According to Plan? Examining the Intended and Unintended Treatment Effects of EL Classification in Early Elementary and the Transition to Middle School

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that classification as an English learner (EL) is consequential for students, with important effects on educational achievement and attainment. Yet we know little about the mechanisms that underlie the effects of EL classification. This study explores whether, and to what extent, EL classification results in the treatments it is designed to trigger, and also whether, and to what extent, EL classification triggers unintended treatments. The study uses longitudinal school district data and regression discontinuity analyses to evaluate the treatment effects of EL classification. It examines two moments: initial classification as students enter kindergarten, and retained EL classification as students transition into middle school. Findings suggest that EL classification, for students near the margin of classification, results in many treatments it is intended to trigger including language assessments in early elementary, and English language development instruction and modified content instruction in middle school. In addition, findings show that EL classification triggers two unintended treatments among students; Classification limits access to English speaking peers in early elementary, and negatively impacts enrollment in a full academic course load in middle school.     

Public universities and the neoliberal common sense: seven iconoclastic theses

Neoliberalism has utterly failed as a viable model of economic development, yet the politics of culture associated with neoliberalism is still in force, becoming the new common sense shaping the role of government and education. This ‘common sense’ has become an ideology playing a major role in constructing hegemony as moral and intellectual leadership in contemporary societies. Neoliberal globalisation, predicated on the dominance of the market over the state and on deregulatory models of governance, has deeply affected the university in the context of ‘academic capitalism’. The resulting reforms, rationalised as advancing international competitiveness, have affected public universities in four primary areas: efficiency and accountability, accreditation and universalisation, international competitiveness and privatisation. There is also growing resistance to globalisation as top-down-imposed reforms reflected in the public debates about schooling reform, curriculum and instruction, teacher training and school governance. Many question whether neoliberal reforms attempt to limit the effectiveness of universities as sites of contestation of the national and global order and thus undermine the broader goals of education. Neoliberal reforms have limited access and opportunity along class and racial lines, including limiting access to higher education through the imposition of higher tuition and reduced government support to institutions and individuals.     

Racism and citizenship education in Northern Ireland

Racist attitudes towards, and attacks on, the minority ethnic populations in Northern Ireland (NI) have increased dramatically over the last number of years. Despite the increased media attention regarding racist attacks, the fallacy that racism is not a major problem in NI is an enduring one. However, there is a growing recognition that minority ethnic communities experience a diverse range of racial harassment. Education is a mode promoted by national and European governments as the vehicle in which anti-racism programmes can be delivered. This article suggests the impending introduction of a statutory citizenship education (CE) component to the revised NI curriculum from September 2007 can play an important role in tackling the high levels of racism being experienced by the minority ethnic population in NI.     

跨文化交际视域下英文歌词汉译的成语运用

作为英美文化的重要组成部分,英文歌曲是音乐和语言的最佳结合体。在全球化大语境下,以跨文化交流为导向的英语歌词翻译是一个值得研究的话题。本文立足于该语境,通过分析英文歌曲翻译的标准和方法,结合汉语成语的文体特征,旨在讨论汉语成语和词组在英文歌曲翻译中的实际效用,以便助益跨文化交际目的下英文歌词汉译的实践活动和理论研究。     

高职院校医学专业英语教学跨文化现状及教学策略

语言和文化是密切相关的。不同的文化孕育出不同的语言风格和语言习惯。同时,语言对文化的传承与发扬也有一定的促进作用,语言和文化有着相辅相成的紧密关系。在语言的学习过程中需要了解目的语产生的文化背景和历史渊源。本文在对医学专业学生英语学习跨文化现状调查的基础上,对英语教学方法改革进行探究。     

交互式教学模式在大学英语口语教学中的应用

社会发展对大学生的口语实践水平提出了更高的要求。改革大学口语教学模式,适时引进新的教学方法是改善大学英语口语教学效果的必由之路。以交互式教学模式的理论为依据,结合口语教学的经验,分析了这种新型教学模式在大学英语口语教学中的具体应用方法,提出了教学工作中的一些注意事项。     

浅谈如何提高民族地区英语专业学生自主阅读能力

随着元认知策略的兴起,自主学习模式越来越受到广大学习者和教育者的关注。本文分析了民族地区英语专业学生英语自主阅读现状,提出了一些提高英语自主阅读能力的方法,旨在帮助学生养成良好的自主阅读习惯,提高英语自主阅读能力。     

走向交际能力测试的英语高考--分析近年英语高考的命题原则

本文试着以英语语言测试交际能力理论中命题原则的角度评析近年英语高考的试卷命制情况,从而得出英语高考已逐步走向交际能力测试模式,使英语高考比传统测试方法更能科学地测试考生语言能力,更能建设性地发挥对英语教学的积极反拨作用。     

大学英语考试翻译方法研究

大学英语考试翻译的重点在于被动语态、定语从句、状句从句、英语长句等的译法,因此考生应围绕这些方面进行有针对性的复习。     

英语专业文化教学初探

在英语教学中实施文化教学符合21世纪外语人才的培养目标,同时也是英语专业的教学目的之一。实施文化教学能帮助学生了解中西方习俗文化、价值观念、思维方式和非语言因素的差异。因此,教师在课内和课外进行文化教学显得尤为重要。