Among a rich variety of studies in second language acquisition research, relatively few have investigated the role of textbooks for language teachers and learners, in spite of their nearly universal importance in language classrooms (Kramsch, 1988; Plews & Schmenk, 2013). This three-article dissertation examines this issue for the context of Hebrew as a less commonly taught language (LCTL), through considering the goals and identities of four types of teachers (Native, Ethnic Heritage Language [HL], Linguistic HL, and Foreign Language [FL]teachers)and three types of learners (Ethnic HL, Linguistic HL, and FL learners). In order to explore these diverse goals and identities, this research included a mixed-methods approach in three stages: (a) a nationally distributed survey that included 18 teachers and 36 students in first- and second-year Hebrew courses; (b) a case study involving surveys, observations, and select interviews with 65 students and 5 teachers at two universities in the US; and (c) an analysis of the content related to goals and identity within five commonly used Modern Hebrew textbooks. Due to this unique context and research focus, these instruments are partially homegrown and partially adapted from past related studies (e.g. Allen, 2008; Burns Al Masaeed, 2014; Ducar, 2006). The first article of this dissertation consisted of a general analysis of these Hebrew textbooks, the second article focused on portrayals of pronunciation within Hebrew textbook pronunciation guides and explanations, and the third article on multimedia that accompanies Hebrew textbooks. Each of these textbook areas was compared to the goals and identities of the Hebrew teachers and students involved in the study. Findings included a general consensus that Modern Hebrew textbooks were lacking in many ways as far as meeting these goals and identities, although diversity in motivations and backgrounds led to a range of responses. Results also present several implications to improve the contexts of Hebrew, LCTLs, and language teaching in general.

Portuguese enrollments have been on a continuous rise at universities in the United States. Due to this increase it is important that teachers and department administrators understand what the motivations of Portuguese students are. This study reports on the findings of a survey conducted with lower-level Portuguese students at Brigham Young University regarding their motivations to study the language and compares these motivations with those of students of French, German, Italian, and Spanish. In addition, the study reports on students' perspectives on Portuguese in contrast to their perspectives on these other four European languages. Other issues considered include Portuguese students' native and foreign language backgrounds, their motivation to further pursue the study of Portuguese in the future, and their interest in two different varieties of the language, Brazilian and European Portuguese. Results revealed that only for Portuguese students were career plans the main motivation to study the language. Most Portuguese students already spoke Spanish fluently, either as a native or foreign language, and were also greatly motivated by the similarity between the two languages. Many Portuguese students were interested in pursuing their language studies in the future. Students reported being very interested in Brazilian Portuguese, but minimally interested in the European variety. Portuguese students' perceptions of the language were for the most part more positive than their perceptions of French, German, Italian, and Spanish, whereas non-Portuguese students' perceptions of Portuguese were mostly less positive than their perceptions of these other four European languages. Based on Portuguese and non-Portuguese students' responses to the survey questions, the study gives recommendations to promote the study of Portuguese as a foreign language at the post-secondary level.

Most researchers in second language acquisition (SLA) concur that understanding motivation is vital to promoting success and both short and long-term interest among L2 learners (Gass & Selinker, 2001). Hebrew has become an endangered language in the U.S. (Spolsky, 2009), as partly attested by a decrease in Hebrew language enrollments at U.S. universities (Furman, Goldberg, & Lusin, 2009). With this decline, an analysis is needed to investigate the diverse motivations of U.S. university students who enroll in Modern Hebrew (Feuer, 2009; Kaufman, 2010). This report examines research on this topic from both Hebrew-specific studies and general SLA research, through a discussion of motivation, heritage language learners, and Hebrew learners. Relevant issues and implications are considered in light of five areas of discussion that are common to the Hebrew teaching field. / text

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