“Pink Cheese, Green Ghosts, Cool Arrows/Pinches Gringos Culeros”

Author(s):  
Jonathan Rosa

This chapter analyzes the multiple forms of stigmatization mapped onto students’ English and Spanish language practices and demonstrates some of the complex ways that they attempted to fashion linguistic escape routes from these discriminatory perspectives. Students felt pressured to signal their Spanish language proficiency, but they sought to do so without calling into question their ability to speak “unaccented” English; they were faced with the task of speaking Spanish and English simultaneously without being perceived as possessing an accent. The chapter argues that students combined specific Spanish and English linguistic forms as part of the enregisterment of language and identity in ways that differ from what has been previously described as “Mock Spanish.” This analysis introduces the notion of “Inverted Spanglish” and suggests that it is a racialized index of US Latinx panethnicity and a parodic take on the school-based category of “Young Latino Professional.”

2021 ◽  
pp. 153819272110050
Author(s):  
Fernando Estrada ◽  
Brianna Angèle ◽  
Fannie Martinez

In the current study, an initiative that focuses on bilingual proficiency among masters-level counseling students provided the opportunity to qualitatively answer the question: For Latina/o bilingual graduate students who are training to be licensed counselors, what is the meaning behind pursuing and obtaining recognition of their Spanish language proficiency? The thematic findings from ten interviews illuminate topics related to bilingualism in post-baccalaureate education with respect to programing and scholarship.


Languages ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Daniel Vergara ◽  
Gilda Socarrás

Processing research on Spanish gender agreement has focused on L2 learners’ and—to a lesser extent—heritage speakers’ sensitivity to gender agreement violations. This research has been mostly carried out in the written modality, which places heritage speakers at a disadvantage as they are more frequently exposed to Spanish auditorily. This study contributes to the understanding of the differences between heritage and L2 grammars by examining the processing of gender agreement in the auditory modality and its impact on comprehension. Twenty Spanish heritage speakers and 20 intermediate L2 learners listened to stimuli containing two nouns with gender mismatches in the main clause, and an adjective in the relative clause that only agreed in gender with one of the nouns. We measured noun-adjective agreement accuracy through participants’ responses to an auditory task. Our results show that heritage speakers are more accurate than L2 learners in the auditory processing of gender agreement information for comprehension. Additionally, heritage speakers’ accuracy is modulated by their Spanish language proficiency and age of onset. Participants also exhibit higher accuracies in cases in which the adjective agrees with the first noun. We argue that this is an ambiguity resolution strategy influenced by the experimental task.


2021 ◽  
pp. 136700692110345
Author(s):  
Van H Tran ◽  
Cen Wang ◽  
Sharynne McLeod ◽  
Sarah Verdon

Aim: To explore Vietnamese–Australian children’s proficiency and use of Vietnamese and English and identify associated factors that are related to demographics, language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Methodology: Vietnamese–Australian parents ( n = 151) completed a questionnaire (in English or Vietnamese) regarding their child’s language proficiency and use, demographic details and a range of factors as conceptualized by Spolsky’s language policy theory: language practices; language ideologies; and language management. Data and analysis: Bivariate analyses (Pearson’s correlation and analysis of variance) and multiple regression models were conducted to explore associations between language proficiency and use and associated factors and identify the most significant factors. Findings/conclusions: Factors associated with children’s Vietnamese language proficiency (oral/written) included: demographic factors; language practices; language ideologies; and language management. In contrast, children’s English language proficiency (oral/written) was linked to demographic factors and language practices. Children’s Vietnamese language use was not significantly correlated with demographics but rather with language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Children’s home language use and proficiency did not have a negative impact upon their English proficiency. Originality: This study is the first to consider factors associated with Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use. Significance/implications: Demographic factors, language practices, language ideologies, and language management were associated with children’s language proficiency and use. The results can be used by parents, educators, policy-makers, speech–language pathologists and other professionals to support Vietnamese–Australian and multilingual children around the world to develop and maintain their home and majority languages.


2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Athman Ernst

There are a variety of barriers that deter teachers from using environmental education (EE), including state curriculum standards and testing, lack of funding and transportation, lack of training, and misconceptions about what EE is. Despite these barriers, some teachers persist in using EE. Because teachers and students in the formal educational setting often are a key audience for interpretive centers, it would be useful to understand teachers’ motivations for using EE and what helps them overcome barriers to integrating EE into their curriculum. Survey research was conducted with 70 K–12 teachers to investigate what they perceive as the strongest influences on their decisions to implement EE and their abilities to do so. Results indicated personal environmental literacy knowledge and skills, environmental sensitivity, and teaching context as key influences on teachers’ use of EE. Implications for the interpretive community related to providing teacher training and marketing school-based programs are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
María Isabel Maldonado García

The new Spanish nationality law requires a certain level of Spanish language proficiency for the application of Spanish nationality. The law, which is on the Official State Bulletin (BOE-Boletin Oficial del Estado) N. 167, Section I, Page 58, 149 and which was drafted on the 14th of July, 2015, came in effect on the 15th of October, 2015. The new regulation outlined the new requirements for the immigrants to be able to become Spanish citizens. The law was mainly targeted towards the descendants of those Jewish people who were thrown out of Spain in 1492 in an effort of the Spanish government to normalize relations. Nevertheless, all new applicants are somehow affected by it since a minimum knowledge of Spanish language is required, (level DELE A2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEF; Council of Europe, 2001 & Little (2005)) and a certain cultural and constitutional knowledge as well, to be measured by additionally passing the CCSE exam. These exams, according to the law, are to be administered by Instituto Cervantes, the official Institute of Spanish language of the Government of Spain. This paper aims to study the repercussions and new effects the law is having on the Pakistan Instituto Cervantes Examination Center in terms of enrollments as well as the effects on a specific group of immigrants themselves; the immigrants from Pakistan.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Rosenthal ◽  
Frances Wang ◽  
Dean Schillinger ◽  
Eliseo J. Pérez Stable ◽  
Alicia Fernandez

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Venturin

The present study analyzes four adult Russian-Australian 1.5ers, heritage bilinguals whose first language is Russian, and who immigrated to Australia or New Zealand during their primary school years. Semi-structured interviews conducted with the case-study participants examined their attitudes toward their Russian, their L1, and English, their L2. The interviews explored the participants’ schooling history, language use, perceived language proficiency, dominance and use, perceived L1 attrition, and feelings about their identity. The aim of the study was to understand the connections between language, particularly L1 attrition, and identity for this cohort of 1.5 generation speakers, as well as factors that may influence their identity perception. The results emerging from the study’s data reconfirm the role played by language in identity construction. At the same time, they suggest that for 1.5ers the relationship between language and identity also needs to be considered in relation to L1 attrition. This factor, in fact, might contribute to identity conflicts and trigger the desire to return to one’s roots.


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