Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Revising Our Curriculum/ Empowering Students: Teachers’ Preparation And Perceptions About Bilingual Writing, Maria Luisa Spicer-Ecalante

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

While emphasis on writing instruction has been a main concern in teaching Spanish to bilingual students in the U. S., it is an area in which very few theoretical advances have been made; in Mexico’s case the situation is even more challenging. Therefore, based on classroom observations, and individual interviews with both teachers and students, and on the collection of class syllabi, this paper seeks to describe the current state of affairs regarding Spanish and English writing instruction for bilingual students in both countries. The main objectives are: 1) the analysis and comparison of the diverse teaching methodologies that high …

Fostering Effective French Communication In The Classroom, Lindi Brown

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is a compilation of work the author completed while in the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University. It is focused on her beliefs of how French should be taught in a university classroom. It also includes three artifacts addressing how a challenging aspect of the language should be taught, how authentic literature can be utilized in the classroom, and why the French culture should be incorporated into the curriculum. Finally, there is an annotated bibliography of books and articles which have shaped the author’s beliefs and opinions about teaching French as a foreign …

Investigating Foreign Language Graduate Student Instructors’ Perceptions And Use Of Technology In The Classroom, Joshua J. Thoms

Joshua J. Thoms

This study investigates how graduate student instructors (GSIs) in several universities across the United States perceive and make use of technology to teach foreign language (FL) courses. Results indicate that while the majority of GSIs receive some kind of training in computer assisted language learning (CALL) upon entering their programs, much of the training focuses on technologies that are not Web 2.0 tools (e.g., wikis, blogs, social networking sites). Specifically, participants indicate that they use PowerPoint, grammatical and lexical websites, and discussion boards most often in teaching. Survey results also suggest that lack of planning time, limited online exercises that …

Hybrid Language Teaching And Learning: Assessing Pedagogical And Curricular Issues, Joshua J. Thoms

Joshua J. Thoms

In recent years, several economic factors have led to an increase in the number of hybrid courses offered in foreign language departments at the post-secondary level in the United States (U.S.). Hybrid courses incorporate several technological applications not typically used in a traditional face-to-face course. Hybrid courses combine contact time in a traditional classroom with virtual days, in which students are responsible for working with content on their own or in small groups outside of the classroom. This study reports on student and instructor perceptions of and reactions to a hybrid course piloted in three lower-level Spanish language courses at …

Researching The (Dis)Connection Between Literary Discussions And Speaking Functions: A Replication With Intermediate Learners, Joshua J. Thoms

Joshua J. Thoms

Responding to the call for more replication studies in the fields of second language acquisition and applied linguistics (Ortega, 2009; Polio & Gass, 1997), this chapter reports on a conceptual study based on the work of Donato and Brooks (2004). The current study is different in that it analyzes whole-class discussions in Spanish between an instructor and her 19 students in an introductory Spanish literature course (i.e., 5th semester) at the college level. One overarching research question is explored along with two sub-questions: (1) Does an introductory-level literature course for Spanish language learners provide occasions during whole-class discussion for participation …

The Influence Of Family Structure And The Role Of Siblings On Early Language Development Of Latino Preschool Children, Eduardo Aguiles Ortiz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between family structure including family size, number of parents at home, and presence of an older sibling at home, and the language development of young Latino children. I used data from the Head Start--Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) year 2000, which included information on 746 Latino preschool children and their families in different Head Start programs nationwide. A subgroup of 369 children were identified as English-language learners (ELL) because they were determined to be primarily Spanish speaking. Some of the findings indicate that more than two thirds of children …

Análisis LingüÍstico De La Escritura BilingüE (Español-Inglés) De Los Hablantes De Español Como Lengua Hereditaria En Los Estados Unidos, Maria Luisa Spicer-Ecalante

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Tradicionalmente; los hablantes de español por herencia (Spanish Heritage Speakers) en los Estados Unidos aprenden español en casa o en su comunidad. Sin embargo; la mayoría no recibe instrucción formal académica en español. Por lo tanto; su escritura en español y en inglés muestra ciertas características lingüísticas relevantes. En esta investigación se analizan los textos persuasivos/argumentativos de estudiantes universitarios de los siguientes grupos: hablantes de español por herencia (HELH); estadounidenses que estudian español (EESL) y mexicanos hablantes nativos de español (HNE). Los resultados del análisis lingüístico y estadístico sugieren que hay diferencias notables en la manera en la que cada …

La Enseñanza De La Escritura De Textos Académicos Para Los Estudiantes BilingüEs: Prácticas Pedagógicas De Dos Preparatorias En México Y En Los Estados Unidos, Maria Luisa Spicer-Ecalante

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Con base en observaciones de clases, en el análisis de programas de estudio y en entrevistas individuales con los directores, maestros y estudiantes, este artículon tenta exponer la situación actual de la enseñanza de la escritura de textos académicos para los estudiantes bilingües en dos escuelas preparatorias de México y de los Estados Unidos. Esta investigación describe los métodos pedagógicos que senstrumentan en el aula para la enseñanza, la preparación académica y/o práctica de los maestros en cuestión de instrucción de la escritura y el efecto que estan instrucción tiene en la percepción que los estudiantes asumen respecto a sus …

Journal-Based Self-Studies Of L1 English/L2 Spanish Speakers Learning L3 Kichwa In Ecuador And L3 Guaraní In Paraguay, Carol Severino, Joshua J. Thoms

Joshua J. Thoms

Both Carol and Joshua, speakers of L1 English and L2 Spanish, were recently granted opportunities to learn two of the most common indigenous languages in South America–Kichwa and Guaraní. We lived with Spanish-dominant bilingual families who spoke the target language (L3) we were studying. We both kept learning journals recording our language learning progress. After highlighting the tradition of journal-based studies of language learning, and reviewing the perspectives on interaction in second language acquisition, we first describe the contexts for bilingualism in Ecuador and Paraguay. Second, we present data from our journals to illustrate how each of our language acquisition …

The Use Of L1 In An L2 On-Line Chat Activity, Joshua J. Thoms, Jianling Liao, Anja Szustak

Joshua J. Thoms

This study focuses on the use of the native language (L1) by second language (L2) learners when carrying out a collaborative jigsaw task in a computer chat environment. It investigates the extent and function of L1 use by means of a sociocultural theoretical framework. The research project was carried out in three languages: Chinese, German, and Spanish. Students were assigned to dyads at random and were asked to perform a jigsaw task activity. The chat logs were collected and analyzed via descriptive statistics and discourse analysis. The findings suggest that across all three languages, the students used their L1 (English) …

Cross Cultural Understanding Through Language, Shaun Bradley Roundy

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Much has been done to discover the place that language holds in the development of our communication and thought patterns. The methods through which members of various societies learn different attitudes and how their respective languages reflect and reinforce such patterns have also been studied in some depth with a number of world cultures. The interpersonal barriers and misunderstandings brought about by the dissimilarities between unconscious but powerful forces that culture has upon our thinking are understandably difficult to discern and thereby surmount. In this paper, I will demonstrate how the chances of achieving this aim may be enhanced through …

An Experiment Comparing The Relative Effectiveness Of A Linear And A Context Program In Teaching Some Selected Persian Words With Reference To The Persian Alphabet To English Speaking People, Batool Moghadam

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of a linear and a context program in teaching some selected Persian words to English speaking people.

A survey of the literature did not reveal studies closely related to the present study, but it revealed studies verifying the usefulness of programed instruction in general, and also some limited attempts made to set up programs for teaching Persian to Americans. There has been increasing attention by educators to programed instruction in the last fifteen years. The idea was also supported that there is a need in the United States for …