies ; the fourth question dealt with how do families choose a therapy to aid their child with ASD. The focus of the last question was the …

Rwandan University Efl Teachers' Awareness And Attitudes Toward Clt And Their Classroom Practices, Gaudence Uwamahoro

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research investigates Rwandan English teachers' awareness of and attitudes toward CLT including their practices in their respective classrooms. Data were collected by means of an online questionnaire that was responded to by 16 practicing teachers. The results revealed that most participants believed that both form- and meaning-based pedagogy were important in the language classroom. The participants also reported that they practiced what they believed in their respective classrooms. With regard to CLT awareness, most of Rwandan university teachers who responded to the questionnaire confirmed that they had learned or heard about CLT, eleven teachers among thirteen who had known …