T eam G rammar A cquisition in B ilingual S tudents

1. Team Grammar Acquisition in Bilingual Students Steve Bergbauer Ahsan Karim Dominique Franson Rachel Kirsch Akshay Goyal Spenser Peterson Laura Grammar Becky Selzer Kassie Gynther Nancy Wang Adam Jandorf Mentor: Dr. Alene Moyer Librarian: Mr. Michael Fry

2. Agenda • Problem • Research Question • Relevance • Literature Review • Methodology • Timeline • Budget • References

3. Problem • Hispanics scoring lower than average in English language skills • 22.5% growth in Hispanic population in the United States • 46.4% growth in Hispanic population in Maryland Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

4. Problem • English is the primary language of education in most Maryland public elementary schools • On average, Hispanic students have not been as successful in school with English as most of their peers • Why? Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

5. Research Question • How do internal and external factors affect English skills in Spanish-speaking, elementary-school students in local Maryland public schools? Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

6. Sub-Questions • What effect do Spanish and English language inputs at school and home have on students’ English language skills? • How do English language skills differ between bilingual and monolingual students? • How do these bilingual and bicultural students identify themselves, and how does input affect that identification? Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

7. Key Terms • Internal factors • External factors • Language skills Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

8. Relevance • Bilingual speakers • Students • Families • Educators • Linguists • Policymakers • School boards Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

9. Literature Review • Theoretical concepts underlie our practical project • Three types of bilingualism • Factors outside the classroom have great affect on second-language acquisition (Bae, 2007; Chand, 2006) • Language input is a major factor (Gutiérrez-Clellen & Kreiter, 2003) Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

10. Literature Review • Control for socioeconomic status through school choice and education data (Rodriguez) • Preservation of Spanish culture and language still important (Rodriguez) • Self-identification and feelings toward the languages affect quantity and quality of second-language learning Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

11. Methodology • Assumptions • Mixed method study • Data: • Internal and external factors • Students’ English and Spanish language skills Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

12. Methodology • Quantitative and qualitative analysis • Benefits and limitations • Confounding variables Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

13. Timeline • Continue literature review • Attend conferences (AAAL Conference) • IRB approval—by end of August 2008 • Build contacts with schools—Summer 2008 • Attend Undergraduate Research Day—Fall 2008 • Research in schools—Fall 2008-Fall 2009 • Data Analysis—Spring 2009-Spring 2010 • Thesis—Fall 2008-Spring 2010 • Publish research—Spring/Summer 2010 • Graduation—Spring 2010 Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

14. Budget • Conferences • Tests • Questionnaire • Incentives for children • Books and articles for literature review • Transportation to school • Food for focus groups • Total Estimate: $4,000 Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget

15. Thank You!Any Questions? Problem Research Question Relevance Literature Review Method-ology Timeline Budget