Dismay and Disappointment: Parental Involvement of Latino Immigrant Parents

Parental involvement in schools has become more popular over the past decade due to Goals 2000 and research suggesting that student academic success increases when parents are included in the education of their children. Although researchers have examined the issue of parents and schools, limited research on parental involvement has been conducted within immigrant communities. Latino immigrant parents within a predominantly Latino community in California were interviewed. Although the community has strong Latino roots, these immigrant parents believed the schools do not listen or care to listen to their needs as parents. The parents in this study desired to be a part of their children's education, but forces within their children's school prevented them from doing so. The parents wished that teachers would be available to speak about grades, be able to find interpreters during open house and at other times throughout the school day, and communicate with the parents when their child is in need of assistance. Due to the apparent walls that had been established within the school's structure, the parents in this study felt abandoned and helpless while trying to gain information regarding their children's education. Parents in this study were so passionate about their stories that they pleaded with the researcher to let their story be heard in the researchers' teacher education courses so future teachers would know how immigrant parents felt.     

Parental control in Latino families: an integrated review of the literature

Using social information processing and cultural change models as explanatory frameworks, this article reviews the literature on Latino parental control and its implications for child development. It is argued that the use of parental control in Latino families may have motivational roots in cultural childrearing goals such as familismo (familism), respeto (respect), and educación (moral education). Consideration of these underpinnings, in conjunction with psychological and methodological issues, helps to explain variability in the use of Latino parental control and its effect on child development. Recommendations for future research include refinement of control and acculturation instruments, and attention to both contextual and individual variables.     

Theory and practice: Science for undergraduates of limited English proficiency

Between 1980 and 1990, the total number of Asian, Hispanic, American Indian, and foreign undergraduates increased by more than 50% at public and private, four-year and two-year colleges. Many of these students may be of limited English proficiency, suggesting that the traditional science lecture/lab format may need modification to incorporate the theory of second language acquisition as it pertains to the practice of content instruction. Various methods exist to improve science instruction for limited English proficient undergraduates. These included the adjunct and tutorial models, sheltered or bridge science instruction, faculty development, and science instruction in the students' native language. Any plan for science education reform at the collegiate level or for increasing minority participation in science must address the needs of the growing population of undergraduates who speak English as a second language.     

Predictors and outcomes of early versus later English language proficiency among English language learners

The development of English language learners (ELLs) was explored from kindergarten through eighth grade within a nationally representative sample of first-time kindergartners (N = 19,890). Growth curve analyses indicated that, compared to native English speakers, ELLs were rated by teachers more favorably on approaches to learning, self-control, and externalizing behaviors in kindergarten and generally continued to grow in a positive direction on these social/behavioral outcomes at a steeper rate compared to their native English-speaking peers, holding other factors constant. Differences in reading and math achievement between ELLs and native English speakers varied based on the grade at which English proficiency is attained. Specifically, ELLs who were proficient in English by kindergarten entry kept pace with native English speakers in both reading and math initially and over time; ELLs who were proficient by first grade had modest gaps in reading and math achievement compared to native English speakers that closed narrowly or persisted over time; and ELLs who were not proficient by first grade had the largest initial gaps in reading and math achievement compared to native speakers but the gap narrowed over time in reading and grew over time in math. Among those whose home language is not English, acquiring English proficiency by kindergarten entry was associated with better cognitive and behavioral outcomes through eighth grade compared to taking longer to achieve proficiency. Multinomial regression analyses indicated that child, family, and school characteristics predict achieving English proficiency by kindergarten entry compared to achieving proficiency later. Results are discussed in terms of policies and practices that can support ELL children's growth and development.     

Oral English language proficiency of ITAs: Policy,implementation, and contributing factors

Student complaints to legislators led to 20 states mandating higher educational institutions develop policy on oral English language proficiency of instructors. These mandates directed public institutions to certify oral English language proficiency of international teaching assistants. Universities responded to these mandates by developing policy requiring formal evaluation of international teaching assistants and provision for remediation of those whose skills were deficient. Demographic factors which led to these mandates are number of non-resident aliens and number of students in higher education institutions in the state. Institutional factors leading to policy were graduate enrollment and degree granting status of institutions.Clayton F. Thomas obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He is a Professor of Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University and is affiliated with the Center for Higher Education. Patricia K. Monoson obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. She is an Associate Professor of Speech Pathology at Illinois State University and is affiliated with the Center for Higher Education.     

改革高职英语教学 提高学生英语应用能力

高职英语教学中存在诸多问题,迫切需要改革课堂教学,提高高职生的英语应用能力。改革宜从以下几个方面入手：抓住机遇,明确高职英语教学的目的;改革高职英语教学模式;改革考试评价体系;提升教师素质。     

Evidence of English language proficiency and academic achievement of non-English-speaking background students

The increasing number of international students enrolled in Australian universities over the last decade has met with a corresponding concern that many non-English-speaking background (NESB) students experience considerable difficulty in their courses. Consequently, concerns about admission procedures have been raised regarding how English language proficiency (ELP) is determined for NESB students (both domestic and international). In addition to standardised ELP tests, some universities accept other forms of evidence, such as the completion of English-medium courses. This large-scale quantitative study analysed data on 5675 undergraduate and postgraduate students available from one university's database over a three-year period to ascertain if its ELP requirements were sufficient to ensure the academic progress of adequate numbers of these students. The best evidence for potential academic success was found to be standardised tests while students submitting other forms of ELP evidence tended to have more difficulties.     

学习策略、学习风格与英语成绩相关性研究

对理工科大学生英语学习状况和学习成绩调查、统计和分析的基础上,研究了英语学习策略运用水平和学习风格倾向与英语成绩的关系。研究表明:(1)学习者都能积极运用学习策略,元认知和补偿策略运用得最多,社会/情感策略运用得较少;(2高分组和低分组在元认知策略上有显著差异;(3)学习风格偏好呈多样性,英语水平与学习风格本身无关。     

浅析商务英语专业实践教学改革与体系建设——以“英语应用能力”竞赛为例

商务英语专业的特色体现在"英语"和"商务"的有机结合。通过英语竞赛来促进学生对语言学习和商务知识的掌握、商务技能的培养。因此积极开展与应职应岗能力和多元化英语竞赛相适应的校内专业竞赛活动,是创新高职实践教学模式的重要手段,对推动高职教学体系的建设,提高教学质量都有着积极的作用。     

英语习语的来源与文化内蕴

习语是语言中的精华,为增进不同文化间的理解及交流,熟悉英语典故是非常重要的。本文着重探讨了英语典故的三大来源和文化蕴含以及它们对习语意义的影响,说明文化背景知识的了解有助于培养跨文化交际能力。     

Reading habits of university ESL students at different levels of English proficiency and education

This paper describes a research study which examined the degree to which the levels of English proficiency (high vs. low) and education (graduate vs. undergraduate) of students for whom English is a second language (ESL) were associated with differences in their reading behavior patterns. Subjects completed a survey which elicited information about several aspects of their reading behavior patterns including the type of materials read, the amount of time devoted to each type of reading, perceptions of their own reading ability, weaknesses, and needed improvements in reading. The results revealed that many of the mean scores obtained differed significantly, a fact indicating that the subjects’ levels of education and English proficiency were indeed associated with their reading behavior patterns. The paper concludes with a discussion of the instructional implications of the findings.     

Significance of limited English proficiency and cultural capital to the performance in science of Chinese-Australians

This investigation of Chinese-Australian students and their learning of chemistry indicates that despite students' efforts to learn chemistry with understanding, difficulties in speaking and writing English were factors that limited performance. An hegemony based on the use of English to learn chemistry and assess performance placed students with limited English proficiency (LEP) in a position of potential failure. However, as might be expected of voluntary minorities, LEP Chinese students endeavored to use English to make sense of what happened in class and to demonstrate the extent to which they had learned chemistry. At the same time, they employed Cantonese in their oral and written discourse and exhibited high levels of commitment to learn, effort, and task orientation in and out of school. These practices were consistent with those expected by the teacher and that typically occurred in schools in their native Hong Kong. The study supports the assertions that learning chemistry can be facilitated when LEP students are provided opportunities to fully employ their native language tools and when the microculture of the classroom fits the macroculture of life outside the classroom. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Relationships of general vocabulary, science vocabulary, and student questioning with science comprehension in students with varying levels of English proficiency

This study investigated the influence of general vocabulary knowledge, science vocabulary knowledge, and text based questioning on the science reading comprehension of three types of students who varied in their English language proficiency. Specifically, grade 5 English-Only speakers, English Language Learners in the United States, and students learning English as a Foreign Language in a Spanish-speaking country were compared across the aforementioned variables to examine their relationship to reading comprehension. Findings indicated that general vocabulary, science vocabulary, and questioning contributed significant variance to the explanation of science reading comprehension. However, no particular variable was found to interact with language proficiency in their contribution to science reading comprehension. Findings are discussed in terms of the roles that each variable could play in content area comprehension. Implications for content-area literacy instruction of second-language students are considered.     

The pre-university English-educational background of college freshmen in a foreign language program: a tale of diverse private education and English proficiency

This study examines university students’ pre-university exposure to extra-curricular English instruction in tutorial or other private supplementary institutions in Korea and abroad. A questionnaire and an in-depth interview were administered to forty-three freshman students enrolled in a foreign language program at a comprehensive university in Korea. This study reports on the key findings in the questionnaire and on the personal language-learning experiences of seven interviewees chosen from the larger sample. The findings reveal that these students had undertaken widely different language instruction outside of school. Some had access to supplemental programs, while others relied completely on language training available in primary and secondary schools in Korea. Those with opportunities for study in venues outside the standard language sequence in Korean schools had significantly higher English proficiency and may affect their performance in their subsequent university-level English program. The paper concludes with the proposals for addressing discrepant English-learning backgrounds in order to remediate the significant differences in English language proficiency that characterize post-secondary programs at Korean universities.     

Language proficiency and early literacy skills of Cantonese-speaking English language learners in the U.S. and Canada

This study describes the language proficiency and early literacy skills of Cantonese-speaking English language learners (ELLs) in kindergarten. A total of 113 Cantonese-speaking kindergarteners in Canada and the United States, composed of three subsamples from three different locations participated in this study. Results showed that on average, the Cantonese-speaking ELLs in this study performed below average on vocabulary measures when compared with monolingual norms, but at or above average on English letter-word identification and phonological awareness (PA) tasks. Cluster analysis was used to identify two new groups of children based on their language proficiency in each language: English dominant and Cantonese dominant. There were no differences on PA in English and Cantonese between the cluster groups. However, the English dominant group performed significantly higher on English vocabulary and English decoding than the Cantonese dominant group. At the same time, the Cantonese dominant group performed significantly higher on Cantonese vocabulary and Cantonese word reading than the English dominant group. Finally, multiple regression analysis revealed that there was cross-language facilitation of PA on Chinese character recognition. Educational implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

依托式外语教学对学生思辨能力和英语水平的影响

依托式外语将语言学习与学科内容学习融合在一起,已经成为国内外广泛采用的教学方法。依托式外语教学实验表明学生的思辨能力和英语水平均有显著性提高,即依托式外语教学对学生的思辨能力及英语水平提升有促进作用。     

英语字母Ii的来源与象形意义探讨——英语单词字母象形教学法探讨之九

Ii是英语字母表中的第九个字母。这个字母与前面八个字母一样也有着与象形有关的来源,而且在构成英语单词方面也表现出许多对词汇记忆很有帮助的象形意义。本文拟从其来源和象形意义这两个方面进行分析,从而提出自己的研究成果。首次尝试对英语的单一字母Ii进行专题研究,作者对该字母趣味盎然的来源、和丰富多彩的象形意义作了深入的探讨。