ERIC Number: EJ1133617
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0922-4777
EISSN: N/A
Defying Expectations: Vocabulary Growth Trajectories of High Performing Language Minority Students
Hwang, Jin Kyoung; Lawrence, Joshua Fahey; Snow, Catherine E.
Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, v30 n4 p829-856 Apr 2017
We investigated general vocabulary and academic vocabulary growth trajectories of adolescent language minority students using an individual growth modeling approach. Our analytical sample included 3161 sixth- to eighth-grade students from an urban school district in California. The language minority students in our sample were classified as initially fluent English proficient (IFEP), redesignated fluent English proficient (RFEP), or limited English proficient (LEP) students. The analytical sample was not a nationally representative sample and included a great number of Asian students and students who receive gifted and talented education. Students were assessed at four time points on a standardized measure of general vocabulary and a researcher-developed academic vocabulary test. On both vocabulary measures, IFEP students slightly outperformed English-only (EO) students on average, and EO students scored higher than RFEP and LEP students at baseline. RFEP and LEP students showed slower rate of growth than their EO peers in general vocabulary. While both EO and language minority students showed summer setback with general vocabulary knowledge on average, the magnitude of summer setback was not as great for LEP students. In academic vocabulary, all subgroups of language minority students showed more rapid rate of growth than their EO peers. Only the REP students experienced a change in the learning trajectory during the summer months. We discuss the implications of these findings for all language groups.
Descriptors: Vocabulary Development, High Achievement, Language Minorities, Limited English Speaking, Language Tests, Academic Discourse, Statistical Analysis, Urban Areas, School Districts, Language Fluency, Language Proficiency, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Scores, Standardized Tests, Middle School Students, Gifted, Talent Development, Special Education, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Classification
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Elementary Education; Grade 7; Grade 8
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A090555