Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons^™

The Impact Of Bilingual Teacher License, And Years Of Experience On Bilingual Student Reading Achievement Across Multiple-Grade Levels, Cuauhtemoc D. Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

The body of literature had an ongoing debate of which certification or license type had a greater impact on student achievement. Nevertheless, there were insufficient studies that focused on the impact of certification type and years of experience in the Bilingual camp. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the findings of the various impact Bilingual teacher license, years of experience, and both Bilingual license and years of experience had on Bilingual student reading achievement. Hence, the dissertation used a quantitative causal-comparative design and explored the research questions. The findings varied from grade levels, school years, and languages. …

Language Ideologies In Coloniality Contexts: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Efl Teachers’ Experiences And Perceptions On The Use Of Learners’ Language Repertoire As Assets For Teaching And Learning, Kountiala J. Some

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examined how dominant language ideologies in language politics and policy shape the professional identity development and pedagogical practices of five English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Burkina Faso. The study sought to understand how these ideologies influence teachers’ beliefs and perceptions of multilingual pedagogical approaches, as well as possible pathways for deconstructing them to promote student-centered practices. The participants’ accounts revealed that their academic and professional identities were largely shaped by the belief that home languages hinder proficiency in French and English. They recalled with remorse their elementary school experiences, where speaking native languages …

The Role Of Ethnic-Racial Centrality On Exposure To Microaggressions And The Mental Health And Academic Success Of Second-Generation Latiné Adolescents, Lisette Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

People holding racially minoritized identities are frequently subjected to racial-ethnic microaggressions, a form of everyday racism and discrimination. Acculturative stress and microaggressions have a direct impact on immigrants' mental health (Gee et al., 2007; Finch & Vega, 2003; Hovey, 2000). The increase in conservative immigration policies has led to increased anti-immigrant sentiments and microaggressions (Sissoko & Nadal, 2021). The impact of microaggressions can detrimentally affect psychological and physiological wellbeing, as well as academic performance and cognitive function (Solórzano & Pérez Huber, 2020). Because of their experiences with discrimination, Latino children may become more aware of biases in their social interactions …

Utilizing Cultural Responsive Literacy Practices In Order To Increase Reading Engagement In Primary Aged Readers, Molly E. Young

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this conceptual research was to explore how culturally responsive literacy practices and various theoretical frameworks can be integrated to enhance reading engagement among primary-aged readers. This study examines the connections among several relevant theoretical frameworks and identifies common themes related to reading engagement. The theories that guided this research include Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP), Funds of Knowledge (FoK), Self-Efficacy, and Self-Determination Theory (SDT). The conceptual framework highlights common themes across these frameworks, such as the importance of professional development and pre-service teacher programs, the significance of recognizing student strengths and backgrounds, and the …

"If Someone Had Stopped The First World Racist, There Would Be No Racism Today": Empowering African American Muslim Elementary Students Through A Critical Literacy(Critlit) Project, Faten Baroudi

Theses and Dissertations

The Critical Literacy (CritLit) project promotes using critical texts to engage readers in examining their lived experiences and understanding of social justice issues. This study used a qualitative participatory approach with a narrative design to research the students’ engagement in a book club using critical texts. Participants were fourth- and fifth-grade African American students who participated in a 4-week project at a weekend Islamic school in Philadelphia. I organized my study into four sessions. Three book club sessions were audio-recorded and observed. Field notes were taken; pre and post-interviews were conducted; student/teacher reflections were collected with students’ notes and handouts; …

Exploring Islamic School Teacher Adaptations To Reduce Cultural Mismatch For Muslim Middle Eastern American Students: A Grounded Theory Study, Zenab Eldreny

Theses and Dissertations

Culturally responsive practices are imperative in American classrooms due to the increasing diversity of the student population. These practices prioritize contextualizing materials, building relationships with students, and leveraging students’ cultural experiences and capital to improve their overall experience in the educational process. However, there is little understanding of the intersection between culturally responsive practices and social-emotional learning frameworks, particularly in contexts beyond the traditional public school environment. This qualitative study employs grounded theory to explore how Islamic school teachers adapt the social-emotional learning curricula to accommodate better Middle Eastern American (MMEA) students' cultural values. Focus groups were conducted to augment …

Exploring Grit Among Hispanic Undergraduates At A South Texas Hispanic-Serving Institution, Lorraine Pedroza

Theses and Dissertations

Although an increasing number of Latinx students are enrolling in higher education, only a small percentage graduate from two and four-year universities compared to their counterparts. This study explored the relationship between demographic variables and grit scores among undergraduate students. Grit, defined as the perseverance and passion for long-term goals (Duckworth, 2009), has gained significant attention in education research due to its association with academic success and performance. This study utilized a quantitative research design to compare grit scores between junior and senior undergraduate students. A total of 166 participants were included in the analysis, with 69 respondents classified as …

Teacher Beliefs And Experiences Addressing Healthy Racial And Ethnic Identity Instructionally Through Social Emotional Learning, Juliana Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

Children and youth develop within an ecological context that includes family, peers, and broader social environments including school. Children’s understanding of their ethnic or racial group and the meaning they attribute to belonging in that group is also shaped by interactions in their school environment. Most research on school-based social-emotional learning (SEL) programs has focused on student behavioral and academic outcomes. However, as SEL spreads across U.S. K-12 schools, questions have emerged surrounding how children from diverse racial and cultural groups and unequal opportunity can benefit from universal SEL programs. Using a mixed-methods design, this study explores teachers’ understanding and …

Aguaaaa!!!, Cory Villegas

Theses and Dissertations

“AGUA” is a call for new models of learning and sharing, celebrating the diasporic as a place of global revolution. Salsa, rooted in Latin American and Afro-Caribbean histories, is choreographer Cory Villegas’s expression of cultural legacy. As an Afro-diasporic dance, Salsa carries the wealth and variety of African and Indigenous roots. Villegas contextualizes her thesis event “Las Leyendas: An Afro Cuban Suite,” presenting herself and her troupe Soul Dance Co. as evidence that contradicts the erasure of Latin & Caribbean Culture in US dance history. The paper uses English and Spanish, written, visual, and oral materials with an accompanying webpage.

Exploring Equity In Biliteracy Development In A Two-Way Dual Language Program, Dalila Ochoa

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative exploratory study aimed to better understand how biliteracy is conveyed to native English speakers in order for them to acquire a second language, Spanish in a two-way dual language program. The study uses the theoretical framework of Jose Medina’s C6 Biliteracy Framework (2019) and research from Kathy Escamilla (2014). The research questions that guided this study were: (1) What type of instructional methods are the bilingual certified teachers utilizing to support Spanish development for native English students in a two-way dual language program? (2) How are bilingual teachers tracking the progress …

Exploring Chicana Preservice Teachers’ Conscientizing Processes: Introducing An Array Of Criticalities In An Elementary Social Studies Methods Course, Raul Garza

Theses and Dissertations

Recognizing that our preservice teachers are experiencing a euro-centered teacher preparation curriculum, this study aimed to explore Chicana preservice teachers' interactions with an array of criticalities focused on a bioregional context that highlighted critical and resistant resources.

Chapter 1 surveyed the literature on growing critically conscious teachers of color and posed the following research questions: How do critical place-based pedagogies impact Chicana preservice teachers’ experiences in a social studies methods course? How do Chicana preservice teachers respond to a broad array of criticalities? How do the critical and democratic pedagogies experienced in the social studies methods …

Developing Hispanic Pre-Service Elementary Bilingual Teachers’ Cultural Competence And Teacher Identity Through Mixed Reality Simulation, Yajaira A. Flores

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the constant migration of diverse populations, multicultural communities are developing across North America. As a result, multi-culturally diverse classrooms are multiplying (Allen et al., 2017). Our pre-service teachers must be multi-culturally prepared to enter diverse classrooms and effectively teach students without implicit bias (Ladson-Billings, 1995; Banks, 2010; Paris, 2017). Pre-service teachers' identity and cultural competence should be prioritized in teacher preparation programs. Using Latino/a Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), Practice-Based Learning, and Teacher Identity as conceptual frameworks, this study will answer how Mixed Reality Simulation (MRS) may be used as a teacher preparation tool (Aguilar & Flores, 2022) to …

A Historical Analysis Of Bilingual Program Implementation, Jessica Gonzalez Perez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to uncover opportunities for reimagining the dual language program. Furthermore, it aims to provide valuable insights to district leaders contemplating initiating such programs. Through an examination of the program's inception and subsequent evolution, the research will offer a comprehensive understanding of its background and development. Integral to this exploration are district leaders' and campus administrators' perspectives and viewpoints directly involved in implementing the program. Their insights will shed light on the program's journey and inform potential improvements or adaptations. Ultimately, this study endeavors to serve as a roadmap for district leaders navigating the …

Ecologies Of Teaching With Bilingual Students: Connecting Identity, Agency, And Assessment In First-Year Writing Class, Sumantha Nikole Zapata

Theses and Dissertations

As many students who graduate from high school transition into applying for college or university, they are not aware of the drastic changes that come with it. For bilingual students, this transition can be much more challenging due to their language barrier and the lack of support they may receive. The intersection of demographics, pedagogy, and linguistic agency led to the research question for this study: how can pedagogies in first-year writing classes be adjusted or developed to justly educate and assess bilingual students who are still working toward competence in English? The history of bilingual education …

Making Sense Of English Placement And Its Effect On Emergent Multilingual Students At An Emerging Hsi: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Samantha Glassford

Theses and Dissertations

Language acquisition support for Emergent Multilingual, or EML, students in community colleges across the United States does not receive as much attention in research as it does in K-12 schools and universities, despite the growing number of EML students enrolling in community colleges. With 25% of community college students being from immigrant backgrounds, these colleges - HSIs and EHSIs in particular - support for English language acquisition will need more attention and funding. The purpose of this study was to explore the sensemaking that occurred after the interruption of Guided Self-Placement, as well as the discourses present at an EHSI …

Students' Perceptions Of Non-Native Arabic And Native Arabic Teachers, Mohamed Firgany

Theses and Dissertations

Educators teach Millions of Arabic language learners worldwide, most of whom are not native speakers. Despite their efforts in teaching, developing educational materials, and significant contributions to scientific research, there is a lack of research on them within the context of the Arabic language.

In this project, I explore students' perceptions of teaching practices for native-speaker teachers (NSTs) and non-native-speaker teachers (NNSTs), along with the advantages and disadvantages associated with each. Additionally, I aim to understand the impact of certain variables such as gender, age, nationality, language proficiency, and the purpose of studying on these perceptions.

Through 173 survey responses …

Student Perceptions Of Icc Development And The Reasons For It During Casa@Auc, Stephen Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Research has described how studying abroad has become a major goal in the Arabic world, focusing on understanding the ideas and way of life of another culture and people. Study abroad programs increase students' “Intercultural communicative competence” as indicated by researchers like Maharaja (2018) and Lee and Song (2019). The current study is a case study involving three participants. It focuses on students' perceptions of the influence of the CASA@AUC study abroad program on their intercultural communicative competence (ICC) as reflected by ACTFL performance indicators they are capable of executing. Results of the study indicate that they have reached advanced …

Ripe Spoils, Yan Cynthia Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Chen’s practice primarily focus on sculptures and installation. She explores the interplay between the idea of nature and the constructed environment, by examining how language informs what we know. The central thesis, "Ripe Spoils", employs citrus fruits as symbols for bodily experiences and personal identity, investigating their cultural and historical significance. Her sculptures summon the qualities and embedded meanings in materials like paper pulp and clay, wax and citrus fruits, often resulting in abstracted forms evocative of the human body. This thesis paper and exhibition reflect on themes like mortality and the essence of self.

Chinese-English Dictionary Enable Select Search …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding The Inclusion Of English Learners In Mainstream Classrooms, Geraki Marie Kossonou

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how mainstream elementary teachers perceive the inclusion of English learners (ELs) in their classrooms and what strategies they use to enhance the learning of ELs. Utilization of Bandura’s self-efficacy occurred in the research. The two research questions that guided the study include, “What are the perceptions of elementary teachers regarding the inclusion of ELs in their classrooms?” and “How do elementary teachers demonstrate their knowledge and application of effective strategies for supporting and enhancing the learning of ELs?” The two research questions helped to explore the phenomenon of mainstream teachers’ perceptions …

Learning Curve: Designing An Inclusive Early Childhood Learning Center, Sarah Alrumayh

Theses and Dissertations

This research centers on the improvement of early childhood education environments in hopes to reduce the disparities in outcomes among children aged 2-6, widely known as "the achievement gap." It sheds light on designing an inclusive, child-centered school for students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) and speech or language impairments (SLI). Drawing on the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), it underscores the benefits of integrating students with special education needs into mainstream education, thereby fostering inclusive learning environments. (IDEA, 1975).

The research question probes how to create a nurturing and adaptable school environment tailored to the diverse needs of …

Using Asset-Based Community Development To Increase Student Engagement And Improve Student Experience In Schools, Jacqueline Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

The following is a dissertation in the three-paper dissertation format. The first section will give background information on the issue of alienation in schools and how asset-based community development (ABCD) could be an effective tool for educators to combat alienation and disengagement, especially with students with marginalized identities. This first section will also show the significance of the three papers as a whole and how they connect to one another. The first paper is the conceptual literature review, the second paper is an empirical study of the ABCD model in schools, and the dissertation will end with a practitioner's article …

The Lived Experiences Of Esl Nontraditional Rrts While Preparing To Challenge The National Board For Respiratory Care Clinical Simulation Exam, Jose A. Lammoglia

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide information to respiratory therapy graduates from two-year associate in science programs, faculty, and administrators about

the cognitive and noncognitive strategies employed by graduates to prepare and pass the CSE. To date, no available information on the role played by the lived experiences of RT graduates while preparing to challenge the CSE. The researcher developed a questionnaire to conduct a qualitative phenomenological descriptive lived experience survey of ESL Hispanic nontraditional graduates from associate of science programs in South Florida who took the NBRC national board examinations between January 2015 and March 2022.

An analysis …

An Analysis Of Paid Agent Contracts Utilized In The Recruitment Of International Students At University System Of Georgia Institutions, Jeremiah Lee Pitts

Theses and Dissertations

Many colleges and universities view international student recruitment as the solution to their financial pressures, but they lack the ability to effectively reach international markets. While many students desire to study internationally, they lack the knowledge and resources to explore their options. Paid agents bridge the information and opportunity gaps between institutions and prospective international students. However, the use of paid agents is fraught with many dangers. Paid agent contracts govern the relationships between these entities in the absence of regulations. This study explored the paid agent contracts employed by colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia to …

Translanguaging Practices And Perspectives Of Three Bilingual Teachers, Lillian Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

This is an ethnographic case study that explores and examines the translanguaging practices of three bilingual teachers in a rural elementary school in deep south Texas.

Translanguaging guides this analysis.

Language Borrowing Among Syrians Speaking Arabic In The United States: Arabization Of English Words, Joanne Stephen

Theses and Dissertations

Immigration to the United States from different Arab countries have been occurring for the past couple of centuries. Arabs from many countries are still migrating to different States in America. Getting adapted to a whole new place, new culture, and especially a new language could be difficult. Cultural and language contact in some cases causes what is called “language borrowing”. This study identified and examined different words that Syrian Arabic speakers in the United States of America borrow from the English language and arabize them. This study investigated the different approaches that native Arabic speakers follow in order to adapt …

Historical Trauma: Literary And Testimonial Responses To Hiroshima, Mariam Ghonim

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of trauma is controversial in literature. While one may be able to come up with ways to describe trauma in fiction, representing historical trauma is a hard task for writers. Some argue that trauma can not be described through those who did not experience it, while others claim that, provided some elements are added, one can represent trauma to the reader. This thesis focuses on twentieth-century historical traumas related to a nuclear catastrophe and explores the different literary and testimonial responses to the catastrophic man-made event of Hiroshima (1945). In this thesis, Kathleen Burkinshaw’s historical fiction The Last …

The Influence Of Bolded Keywords In Online News Texts On Reading Speed And Comprehension For Heritage+ Learners Of Arabic, Marwah Khost Aljarkas

Theses and Dissertations

Learners and readers of Arabic, especially Heritage Language Learners, suffer more than ever from the lack of focus while reading online texts. This becomes a challenge that negatively impacts their overall learning process. This paper explores the influence of one salience feature - bolded keywords - over reading speed and comprehension amongst Heritage+ Learners of Arabic. Heritage+ refers to Arabs living in the Arab world, but who have minimum exposure to the language. Thirty-two students, who are Heritage+ Learners of Arabic, currently studying at the American University in Cairo and belong to Generation Z (18-25 years), participated in the study. …

Case Study: Reading Multicultural Literature To An Emergent Reader In The Home, Kiyna Twisdale

Theses and Dissertations

This case study was conducted to find what happens when a parent reads multicultural books to their young child at home. The qualitative data collected was used to determine the child’s reactions to the similarities and differences between them and the characters, as well as how multicultural books can be used to address sensitive topics and complex themes in the home. A caregiver, the researcher, collected data from read aloud sessions with her five-year old daughter. After reading seven multicultural books together, the research found that the child was able to make simple and concrete connections with the physical appearance …

Using Literature Circles To Strengthen The Overall Literacy Skills And Reading Performance Of Emergent Bilingual Students, Shannon A. Pruett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of literature circles on strengthening the literacy skills and reading performance of two emergent bilingual students. As guided reading groups help reinforce students’ ability to read, it is key to implement additional instructional strategies that will assist in improving emergent bilingual students’ reading, writing, and language skills. Harvey Daniels (2002) described literature circles as an effective classroom tool in supporting the overall literacy skills of emergent bilingual students: “Young bilingual children, no matter what their linguistic background, are able to have rich discussions if they have regular opportunities to engage …

The Influence Inclusive Literature Circles With Multicultural Literature Has On The Self-Efficacies Of 4th Grade Students With Disabilities, Brianna Norcross

Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to determine what happens to fourth grade students with disabilities reading self-efficacies when they participate in inclusive literature circles with multicultural literature. The purpose of this teacher research was to investigate strategies to improve reading self-efficacies of students with disabilities, investigating what would happen if students with disabilities were placed heterogeneously with their peers while reading books with characters with disabilities and how that influenced their reading self-efficacies. Four students with a disability were integrated with their general education peers in their inclusive classroom to participate in literature circles for four weeks. The multicultural books were books …