xi, 89 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / One of the fastest growing populations of students in American schools today is that of Spanish speaking English language learners. Many of these students are taught in classrooms in which Spanish is the language of instruction for the development of early literacy skills. There is a need for valid and reliable progress monitoring measures for Spanish speakers in these classrooms, as many of the current measures in use were designed for and normed on English speaking populations of students. Phonological awareness is one of the strongest predictors of success in learning to read. Therefore, the purpose of this replication study was to determine the efficacy of five independent variables: (a) Letter Sounds, (b) Syllable Sounds, (c) Phonemic Segmentation, (d) Syllable Segmentation, and (e) Grade Level to predict scores on Spanish Word Reading and Sentence Reading Fluency assessments for 41 first-grade and 41 second-grade native Spanish speaking students whose early literacy instruction was in Spanish. Correlational and multiple regression analysis showed that, of these variables, performance on a test of Syllable Sounds was the best predictor of performance on both the Word Reading Fluency and Sentence Reading Fluency tests. Results show that, for students receiving early literacy instruction in Spanish, tests of syllable sounds demonstrated the most efficacy in accounting for the variance in predicting future reading success in Spanish. / Adviser: Gerald Tindal

Today's global culture makes communication through writing in a foreign language a most desirable tool to expand personal and professional relations. However, teaching writing is a complex, time-consuming endeavor in any language. Foreign language teachers at every level struggle to fit writing into an already full curriculum and need the most effective methods and tools with which to teach. Technology may provide a viable scaffold to support writing instruction for teachers and students. The purpose of this research was to determine any benefits of weekly/structured, in-class, computer-assisted grammar drill and practice on the composition quality and quantity of intermediate university Spanish learners. A related purpose was to determine whether students who participated in such practice would access a computer-based writing assistant differently during writing than students without the treatment. The research design was a nonequivalent groups pretest-posttest design. Fifty-two subjects' compositions were graded with both holistic and analytic criteria to analyze composition quality and quantity, and statistical analyses assessed interactions of treatment and effects. The computer-based Atajo writing assistant, which could be accessed during composition, had a logging feature which provided unobtrusive observation of specific databases accessed by each student. There were no statistically significant differences found between the two groups in overall composition scores or in subscale scores. Improvements across time were observed in composition performance for both the experimental and control groups. The implementation of computer-based grammar and vocabulary practice did show a small to moderate positive effect; that is to say, students who received weekly, structured computer grammar and vocabulary practice had higher scores for composition quality and quantity on the posttest measure and accessed the databases less than the control group. The consistent positive trends in the composition data results intimate that over a more extended period of time, computer-based grammar instruction might enhance the quality and quantity of written composition in the foreign language classroom.

Neste estudo doutoral procuramos dar continuidade à nossa pesquisa anterior, em nível de Mestrado, na qual apresentamos um retrato da formação de professores de espanhol como língua estrangeira para crianças. Agora, propusemo-nos oferecer diretrizes para uma formação inicial ou continuada de docentes de espanhol que trabalhem ou queiram atuar com alunos dos primeiros anos do ensino fundamental. Nossa trajetória iniciou-se pela revisão bibliográfica, muitas vezes campeada entre as referências de disciplinas cursadas, outras tantas escolhidas em estantes de bibliotecas, livrarias reais e virtuais. Nossas leituras, análises e reflexões começaram pela área da legislação referente ao ensino de línguas estrangeiras (Lei paulista 1.750 de 08 de dezembro de 1920; Decreto Federal 1.164, de 1939; LDBEN, 1996; Resolução CNE/CEB 7/2010; PCN, 1998; RCNEI, 1998), passaram pelos conceitos e fundamentos dos mais renomados pensadores da educação, em especial teóricos vinculados ao desenvolvimento infantil (BROFENBRENNER, 1996; BRUNER, 1978, 2006; FREUD, 2010; GESELL, 2002; PIAGET, 1967, 1972; SKINNER, 1970, 1974; VYGOTSKY, 2002, 2005), à aquisição da linguagem (CHOMSKY, 1959 apud BARALO, 2004; PIAGET, 1967, 1972; TOMASELLO, 2003; VYGOTSKY, 2002, 2005, por exemplo), à alfabetização e ao letramento (ABUD, 1987; FERREIRO E TEBEROSKY, 1999; KATO, 1998; KLEIMAN, 2004) e, por fim, à aquisição da língua estrangeira (KRASHEN, 1995; PAIVA in BRUNO, 2005). Demos continuidade à nossa pesquisa por meio da observação e da análise de aulas ministradas por nós em um curso de extensão, bem como de professoras que já ensinavam espanhol para crianças e de uma estagiária que era responsável pelo minicurso de espanhol para crianças durante seu curso de licenciatura. Seguimos com entrevistas às docentes, à coordenadora de uma das instituições escolares visitadas, a pais e responsáveis por alunos que estudavam espanhol em uma dessas escolas regulares e a alguns alunos. Finalizamos nossa pesquisa com a máxima certeza de que o caminho que apontávamos é o mais adequado: existe, sim, a necessidade e a viabilidade de se criar uma disciplina para o curso de licenciatura em espanhol, com respaldo na Resolução CNE/CEB nº 7/2010 e/ou um curso de formação continuada que aborde os conhecimentos, as competências e as habilidades necessários aos professores de espanhol que queiram ensinar o idioma a crianças. Esperamos que as diretrizes gerais que consideramos imprescindíveis na organização e proposição de um curso ou disciplina com as características mencionadas, incluídas neste trabalho, sejam uma das contribuições de nossa pesquisa para a área de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras a crianças. / In this doctoral study we attempted to continue with our previous research, in Masters\' level, in which we presented a portrait of teacher training in Spanish as a foreign language for children. Now, we decided to provide guidelines for initial or continuing training of teachers of Spanish who work or want to work with students from the first years of elementary school. Our history began through literature review, often searching among references of courses taken, and many other times chosen in libraries shelves, real and virtual bookstores. Our readings, analysis and reflections began in the area of law concerning the teaching of foreign language (São Paulo State Law 1.750 of 8 December 1920; Federal Decree 1.164, 1939; LDBEN, 1996; Resolution CNE/CEB 7/2010; PCN, 1998; RCNEI, 1998), they passed by the concepts and fundamentals of the most renowned thinkers in education, especially theorists related to children development (BROFENBRENNER, 1996; BRUNER, 1978, 2006; FREUD, 2010; GESELL, 2002; PIAGET, 1967, 1972; SKINNER, 1970, 1974; VYGOTSKY, 2002, 2005), to language acquisition (CHOMSKY, 1959 apud BARALO, 2004; PIAGET, 1967, 1972; TOMASELLO, 2003; VYGOTSKY, 2002, 2005, for example), to alphabetization and literacy (ABUD, 1987; FERREIRO E TEBEROSKY, 1999; KATO, 1998; KLEIMAN, 2004) and, finally, to the acquisition of foreign language (KRASHEN, 1995; PAIVA in BRUNO, 2005). We continued our research through the observation and analysis of classes given by us in an extension course, as well as teachers who already have taught Spanish to children and an intern who was responsible for the short course in Spanish for children during her graduation course. We followed by interviewing teachers, the coordinator of one of the schools visited, the parents and guardians of students who studied Spanish in one of these regular schools and some students. We concluded our research with the outmost certainty that the path that we pointed out is the most appropriate: there really is the necessity and feasibility of establishing a discipline to the graduation course of Spanish, supported by the Resolution CNE/CEB nº 7/2010 and / or a continuing education course that addresses the knowledge, skills and abilities needed by teachers of Spanish who want to teach the language to children. We hope that the general guidelines which we consider indispensable in organizing and proposing a course or discipline with the mentioned features, included in this study, are one of the contributions of our research into the area of teaching and learning of foreign languages for children.

Latin American art song is a genre primarily of the first half of the twentieth-century, when popular folklore served as the voice and inspiration of many poets and musicians. The nationalist movement served as a means of expression, each Latin American country with its own identity. There is great benefit for singers to study Spanish diction at an academic level, since it is a language already familiar to most U.S.A residents. There is a significant amount of unknown repertoire that would be very useful in the singing studio because of the language's open vowels. This repertoire can also serve as a confidence-builder to young Spanish-speaking singers at the beginning of their training. I will be focusing on the (s), (ll), and (y) sounds as pronounced in the diverse regions of Latin America; in particular, why they matter when coaching singers, and the articulators involved in each. The purpose of this study is to discuss diction differences in the repertoire, expound on its benefits for voice pedagogy, all while informing about varied options for recital programming.

This study focuses on the clitic pronoun usage by Spanish-Quechua bilingual speakers in Cuzco, Peru when faced with a question that includes a definite article preceding the direct object. Answers are analyzed to determine whether or not the definite article has an effect on the presence or absence of the clitic pronoun. Direct objects tested were both [+human] and [-human] objects to determine if these variables affect clitic pronoun use as well. Speakers who have identified themselves as bilingual in both Spanish and Quechua were given a survey to complete in order to see what factors may contribute to the use or omission of the clitic pronouns.

Linguistically gifted and talented students often do not receive appropriate instruction in the classroom. Little research has been conducted about how teachers of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses provide instruction to students who demonstrate advanced proficiency in a second language. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore how teachers of these courses provided instruction for students who demonstrate advanced proficiency in Spanish. The conceptual framework was based on Krashen's second language acquisition theory and Gardner's multiple intelligences theory. Participants included 2 teachers from 2 high schools in 1 county in a western state. Data were collected from individual teacher interviews, reflective journals, and documents such as course standards and course descriptions. Single case analysis involved coding and category construction, using the constant comparative method for interview and journal data, and a content analysis for documents. Cross case analysis involved an examination of all data sources and cases to determine themes and discrepant data. A key finding was that, in addition to course rigor, teachers used a variety of instructional strategies, such as flexible grouping, choice, higher order thinking skills, and formative assessments to meet the needs of all students, including advanced proficiency students. Recommendations are to improve the identification of linguistically gifted and talented students and to provide professional development in differentiated instruction. This study contributes to positive social change by providing educators with a deeper understanding that students who are proficient in languages will be invaluable in building a strong global community.

There is an increased need for bilingual education programs throughout the U.S. as a result of the increasing bilingual population, especially Spanish-English bilinguals. With the implementation of such programs there also exists the need to be aware of issues that affect bilinguals and their language learning experience. One of these issues that has been investigated among foreign language learners, but less among bilinguals, is the issue of language anxiety. This case study reports the findings gathered from classroom observations, a language survey, focus group interviews and teacher interviews in order to better understand the issue of language anxiety among heritage language learners on the border. The information gathered from student and teacher participants at a high school in South Texas describes students' language background and attitudes toward language learning as well as teachers' background, beliefs about language teaching. Results include responses from both students and teachers in reference to what creates language anxiety and what can be done in the classroom to mitigate its effects. Results indicate that language anxiety is not the issue of greatest concern, although some lower proficient bilinguals experience it. Rather, it was found that poor classroom management has the ability to affect nearly every other aspect of a language class, directly affecting language expectations, language use, classroom routine, attitudes, and even the level of language anxiety. Due to poor classroom management, a very low expectation has been set for these students and as a result, there is also a low percentage of students who experience language anxiety. Recommendations for improving bilingual language classes come from students' comments during focus group interviews.

With the availability of frequency dictionaries, such as Alameda and Cuetos (1995) or the Corpus del Español (2002), it is now possible to explore the effects of frequency on linguistic items. The following is a study exploring the effects of frequency on Spanish affixed words. While the debate of dual-route versus single-route processing continues, the results of this study suggest that L2 Spanish speakers use a dual-route model and decompose morphologically complex words when the base frequency is higher than the surface frequency. L2 Spanish speakers perceive derived words with a higher base frequency as more complex than derived words with a lower base frequency. The results of this study do not suggest the same process occurs for native Spanish speakers. When asked to identify the more complex word of a pair, native Spanish speakers are just as likely to select the derived word with a lower base frequency as they are to select the derived word with a higher base frequency suggesting a single-route model.

No description available.

Spanish Fork Canyon is located in central Utah and is part of the Wasatch Mountain range. Since the coming of the white man to this section of country it has been used as a trail. The canyon provides summer range for stock as well as a watershed. Plant densities were determined by the point observation method using series of one-hundred square foot plots. Three areas which have been subject to different grazing uses were studied. The association changes in the canyon are the replacement of sage by slender wheatgrass on the shallow soils and the disclimax condition resulting from over-grazing and fire with the annuals Bromus tectorum and Salsola pestifer replacing the true climax. The sage of protected alluvial fans shows rapid growth recovery and reproduction.