This study focuses on the population of women voluntarily entering the United States via arranged, often through the Internet, marriages. A congressional report (Immigration and Naturalization Services 2006) on “International Matchmaking Organizations” reports that the number of immigrants coming to the United States with a “K-1 fiancée visa”, the temporary visa status used to have a nonnative individual enter the United States for the purpose of marriage, to be growing rapidly. Of these individuals, 79% are women, referred to in both government data collection and sociological literature using the century old moniker of “mail order brides”.
Through first-hand experience, over a period of 20 years teaching and acting as an administrator for English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, I have found
this population of women, International Mail Order Brides (IMOBs), to present significant English language and literacy needs. Demonstrating inconsistent attendance in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, they exhibit low-level English language fluency skills. This study of six International Mail Order Brides, all of whom live in rural settings within Pennsylvania, emanated from these observations. Participants were located through their attendance in community based, adult ESL programs.
Research conducted used the case study method offered the participants the
opportunity to share the lifelong progression of their biliteracies. Each of the narratives is transcribed in the words of the participant to assure the critical element of authenticity. The biliterate lives presented through this restorying is interpreted using Hornberger’s Continua of Biliteracy theory in order to identify the
multidimensional International Mail Order Bride biliteracy.
Analysis revealed five of the six participants to be monolingual, with no
agency given to their L1. All developed their biliteracies successively, living
currently with the L2 in the majority power position. Five of the six IMOBs function
at the less powerful oral-vernacular end of the Continua, with few literate abilities.
The value of shared life stories formulates an in-depth representation of how the specific life choice of this population drives the need for highly contextualized
English language opportunities, providing clear data to guide the field of Second
Language Literacy in creating a pedagogical response. / Dr. Dan J. Tannacito
Dr. Gary J. Dean
Dr. Gian S. Pagnucci
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:IUP_Thesis/oai:dspace.lib.iup.edu:2069/457 |
| Date | 01 September 2011 |
| Creators | Duncan, Elizabeth Rafferty |
| Source Sets | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Thesis |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 946606 bytes, application/pdf |
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