This dissertation explored the perspectives of stakeholders within a university-level Spanish Heritage Language (SHL) program in Arizona, focusing on their language ideologies and critical language education efforts. The study, rooted in Critical Language Awareness (CLA) and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) frameworks, challenges deficit-based…

Producing local materials is a challenge to mother tongue education programs especially in linguistically diverse contexts. To address this, a five-day teacher training program on materials localization for K-3 teachers in a linguistically diverse area in the Philippines was designed and implemented. The program was based on frameworks about…

In response to the growth of Spanish heritage language (SHL) learners in the United States, researchers and instructors in the field of SHL teaching proposed a set of goals and pedagogical approaches to meet these learners' needs. However, because few studies focused on SHL teachers' professional preparation and practice, it is unclear whether…

The aim of this study was to determine the views of primary school teachers who gave language courses (mother tongue and foreign language) at the primary school level, about the use of information technologies, digital story preparation, and its use in lessons in the language teaching process. In the study, the phenomenology design, one of the…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the leadership practices of three district-level dual language (DL) program leaders in a Midwestern state and the organizational forces that oppose and support their work as they lead a "contracorriente" (against the current) in their respective school districts. Grounded in a…

Reading and comprehending the mother tongue is one of the most important basic academic skills required for the meaningful and significant learning of every subject, especially in earlier stages of education. Though National Policy Frameworks strongly advocate an integrated approach to the teaching of different skills of language, the school does…

This paper describes the personal and professional journey taken by one secondary Spanish teacher to implement the Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) for English Learners (ELs) in a rural Florida school district. The teacher's goal was to promote bilingual pride among her ELs and to validate and build their bilingual abilities, which had been frequently…

This research investigated Australian community languages school (CLS) teachers' emerging pedagogical habitus, focussing specifically on key dynamics effecting the adaptation in their pedagogical understanding and practice. Following an interview-based case study design, the research analyzed in detail major factors and their interplay that had…

Over 11 million students enter school speaking a language other than English. Due to their emerging English proficiency, many English Learners (ELs) struggle with English literacy, which impacts their overall achievement in school. However, there is evidence that ELs who have solid skills in their native language are able to apply their…