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ERIC Number: ED552070
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 211
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-2678-8082-6
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
English Proficiency Required for Puerto Rican Students to Succeed in University Studies
Gonzalez-Iznaga, Rene
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Walden University
Ninety percent of Puerto Rican public school students who graduate from high school lack the basic English skills needed to succeed in university studies. This lack may be the result of Spanish being used as the major language of instruction at all levels in the public school system; when students graduate, they are limited English proficient (LEP). In Bruner's process of education theory, the learner needs to actively manipulate the information in order to comprehend the material. Following the second language acquisition theories of Krahsen, Vygotsky, Brown, Chomsky, and others, this ethnographic project study used qualitative questionnaires and audio-recorded interviews to gain the perspectives of English teachers as to why LEP students are not graduating from high school with English proficiency and what could be done to raise English proficiency levels. Interviews and questionnaires were coded and analyzed for commonality of themes. The results of the study demonstrated that the Puerto Rican English teachers were not complying with the mandated 2007 Puerto Rico Department of Education Standards and Expectations. Based on these findings, this project will serve as a model for training English as Second Language teachers to guide mainstream teachers on how to help students achieve English proficiency. Positive social change will be seen through the adoption of English in all core classes, permitting students to understand and manipulate language information actively in various classes and allowing them to adopt the English language more easily. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Puerto Rico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A