"Literacies in Motion: Transnational Lives and Lifelong Learning in the US and Nepal," is a multi-sited, ethnographic case study of adult Bhutanese refugees' English language and literacy learning in the transnational contexts of the Bhutanese Diaspora and subsequent refugee resettlement. Specifically, I look at two refugee education programs that provide intensive English language training, the Pima Community College Adult Education Refugee Education Project (REP) in Tucson, Arizona and Caritas-Nepal's Spoken English Center at the site of the Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa, Nepal. As a teacher engaged in classroom inquiry in the REP program in Tucson, I was interested in how multilingual adults who strategically and complexly identified as refugees also understood themselves as English language learners and what effect these orientations might have on learning processes and classroom dynamics, especially related to literacy instruction. This initial classroom research gradually expanded to include research in the homes and community spaces of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese students who invited me to participate as a teacher-researcher in their cultural events and neighborhood meetings and, eventually, to global sites of inquiry in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. Altogether, I conducted ethnographic research over a period of 5 years, including classroom observations, teacher and learner interviews, and literacy artifact collection in homes, schools, and community spaces. My findings show that while linguistic inequalities within the communicative contexts of refugee resettlement worked to constrain adult language learners' second language literacies in the classroom, refugees' own mobile knowledge networks and global language investments allowed for more flexible multilingual and multimodal literacy resources and practices. Furthermore, while there is a profound, collective investment in English language learning in refugee camps in Nepal prior to resettlement, this investment is complex and learners often demonstrate deeply ambivalent attitudes toward the benefit of learning English especially later in life. While much local effort is invested in "empowering" teachers and adult learners through English education, true fluency among older adults in the refugee camp remains extremely limited to a truncated classroom repertoire (i.e. copying from the board, repetition, and simple greetings). Instead, adult learners, especially women, flourished in other ways through language center leadership, recruitment, and coordination involving translingual, transcultural, and multimodal skills. By considering the ways in which women refugees' expanding communicative repertoires outside of class operate in the refugee camp, and then travel through the migratory space of refugee resettlement, this study supports the work of emerging voices in the field of rhetoric and composition (i.e. Rebecca Lorimer Leonard's "traveling literacies") as well as those more established in literacy studies and applied linguistics (i.e. Jan Blommaert's "grassroots literacies" and "mobilization of language resources") to forward a mobile literacies construct that helps to explain the affordances and constraints of traveling language resources in a globalized world. Discrepancies found in both US and Bhutanese refugee camp contexts between the truncated English language repertoires of adult learners in class and their expanding translingual and multimodal repertoires outside of class, suggest important implications for translocal language policy and planning for multilingual learners.

Community colleges play a particularly valuable role in providing both immigrant students and international visa students the opportunity to participate in higher education at affordable rates and thereby, the means by which to achieve academic success in the university system and economic success in the market. Thus, community colleges bear the profound task of developing language skills and creating positive academic experiences for all students who are learning English.This phenomenological inquiry examines how English language learners constitute meaning from their experience of learning at a large community college in the southwest United States. The researcher conducted group and individual interviews with English language learners from 13 different countries of origin and 10 different first languages. Participants included international visa students and immigrant students.Cultural capital theory, including linguistic competence, was used to explain how the perceptions of linguistic competence affect the academic experience of different English language learners. The findings suggest that although some students may possess cultural capital that advantaged them in their home countries, without commensurate linguistic competence, academic literacy, and a new cognitive model for learning that cultural capital may not be rewarded with academic success in the United States. Additionally, the findings suggest that cultural capital theory may need to be adapted to explain how it manifests itself in this student population. A second theory, conceptual theory of metaphor, specifically Lakoff & Johnson's (1999) Event Structure Metaphor, provided a cognitive linguistic framework to the analysis of the language used by participants as they described their academic experience. Using the event structure metaphor, this analysis provides some support for the universal nature of metaphorical thought.

The current study examined the reading strategies of 19 bilingual undergraduate students who varied in reading proficiency (good or average) and language background (Chinese or Spanish). Using the think-aloud method, students’ reading strategies were measured and compared to determine whether strategy use differed as a function of reading proficiency, language background, and/or text level. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted to corroborate the findings obtained from the think-aloud protocols. Results from this study suggest that reading proficiency affects strategy use at the syntactic level, whereas language background affects strategy use at the vocabulary level. These findings have significant implications in education, particularly in the area of English language teaching. Students should be encouraged to use their first language reading skills when reading English text, as it facilitates their comprehension and improves their English literacy development.

This dissertation presents findings from a six-month qualitative case study that carefully examined the use of a multimodal literacy approach (anchored in graphic novels) in a 3rd grade classroom made up of Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs). The multimodal teaching approach (anchored in graphic novels) served as a focusing lens in which to investigate the larger complexities of ELLs’ classroom membership and participation. The focus of the study was examining whether a multimodal literacy approach (anchored in graphic novels) can be used as an instructional tool to enhance ELLs’ perceptions of belonging and acceptance through enhanced participation. Multiple, multimodal opportunities were provided to ELLs to express their sense of belonging, sense of agency, and overall perceptions of acceptance. The findings indicate that multimodal literacy practices can increase ELLs’ peripherality in cognitively and socially complex tasks and that this enhanced peripherality can lead to successful participation and engagement in cognitively demanding and socially complex tasks. Additionally, findings suggest that ELLs’ successful participation and engagement in cognitively and socially demanding tasks, as a result of the use of multimodal literacy practices, leads to increased legitimacy and peripherality for these ELLs. The findings also provide insight into the best practices for implementing a multimodal literacy approach (anchored in graphic novels) into multilingual classrooms. / Graduate / 0279 / 0524 / bomphray@uvic.ca

abstract: This study explores the relationship between restrictive language policies and dropout influences for language minority students. It furthers understanding of factors related to school attachment and restrictive language policies through an analysis of student's attitudes towards their imposed curriculum. Few studies to date have addressed English language learners' (ELLs') attitudes toward school, especially when schools enforce highly restrictive language policies, and the implications of these student perceptions as related to students' level of attachment to school in general. This study addresses this gap. It investigated middle and high school ELLs' and reclassified (RC) students' attitudes toward school, their aspirations for the future, and the language program in which they are or were recently enrolled within the state of Arizona. Using Erickson's analytic induction method and employing descriptive statistics, t tests, and hierarchical multiple regression, 2,264 students were polled from urban school districts in Arizona. The 85-question survey was comprised of demographic questions and attitude items as measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Results indicate some students are not satisfied with the four-hour block and that many students are aware of the negative implications involvement in the four-hour block can incur. Findings also show that language minority students are not receiving an equal education in regards to their curriculum. More importantly, considering policies and practices of schools as a factor, especially those which are restrictive language policies, is important in better understanding ELL and RC students' attachment to school and the potential impact of these policies on the likelihood of language minority students dropping out of school in the future. Policy implications are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. English 2011

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / F. Todd Goodson / English language learners (ELLs) are expected to meet the same academic standards as those of their fluent English-speaking peers while simultaneously acquiring a second language. When content area instruction is embedded with literacy-based tasks, ELLs' achievement is both the acquisition of content area knowledge and English language skills can be anticipated. Science is a content area that can provide a deep context for ELLs to develop academic language because students must use their literacy skills to gather information about scientific concepts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of an instructional intervention integrating literacy-based practices in science on third grade ELLs' science achievement and English language development. The mixed methods study was conducted at an elementary school in the Midwest, United States. There were 12 participants, eight identified as ELL and four fluent English speakers. Four of eight identified as ELL received the intervention while the remaining four ELL and fluent English speakers were instructed by the classroom teacher. The intervention was based on the systematic and repeated practice of language strategies and explicit vocabulary instruction. Authentic communication was used during scientific inquiry, discussions, and the reading of expository science text. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected from pre and posttest data from five FOSS I-Check assessments, researcher's observations and field notes, participants' artifacts such as science journal entries and reflections, classroom teacher interview, and recorded session videos. The data was coded and analyzed identifying major themes which are noted in the findings. The results concluded the four participants who received the intervention outperformed their ELL peers not receiving the intervention but were still slightly behind their English-speaking peers. Overall, the participants receiving the intervention showed gains in their productive language as reflected in their utilization of domain-specific vocabulary in their speaking and writing. The conclusions drawn from this study included ELLs can benefit from receiving an integrated literacy/science intervention in both their acquisition of scientific knowledge and language development.

abstract: The presence of language minority students in American schools is a growing phenomenon in present-day times. In the year 2008, almost 11 million school-age children spoke a language other than English at home. Educational language policy is largely influenced by the attitudes that society holds regarding the presence of language minority speakers in the community. One of the sources of these attitudes is the written press. This research aimed at identifying and analyzing the ideologies that newspapers display in connection with language minority speakers. The underlying assumption of the study was that the English language occupies a dominant position in society, thus creating a power struggle in which speakers of other languages are disenfranchised. Using critical theory as the theoretical framework enabled the study to identify and oppose the ideologies that may reproduce and perpetuate social inequalities. The methodological approach used was critical discourse analysis (CDA) which aligns with the main tenets of critical theory, among them the need to uncover hidden ideologies. The analysis of articles from English-language (The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune) and Spanish-language (La Prensa Hispana) newspapers allowed for the identification of the ideologies of the written press in connection to two main hypothetical constructs: education and immigration. The analysis of the results revealed that the three newspapers of the study held specific ideologies on issues related to the education of language minority students and immigration. Whereas the East Valley Tribune showed an overarching ideology connected to the opposition of immigrant students in schools, the hegemonic position of theEnglish language, and a belligerent stance toward the immigrant community, The Arizona Republic showed a favorable attitude to both English Language Learners and immigrants, based on reasons mainly related to the economic interest of the state of Arizona. La Prensa Hispana, on the other hand, showed ideologies favorable to the immigrant community based on humanitarianism. In summary, the results confirm that newspapers hold specific ideologies and that these ideologies are reflected in the content and the manner of their information to the public. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction 2012

This study is a qualitative research of Japanese "chuzai" families (short-term residents) concerning parental perspectives toward children's education in Southern Illinois. The primary data was collected by questionnaires, individual and group interviews, and school observations. The main participants of this study were five mothers of the "chuzai" group in Southern Illinois, in which questionnaires, individual and group interviews were conducted. Furthermore, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the children's education, school visits were made to the Japanese Saturday School and the ELL (English Language Learner) program of the local school which the children attended, including classroom observations. Additionally, interviews with the principal of the Japanese school and the ELL teacher were conducted, and questionnaires were also distributed to all the parents whose children attended the Japanese Saturday School. The notion of imagined communities (Anderson, 1991; Norton, 2001) was employed as the theoretical framework in order to examine "chuzai" people's current lives in Southern Illinois and their attitudes toward their children's education. The study reveals that "chuzai" families are different in various ways from both "eiju" (permanent residents) and Japanese communities in larger cities. Even though the Japanese community in Southern Illinois is small and features limited access to Japanese products, they maintain their Japanese lifestyle and strong connection with Japanese people in their community remarkably well. Interestingly, they show positive attitudes toward living in Southern Illinois, but they also have concerns due to their transiency as "chuzai." In relation to perspectives on children's education, this study suggests that parents have positive perspectives toward maintaining their Japanese culture, as well as learning the English language and experiencing American culture. Their heritage as Japanese strongly affects their daily practices even on a subconscious level; furthermore, their status of "chuzai" emphasizes the importance of keeping up their children's academic skills with the Japanese standard. At the same time, they also consider this short-term stay in the U.S. as an advantage in terms of providing new experiences and an opportunity for their children to learn English. The findings indicate that parents' imagined communities for their children's future have a great impact on their current investment (Norton Peirce, 2000). "Chuzai" families envision their future lives in Japan because they plan to return eventually, thus affecting their hopes for their children to be successful while readapting to schools in their home country. In this regard, Japanese Saturday school plays a crucial role as support for preparing children for their return to Japan regarding academic and social skills. In addition to the importance of becoming successful in Japan, parents also believe that the experience in the U.S. and English skills broaden their children's future in a global economy. The ELL program at the local school helps children in terms of learning English in order for them to be able to manage school life in the U.S. This study suggests that parental perspectives influence their children's education, and it is important for educators to understand the students' backgrounds and needs in order to provide appropriate education.

xiii, 116 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Early literacy development and mastery of reading skills are critical goals for all students to accomplish; however, there is not yet a clear answer on how or in which language to teach these skills to English Language Learners (ELL). Until clear evidence on effective interventions is found, the academic achievement gap between mainstream students and ELL students is likely to increase. This study examined the effects of the "Templates" Spanish intervention program on the Spanish early literacy skills of phonemic awareness and the alphabetic principle for 12 kindergarten Hispanic ELL students enrolled in a dual immersion program. To assess the efficacy of the Spanish intervention program, a hierarchical linear model (HLM) design combining elements of multiple baseline across subjects, single-subject design, and a regression discontinuity design was used. Results of the HLM analysis found no significant effects of the intervention in the between subjects analysis. The visual analysis of single subject designs indicated that of the 12 subjects only three appeared to exhibit a positive effect of the intervention when measures of alphabetic principle were used and only two when phonemic awareness measures were used. Students for whom the "Templates" did not appear to have a positive effect were those that were already making adequate progress while receiving the small group curriculum practice. These students' skills continued growing when they received the "Templates" intervention and while some progressed at a slower pace they may have reached a sufficient level of skills that continuing or exceeding baseline levels of growth was unlikely. Our study provides some initial indication that students who are not making adequate progress with the small group curriculum practice may potentially benefit from the use of more structured, direct, and explicit instruction with the use of the "Templates". Limitations of this study included the use of a small sample size, the short duration of the time allowed for the intervention procedures, and the restricted time to conduct phase changes from baseline to intervention would have provided a clearer indication of intervention effects. / Committee in charge: Roland Good, Chairperson, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Kenneth Merrell, Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Jeffrey Sprague, Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Robert Mauro, Outside Member, Psychology

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between English language proficiency scores as measured by the ACCESS for ELLs and achievement and growth scores on the reading subtest of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). The sample consisted of 2,006 3rd-5th grade English language learners (ELLs) from a large Midwestern school district. Results confirmed that an increase in English proficiency is associated with higher reading achievement scores. The unique variance explained by each of the domain scores (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) on the ACCESS for ELLs supports the use of a weighted composite score for decision making purposes. When considering within-year MAP growth by differing levels of proficiency, a curvilinear trend emerged. The two lowest proficiency groups demonstrated significantly lower reading growth than the two moderate and two highest proficiency groups. The greatest growth was seen by the two groups in the middle of the proficiency spectrum. Given the increased demands on measuring the achievement and progress of all students, including ELLs, and the use of standardized achievement scores for program and teacher evaluation, the results of this study suggest that a dichotomous classification of ELL/non-ELL might not accurately reflect the variability in growth at various levels of English proficiency. Implications for interpreting and using scores by ELLs are discussed.