Research has found that teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can raise U.S. high school students' awareness about DEI-related topics and develop their critical thinking skills to analyze DEI-related issues. But the achievements of DEI-focused education are limited. Thus, DEI-focused education needs complementary efforts to enhance…

In recent years, Third Language Acquisition (TLA) in Cross-Linguistic Influence (CLI) research has been debated regarding background languages' impact on learning a target language. While Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research often emphasizes the primary influence of the first language (L1) on the target language, it does not discount the…

This mixed-methods explanatory sequential study aimed to identify the most commonly used World Language curriculum models in New Jersey high schools, assess the level of curriculum coherence in Spanish programs, and examine their impact on student learning. Surveys and interviews with high school Spanish teachers revealed that, while theoretical…

This dissertation contributes to the fields of (German) second language teaching and applied linguistics by critically examining ideologies of culture learning that manifest in the German integration course, a language/culture program established by the state for arriving refugees, asylum seekers, and third-country nationals (nationals from…

This study examines how teacher leaders across the Central Valley support the implementation of the English Language Roadmap Policy (ELRP) utilizing a qualitative, multi-case study approach. Relying on semi-structured interviews and a series of project presentations, this study examines teacher leaders' perceptions and identifies the attributes of…

Bilingual education in the United States basically involves English language learners (ELLs) in mainstream classes and students who are learning an additional language in a foreign language immersion (FLI) program. Although academic vocabulary instruction for ELLs has attracted increasing attention in the past two decades (e.g., McQuillan, 2019;…

Using Self Study in Teach Education (S-STEP), this research examined the ways in which my utilization of Linguistic Landscape (LL) as a pedagogical tool contributed to developing teacher candidates as future educators. In doing so, this study aims to highlight the use of LL as an effective pedagogical tool for developing Critical Multilingual…

In 2001, the Korean government launched a new English language education policy called "the 7th national curriculum," in an attempt to meet the growing public demand for improved communication skills in English. With this policy in mind, the aim of this dissertation is to examine the ways in which the mandatory English language…

The discipline of curriculum studies has long understood curriculum to be more than just the official documents and materials created by experts. The reality of curriculum is much richer than that, taking into account what is intended, enacted, experienced, learned and more by numerous stakeholders, including both teachers and students…

This dissertation focuses on the consequences of exclusionary ethnic nationalisms by examining historical and contemporary language practices regarding educational systems in Burma. Despite its long presence, Burmanisation has recently gained heightened attention as it is central to the political discourses that emerged in response to the military…

Second language (L2) teachers' practices in the classroom can influence their students' motivation for learning the L2. However, most of the research in this area has been conducted with students learning English as L2. Guilloteaux and Dornyei (2008) recommended that more research be conducted on the use of motivational teaching practices in…

College readiness policies dictate the number of credits of world language study a student ought to obtain by the time he/she graduates from high school (Barnes, Slate, & Rojas-LeBouef, 2010). However, traditional schooling practices camouflaged by "neutral" education policies limit African American students' access to quality…

The purpose of the current study was to determine interrater reliability (IRR) of Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) Curriculum-based Measures (R-CBM) when used with Spanish-speaking English Learner (EL) students. The ORF R-CBM probes obtained from AIMSweb are measures of a student's reading accuracy skills and reading fluency skills. Certified school…

In the 21st century, digital technology skills are necessary to succeed in technology-rich environments such as the school, the workplace, and daily life activities such as shopping online, applying for jobs, working online, and receiving education. This qualitative case the study provided insights into digital literacy and the most influential…

This dissertation presents a new framework for the application of Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory (SCT) in the second language (L2) classroom called Collaborative-Dynamic Assessment (C-DA). C-DA is a melding of Collaborative Learning (CL), Dynamic Assessment (DA), and Group Evaluation (GE) in all aspects of L2 instruction and assessment. A study…