This longitudinal study examined the role of narrative skills in English reading comprehension, after controlling for vocabulary and decoding, with a sample of 112 dual language learners (DLLs), including both Spanish-English and Cantonese-English children. Decoding, vocabulary, and narrative samples were collected in the winter of first grade and…

Though definitions vary, the literature on heritage speakers of Spanish identifies two primary attributes: a linguistic and cultural connection to the language. This article profiles four Anglo college students who grew up in bilingual or Spanish-dominant communities in the Southwest who self-identified as Spanish heritage speakers, citing…

Oral narrative retelling is a complex linguistic and cognitive task that has been shown to map onto reading fluency and comprehension. Therefore, it is important to understand oral retelling skill, especially among "emergent bilingual" children--those who are learning two languages simultaneously. In this article, exploratory…

This article examines the language and cognitive skills of bidialectal and bilingual children, focusing on African American English bidialectal speakers and Spanish-English bilingual speakers. It contributes to the discussion by considering two themes in the extant literature: (1) linguistic and cognitive strengths can be found in speaking two…

This study used a brief vocabulary training paradigm to examine two factors for cross-language transfer: how similar the first language (L1) is to the second language (L2) and L1-L2 proficiency levels. Fifty-four sequential bilingual children (aged 6-8) with similar L2 English proficiency levels were assigned to three equal groups: a…

Many assume low-income, emergent bilingual Latinos have poor reading attitudes. To investigate this issue, we surveyed 1,503 Texas public high school students through stratified cluster sampling to determine their reading attitudes. Most represented Latinos and mixed-race Latinos/Whites who heard Spanish at home and whose mother tongue was…

The unique relation of language use (i.e., output) to language growth was investigated for forty-seven 30-month-old Spanish-English bilingual children (27 girls, 20 boys) whose choices of which language to speak resulted in their levels of English output differing from their levels of English input. English expressive vocabularies and receptive…

Previous studies have examined how to integrate video games in formal education settings across disciplines and from various perspectives. However, few have explored digital literacy practices prompted by gaming as a fan practice. Drawing on "New Literacy Studies" frame of analysis, this qualitative case study attempts to unearth the…

Traditionally in the United States, study abroad has been regarded as the primary source for meaningful interaction with members of the target language (TL) community, particularly at the postsecondary level. Today, more than 300,000 college students study abroad every year, and most of them do so in short-term island programs (defined as programs…

This study compared receptive English grammar skills of two groups of 7- and 9-year-old Danish children at the beginning of second language (L2) instruction in English, and two groups of Spanish/Catalan children of the same age after several years of instruction. The study examined the influence of two language-related factors (receptive…

Current global concerns over refugees, immigration, conflicts, and violent extremism would suggest we still have work to do when it comes to the promotion of understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial and religious groups. The inclusion of (a) Global Citizenship Education (GCED) targets and (b) official indicators (UNESCO…

Purpose: This study was intended to adapt into Spanish and validate the short form of the Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory (MMCGI), an instrument for the assessment of levels of grief in caregivers of patients with dementia. Method: The adaptation was based on the cross-cultural equivalence model that included forward and backward…

International Baccalaureate (IB) is an organization originally developed in 1968 to provide a high-quality, consistent curriculum across international schools. In the intervening years, it has grown to have a broader reach and impact, offering four curricular programs that serve over one million students among 4500 schools within six continents.…

A modified extensive reading literacy intervention was examined in this study. The problem was English Learner third and fourth-grade students reading standardized tests scores were low and educators were uncertain as to which type of intervention was best to improve English Learner student oral reading fluency and reading comprehension. This…

The number of dual language learners in early childhood classrooms is expanding every year--and teachers often feel underprepared to bridge language barriers and effectively meet these students' learning needs. Help is here in this book--a toolbox of today's best strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and ensuring…