Narrowing the Language Gap: The Learner-Content, Learner-Instructor, and Learner-Learner Experiences of Hispanic Generation 1.5 English Learners in First-Year College Composition Courses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Esmeralda de Diriye

Hispanic Generation 1.5 students are foreign-born, U.S. high school graduates socialized in the English dominant K-12 school system while maintaining their native language and home culture (Allison, 2006; Blumenthal, 2002; Harklau et al., 1999; Rumbault & Ima, 1988). When transitioning from high school to college, these students sometimes assess into ESL, basic, or mainstream courses based on their English language abilities, and because of this placement, Hispanic Generation 1.5 students might have different learner-content, learner-instructor, and learner-learner experiences than their mainstream peers. The purpose of this study was to describe the learner-content, learner-instructor and learner-learner experiences of Hispanic Generation 1.5 students. This study employed a qualitative design that included an analysis of the participants' interaction experiences. The main source of data was in-depth, face-to-face interviews with forty-one Hispanic Generation 1.5 students at one California State University and one California Community College. Purposive sampling was used to select the interview participants, ensuring that all participants identified as both Hispanic and Generation 1.5 learners and were taking or had taken at least one first year college composition course at their respective institutions. The study findings show that Hispanic Generation 1.5 students at both colleges believed that meaningful interactions with their English instructors, peers, and content played a critical role in their success. Participants indicated that they preferred content that was relatable and engaging; they preferred instructors who were caring, professional, engaging and supportive; and, they preferred peers who were prepared, engaging and supportive. Closing gaps between and among learners and their peers, instructors and content is a critical factor in student success.

NASPA Journal ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Lubker ◽  
Edward F Etzel

The freshman year of college is usually acknowledged as a stressful time of social and academic adjustment. During this period, first-year students face many social and intellectual challenges. For high school athletes, the combined impact of college transition plus disengagement from sport can further complicate first-semester adjustment and may also affect first-year retention. Together, this complex phenomenon may diminish self-concept, challenge one’s felt sense of being an athlete, and elicit emotional responses usually associated with college and elite athlete disengagement resulting in a negative adjustment to the college environment. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the differences in the reported athletic identity and college adjustment patterns of first-year college males and females (N = 317) and how disengagement from sports may affect these variables. Three status groups were used in this study: disengaged athletes (DAs; n = 133), high school senior nonathletes (n = 106), and current first-year college varsity athletes (n = 78). Significant differences were observed between groups in reported level of athletic identity where disengaged high senior athletes had significantly different scores than both college athletes and high school nonathletes. This finding may warrant an investigation on how we conceptualize the terms “athlete” and “nonathlete.” The investigation into college adjustment patterns found that first-year females reported higher academic adjustment to college than males in the total sample. Specifically in the DA athlete group, significant differences in college adjustment for both gender and level of athletic identity were found. For this group, significant differences in college adjustment were found related to the nature of disengagement and perceived level of social support. Potential applications of these findings for college personnel and future directions related to research are explored.


2021 ◽  
pp. 251512742110292
Author(s):  
Darby R. Riley ◽  
Hayley M. Shuster ◽  
Courtney A. LeMasney ◽  
Carla E. Silvestri ◽  
Kaitlin E. Mallouk

This study was conducted to examine how first-year engineering students conceptualize the Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) and how that conceptualization changes over the course of their first semester of college, using the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN)’s 3Cs as a starting point. Students enrolled in an introductory, multidisciplinary design course responded to biweekly reflection prompts on their educational experiences (either in high school or as a first-year college student) and related this experience to one of the 3Cs of EM: Curiosity, Connections, or Creating Value. Results indicate that students’ conceptualization of the 3Cs often align with definitions of EM from KEEN, as well as foundational works in the entrepreneurship field, and that their interpretation of each of the 3Cs does change during their first semester in college. For instance, students were less likely to write about curiosity and more likely to write about creating value at the end of the semester compared to the beginning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 22-28
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Lajera ◽  
Rex Argate ◽  
Delfin T. Cabañero ◽  
Rosella A. Villahermosa

The main intent of the study was to explore the experiences of first-year college students in their computer literacy subjects in their senior high school. Specifically, this study answered the following subproblems: the positive experiences of the informants in enhancing their academic performance through computers and the constraints they experienced in the implementation of the ICT curriculum during their senior high school.  This study employed a qualitative method of research with the aid of an interview guide to inquire about the students’ experiences in computers during their senior high school. Twenty informants were interviewed individually. The researcher utilized an interview guide and audiotaped with the informants' consent. Thematic analysis was utilized to interpret data and identify meaningful information and organize it into themes. Based on the findings, six themes emerged: Enhanced Learning in Microsoft Office Tools, Practical Application of Knowledge, Better Job Opportunities, Inadequate Number of Computers and Slow Internet Connectivity, Ineffective Teaching Strategies, and Unqualified Teachers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 100-117
Author(s):  
Megan Margino Marchese

Background – Compared to native English speakers, English Learners (ELs) often face additional barriers to academic success. Though typically competent in social English, Generation 1.5 ELs struggle with academic English at the postsecondary level and are still considered to be in the process of learning English. As colleges become increasingly linguistically diverse, academic librarians must adapt to support the growing numbers of ELs in the campus community. Objective – This paper aims to provide academic librarians with information on the scope of English Learners in K-12 through postsecondary education, academic challenges of Generation 1.5 students at the postsecondary level, and strategies that librarians can employ to support English learners in the contexts of reference and instruction. Methods – The author searched journals in the disciplines of academic libraries, higher education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and linguistics. Additional resources searched include education data and statistics, research institute publications, and English as a New Language (ENL) teaching resources. These sources were explored in regard to the topics of EL educational statistics, K-12 ENL programs, ENL pedagogy, ELs in postsecondary education, Generation 1.5 students, ELs’ academic challenges and educational needs, and academic libraries and ELs. Results – A review of the literature on ELs in academic libraries, particularly Generation 1.5 students, reveals that Generation 1.5 is a population that is in need of support at the postsecondary level. Because Generation 1.5 students often hold strong social English skills, they may enter college without an EL designation or specialized academic support. However, research shows that Generation 1.5 students struggle with college-level academic English, specifically in grammar and vocabulary. These challenges impact students’ communicative success both in college classroom and library environments. Conclusion – Academic librarians may adopt pedagogical strategies commonly employed in ENL classrooms to use in reference and instruction environments. Techniques include themes such as awareness of language use and reinforcement of content, and require low-stakes implementation into library practice. Though librarians may be unaware of the language learning needs of their students, such strategies have shown to be useful for all students. Because techniques that are helpful to ELs also typically benefit all students, these strategies are also applicable to native English speakers.


Author(s):  
Bryce L. Walker ◽  
Nicholas D. Hartlep

The purpose of this book chapter is to illustrate the effective use of online learning design in project management for a fully accredited online high school. This online high school was developed through a partnership of a national-accredited online K-12 educational institution and a prominent university located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Within the high school, a course was created to measure the value of this online high school experience through the focal lens of its main stakeholders, the online high school students. The authors discuss the implementation and management that was used for the design of that online course. Drawing on a description of an online preparatory course and survey data from 3 participants, the objectives of this chapter are to highlight mission and goals of the online high school and the advantages/disadvantages of attending a synchronous online high school (Quillen, 2010). Findings illustrate the labor intensive commencement of an online high school through its first year.


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