<p> This research study was situated in the policy context of the internationalization of higher education, motivated by the increased presence of culturally and linguistically diverse students in U.S. educational settings and elevated discourses related to student global engagement. It explored the lived experience of 10 second-language (L2) speaking international students enrolled in a mainstream required writing course at a private, urban university in Washington, DC. This study investigated how participants experienced and understood being a part of this required writing course, and more specifically how the thematic nature of the course mediated their experience. This research conceived of a classroom as a socioacademic space, a shared environment where course content and formal academic tasks are combined with mediated social interactions among members of the classroom community. It engaged a hermeneutic phenomenological research approach to tap into both the details of the lived experience and how it was made sense of by the participants who experienced it. Through a series of three interviews, at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester, participants revealed their sociocultural histories, the arc of the lived experience over time, and their reflection on the experience at the end of the semester. </p><p> Findings for this study were organized along four major themes: The context for mobility; Entering the first-year writing course: Hopeful but unsure; The negotiation of the FYW experience: Interactions; Reflection on the lived experience: You get what you put in. Findings highlighted the significance of interactions in socioacademic settings, as well as the strategic ways L2 students responded to both the classroom environment and the tasks it required. The course topic was also found to have a strong influence over participants' experiences, though writing clearly occupied more of their attention during the second half of the semester. The findings of this study add dimension to our understanding of this phenomenon; further develop the literature bases of the internationalization of higher education, second-language writing, and first-year writing; and have implications for future research, institutional arrangements and attitudes, and curricular and pedagogical approaches. </p>

<p> This project explored aspects of English-related out-of-class time use by Japanese university students. The aim was to identify the salient temporal and motivational features of the episodes.</p><p> Two sets of time use and interview data were collected longitudinally (one semester per dataset) through Longitudinal Study 1 (<i>n_initial</i> = 66, <i>n_final</i> = 15), which included participants from three universities in Western Japan, followed by Longitudinal Study 2 (<i>n_initial</i> = 59, <i>n_final</i> = 25), which included participants from two universities in Western Japan. Interviews were with participants from these studies. Participants maintained a record of their out-of-class English-related time use during the semester. These data provide an overview of the out-of-class time use of Japanese university students during a full Japanese academic year. Longitudinal Study 1 data were collected during the fall semester, the second term at Japanese universities. Longitudinal Study 2 data were collected during the spring term, the initial term. Longitudinal Study 1 participants reported 2,529 episodes and Longitudinal Study 2 participants reported 3,322 episodes of out-of-class English access during the study period. One interview was held with the Longitudinal Study 1 participants (<i>n</i> = 15), at the end of fall semester. Two interviews were held with Longitudinal Study 2 participants (<i>n</i> = 25), one during the term and one following summer holiday. Data were examined for their temporal patterns and the contextual and affective features of the time use episodes. The cross-sectional component collected data from participants (<i>n</i> = 1,399) at 11 universities in Western Japan. These participants provided data for the motivational survey (<i>n</i> = 1,399) and at least one week of out-of-class English time use (<i>n</i> = 642) data. The participants in the cross-sectional study reported 2,987 out-of-class English access episodes.</p><p> Episode data for all three components (<i>K</i> = 8,838) and the motivational survey data (<i>n</i> = 1,399) were analyzed at the person, group, and amalgamated episode levels for the patterns of participants' time use using ANOVA and nonparametric procedures. The data were also examined using nonparametric procedures to exam the affective variables by the contextual variables of that time use. The episode data regarding participants' (<i> n</i> = 1,399) time use and motivational survey data were analyzed using ANOVA, factor, Rasch, multiple regression analyses, and structural equation modeling. The analyses of the time use data considered the temporal features of the episodes, the contextual features of the episodes, and the affective features of the time use. The analyses of the motivational data considered two models of the L2 motivational self system, an intention to learn model (ILM) and a time use model (TUM).</p><p> Time use results from all three components of this study indicated most out-of-class episodes occur when the participant is alone at home either studying or listening to English music. The most typical episode was listening to music, either alone at home or while commuting. A similar pattern of out-of-class English access was found for participants in all three components of this study. Study-related episodes were not considered enjoyable but also were not seen as causing anxiety. The amount of out-of-class time varied widely between participants, with one longitudinal study participant devoting 40 hours per week to English outside of class.</p><p> For longitudinal study participants, the time use episode data, along with interviews, indicated that habit was a primary driver of out-of-class English access, with participants showing stable patterns of time use, whether for enjoyment or study, during the term. For the most part, once participants in the longitudinal components for this project had established a routine it remained fairly consistent during the term.</p><p> Moreover, results from the three components showed that none of the participants met the time requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Sports, Technology and Culture (MEXT, 2002, 2009b) for out-of-class time allocated to study for their English courses, a 2:1 ration, for every week that they participated in the study. Only a few of the participants met this requirement for out-of-class English access during any week of the study and only if all purposes, including enjoyment, were considered.</p><p> This study also addresses the call that D&ouml;rnyei (2000) made for research examining the links between motivation and behavior in L2 learning. One unique aspect of this study is the use of a behavioral variable, Time Use, in addition to the survey-assessed latent trait, Intention to Learn, to explore the links between motivational profile and actual behavior. </p><p> Participants who rated highly on their Ideal L2 Self rated highly on the Intention to Learn, but not nearly as highly on actual time use on English. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)</p>

<p> This study researched the preparedness of English as a Second Language directors in school corporations in Indiana to determine their background experiences, awareness of second language acquisition research, levels of qualification, attitudes towards English learners (ELs), efficacy for leading ESL programs, and to gain an understanding of how to provide guidance and support to this group of individuals. Furthermore, the study investigated relationships between these factors to gain insight into how they impact each other and program implementation. The study endeavored to provide useful information towards policy making and support of ESL leaders. The research was quantitative and utilized a tailored design Internet survey to collect data. Descriptive data was analyzed using analysis of frequency (distribution, central tendency and dispersion of individual variables), while relationships between elements were analyzed using a combination of ANOVA, and Pearson's Product Moment correlational analysis, followed by post hoc analysis and regression analysis. Findings indicated that having experience with English learners and teaching certification for working with English learners were significant factors in the areas of knowledge, attitude, and efficacy. An exploratory model of ESL program leadership, developed by the researcher, concluded that when EL directors are certified and bring experience of working with ELs to their positions, it is more likely that their programs will be successfully implemented. Finally, the interplay of variables showed that these directors' levels of knowledge of second language acquisition principles and efficacy for leading the ESL program had highly significant effects on attitude, program implementation and each other. The implications of this study include directions for policy, training programs, and further research.</p>

No description available.

No description available.

<p> The goal of this study was to examine how educational expectation, academic self-efficacy of Math and English, parental expectation, and parental involvement affect ELL students' educational attainment. Given the large and growing percentage of the ELL population in U.S. schools, the status of ELL students' educational attainment is cause for concern. Research on educational attainment for this specific population is scarce; let alone the investigation of predictors of ELL students' educational attainment. </p><p> This study used a nationally representative sample from Educational Longitudinal Study: 2002/2006. Path analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test four models depicting the relation between educational expectation, academic self-efficacy of Math and English, parental expectation, parental involvement and ELL students' high school completion and postsecondary institution enrollment. The results showed that all four models fit the data very well. Statistically significant direct effects were found from students' educational expectation at time 2 to high school graduation and also postsecondary institution enrollment. Statistically significant indirect effects were found from students' educational expectation at time 1 to high school graduation and also postsecondary institution enrollment. Both the measurement and structural models of Model 3 and Model 4 fit the data well. Statistically significant direct effects were found from parental expectation and parental involvement at time 1 to high school graduation and postsecondary institution enrollment. Comparison analysis was conducted between Asian-language speakers and Spanish speakers. Model 1&amp; 2 fit Asian-language speakers well but not for Spanish speakers. Model 3 and 4 fit both Spanish speakers and Asian-language speakers, but the models explained more variances in the outcome variables for Spanish speakers. The findings of this study had implications for educational policies targeting ELL students. Limitations and future research recommendations were discussed. </p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oklahoma State University, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-285).

<p> The purpose of this project was to develop modified lessons that integrate FOSS investigations with the California English Language Development Standards with the intent to teach science daily for at least thirty minutes. Teachers will be able to use these lesson plans to modify their own science lessons and integrate them with ELD. The modified lessons were reviewed by three teachers, two professors and a science TOSA. Revisions were made to the modified lessons after careful consideration of the comments and suggestions made by the reviewers.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to increase the positive educational outcomes of unaccompanied minors entering the school system as English Language Learners. This proposed program addresses the scarcity of resources for these students, proposing a comprehensive program that will address the distinctive needs of this vulnerable population. The goal of this project is to implement a program that will provide the tools needed to help improve the educational attainment of unaccompanied minors through the provision of mental health services, employment opportunities, mentorship, and linkages to community resources. </p><p> As the number of Mexican and Central American unaccompanied minors entering United States schools increases, it is important to provide supportive services that will help ameliorate the various stressors faced by this population. The W.M. Keck Foundation was selected to fund a comprehensive program to provide services to unaccompanied minors enrolled at James Monroe High School through the Child and Family Guidance Center in the San Fernando Valley. The proposed program will employ a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a BA Employment Specialist and recruit two social work interns to carry out this program in efforts to improve the academic outcomes of these students.</p><p>

<p> The increase in the number of students who are English Language Learners (ELLs), including ELL students with disabilities, is presenting new challenges for special education teachers. Limited research has been done related to the challenges in educating this population, and what little has been done has centered around the challenges in assessment of ELL students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to look at the self-efficacy of Special Education teachers in the state of North Dakota regarding teaching ELL students with disabilities. Findings indicated that, overall, teachers are confident in their abilities to teach this population of students. The area in which teachers felt the least confident in their abilities was in the area of assessment. Implications for the field and suggestions for future research on this topic are discussed.</p><p>