ERIC Number: EJ1114479
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-8756-7555
EISSN: N/A
The Influence of Teacher Power on English Language Learners' Self-Perceptions of Learner Empowerment
Diaz, Abel; Cochran, Kathryn; Karlin, Nancy
College Teaching, v64 n4 p158-167 2016
English language learners (ELL) are students with a primary language spoken other than English enrolled in U.S. educational settings. As ELL students take on the challenges of learning English and U.S. culture, they must also learn academic content. The expectation to succeed academically in a foreign culture and language, while learning to speak and comprehend the language itself, would be a stressful and challenging task for almost anyone. In comparison with non-ELL students, ELL students tend to demonstrate lower levels of academic achievement. The current study examined ELL students' perceptions on teacher power and its' influences on self-perceptions of learner empowerment. Quantitative data was collected measuring perceptions of teacher power use and self-perceptions of learner empowerment. Qualitative data consisted of twenty in-depth interviews with ELL students illuminating their perceptions of teacher power and its relationship to their perceptions of learner empowerment. Differences were found by language in coercive, legitimate, and expert teacher power. Four themes emerged from interviews; what good teachers do, what bad teachers do, what teachers should know, and understanding ELL students. Implications for educators and future research are discussed.
Descriptors: Self Concept, Student Empowerment, English Language Learners, Student Attitudes, Teacher Student Relationship, Qualitative Research, Cultural Awareness, Second Language Learning, Academic Achievement, English (Second Language), Comparative Analysis, Achievement Gap, Power Structure, Interviews, Undergraduate Students, Mixed Methods Research, College Faculty, Multivariate Analysis, Semi Structured Interviews
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A