ERIC Number: EJ742514
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 23
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 33
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1523-5882
Arizona Elementary Teachers' Attitudes toward English Language Learners and the Use of Spanish in Classroom Instruction
Garcia-Nevarez, Ana G.; Stafford, Mary E.; Arias, Beatriz
Bilingual Research Journal, v29 n2 p295-317 Sum 2005
This study focused on the attitudes that elementary teachers have toward their English language learner (ELL) students' native languages (e.g., Spanish) and their use in instruction. A 27-item Likert-scale survey was administered to 152 first- through fourth-grade teachers from five school districts in Maricopa County, Arizona. These school districts have a large number of schools with students learning English as a second language. The researchers found that teachers' attitudes toward their ELL students differ significantly with the type of certification or endorsement they hold. The bilingual-certified teachers were more supportive of their ELL students using their native language in the classroom than were traditional and English as a Second Language-certified teachers. In contrast to previous studies, the researchers found that the more years a teacher taught, the more his or her attitude became negative toward his or her students' native language. Implications for training of bilingual teachers are discussed. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Elementary School Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Spanish Speaking, English (Second Language), Language of Instruction, Classroom Techniques, Second Language Learning, English Teachers, Bilingual Teachers, Teacher Certification, Teacher Student Relationship, Teaching Experience
National Association for Bilingual Education. 1030 15th Street NW, Suite 470, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-898-1829; Fax: 202-789-2866; E-mail: nabe@nabe.org; Web site: http://www.nabe.org/publications.html.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arizona

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