Current Realities of Spanish Speaking Language Learners in our Field. Current Realities of Spanish...

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Current Realities of Current Realities of Spanish Speaking Spanish Speaking English Language Learners in our Language Learners in our Field. Field. Numbers and needs, preferred and best Numbers and needs, preferred and best practices, client/student interviews, practices, client/student interviews, survey results, learning English as a survey results, learning English as a second language, and culturally relative second language, and culturally relative programming programming

Transcript of Current Realities of Spanish Speaking Language Learners in our Field. Current Realities of Spanish...

Current Realities of Spanish Current Realities of Spanish Speaking Speaking English Language Language

Learners in our Field.Learners in our Field.

Numbers and needs, preferred and best practices, Numbers and needs, preferred and best practices, client/student interviews, survey results, learning client/student interviews, survey results, learning

English as a second language, and culturally relative English as a second language, and culturally relative programming programming

IntroductionsIntroductions

MattMatt• BA in Spanish and BA in Spanish and

Latin American StudiesLatin American Studies• Ed.S TVI University of Ed.S TVI University of

AZAZ• COMS University of AZCOMS University of AZ• Special Special

Projects/Programming Projects/Programming in Mexico, Peru, and in Mexico, Peru, and Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

• Currently at Puerto Currently at Puerto Rico VA hospitalRico VA hospital

JessicaJessica• B.A. in Spanish for B.A. in Spanish for

International ServiceInternational Service• M.Ed. in Orientation M.Ed. in Orientation

and Mobility from and Mobility from UMASS BostonUMASS Boston

• Currently working at Currently working at the Miami Lighthouse the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and for the Blind and Visually Impaired Visually Impaired

SNAPSHOTSNAPSHOT- Current realities in our field, Current realities in our field,

numbers, philosophies of learning numbers, philosophies of learning English as a second languageEnglish as a second language

- student/client interviews (Jessica student/client interviews (Jessica interview a client)interview a client)

- surveys, what do the ELL students surveys, what do the ELL students and their instructors thinkand their instructors think

- Spanish Braille to reinforce literacy Spanish Braille to reinforce literacy with native Spanish speakerswith native Spanish speakers

- Culturally relevant programming Culturally relevant programming case study – Lighthouse Miamicase study – Lighthouse Miami

- Assessments and placementsAssessments and placements- Brainstorming- what can we do???Brainstorming- what can we do???

- Current realities in our field, Current realities in our field, numbers, philosophies of learning numbers, philosophies of learning English as a second languageEnglish as a second language

- student/client interviews (Jessica student/client interviews (Jessica interview a client)interview a client)

- surveys, what do the ELL students surveys, what do the ELL students and their instructors thinkand their instructors think

- Spanish Braille to reinforce literacy Spanish Braille to reinforce literacy with native Spanish speakerswith native Spanish speakers

- Culturally relevant programming Culturally relevant programming case study – Lighthouse Miamicase study – Lighthouse Miami

- Assessments and placementsAssessments and placements- Brainstorming- what can we do???Brainstorming- what can we do???

CURRENT REALITIES IN THE FIELD- CURRENT REALITIES IN THE FIELD- NUMBERSNUMBERS

- 2004-5 5.1 million or 10.5 % of the 2004-5 5.1 million or 10.5 % of the U.S. student population= ELLs U.S. student population= ELLs (Payan & Nettles)(Payan & Nettles)

- 80% are from Spanish speaking 80% are from Spanish speaking backgrounds (P&N)backgrounds (P&N)

- From 1990-91 to 2000-01 the ELL From 1990-91 to 2000-01 the ELL population grew 105 % while general population grew 105 % while general population grew only 12% (Kindler population grew only 12% (Kindler 2002)2002)

- ELLs population growing 9 times ELLs population growing 9 times faster than the general populationfaster than the general population

- In the field of Visual ImpairmentsIn the field of Visual Impairments

“The best we can say is that we can estimate that the number of students with visual impairments who are ELLs should be similar to the number of ELLs in the population of students without visual impairments”- Madeline Milian Ed.D UNC

Benefits of using Spanish• Cultural Adaptation• Functional• Academic• ASU Civil Rights Project-

when students are pulled out of class to participate in an English only block

• Low self esteem, stereotyped by English speaking peers, working at a lower cognitive level

Philosophies of Learning English as a Second Language

• 1st language proficiency helps 2nd language proficiency

• BICS- can develop at age appropriate levels in 2 years

• CALP- can develop 5 to 7 years• “a minimum level of competence in

the primary language is required before a student can reap the benefits of bilingual education”- Cummins (1984)

• “it is unlikely that older students’ proficiency in English will exceed proficiency in their mother tongue”- Bates

• Children can acquire 2 or more languages at the same time- Garcia (2005)

• “Code-switching” enhances meaning (G,G,D, &K 2006)

• Misconceptions of English only- does NOT help English 2nd Language Acquisition (Garcia et al, ASU, 2010)

• After 4 years in an English only programs students scored much lower than students in bilingual programs

• Transfer theory • Consider IEP goals and

programming, braille• Involve parents with native

language development as well as English development

Student interview

Client: O.

• Demographics: 53 year old Hispanic male

• Visual Impairment: NLP due to an automobile accident in 1985

• Additional Impairments: None

• Educational Level: Post-secondary technical certificate

• Personal History

Client: O.

• Demographics: 53 year old Hispanic male

• Visual Impairment: NLP due to an automobile accident in 1985

• Additional Impairments: None

• Educational Level: Post-secondary technical certificate

• Personal History

O.’s Training and GoalsServices: Independent Living

Program

• O&M

• Personal Management and Home Management

• Braille

• Keyboarding

Personal Goals:

• Complete rehabilitation training

• Move to an apartment on his own

• Learn English

• Employment

Student/Instructor SurveysStudent/Instructor Surveys

-Survey MonkeySurvey Monkey

-Very small group but it still tells us Very small group but it still tells us somethingsomething

-62.5% have only been working 62.5% have only been working with Spanish Speaking ELLs for with Spanish Speaking ELLs for the last 1-5 yearsthe last 1-5 years

-50% are predominantly using 50% are predominantly using English when instructingEnglish when instructing

-100% agree or strongly agree that: 100% agree or strongly agree that: ““basic Spanishbasic Spanish”” and providing and providing materials in Spanish = more materials in Spanish = more effective instruction, a better effective instruction, a better understanding of instructions and a understanding of instructions and a better relationshipbetter relationship

-Survey MonkeySurvey Monkey

-Very small group but it still tells us Very small group but it still tells us somethingsomething

-62.5% have only been working 62.5% have only been working with Spanish Speaking ELLs for with Spanish Speaking ELLs for the last 1-5 yearsthe last 1-5 years

-50% are predominantly using 50% are predominantly using English when instructingEnglish when instructing

-100% agree or strongly agree that: 100% agree or strongly agree that: ““basic Spanishbasic Spanish”” and providing and providing materials in Spanish = more materials in Spanish = more effective instruction, a better effective instruction, a better understanding of instructions and a understanding of instructions and a better relationshipbetter relationship

Culturally relevant programming at theCulturally relevant programming at theMiami LighthouseMiami Lighthouse

Client Demographics: Client Demographics:

• 53% of clients are of 53% of clients are of Hispanic originHispanic origin

• Of 563 clients served Of 563 clients served 55% lived in areas of 55% lived in areas of poverty and 310 lived poverty and 310 lived below the poverty linebelow the poverty line

*Statistics from July 2010-*Statistics from July 2010-June 2011*June 2011*

  

Client Demographics: Client Demographics:

• 53% of clients are of 53% of clients are of Hispanic originHispanic origin

• Of 563 clients served Of 563 clients served 55% lived in areas of 55% lived in areas of poverty and 310 lived poverty and 310 lived below the poverty linebelow the poverty line

*Statistics from July 2010-*Statistics from July 2010-June 2011*June 2011*

  

JessicaJessica’’s Adult Caseload:s Adult Caseload:

• 15 center-based adult clients 15 center-based adult clients are Spanish speaking onlyare Spanish speaking only

• 3 out of 4 community-based 3 out of 4 community-based are Spanish speaking only are Spanish speaking only (1 is bilingual)(1 is bilingual)

**As of October 2011*As of October 2011*  

Instructional Staff (by Instructional Staff (by department):department):

• Case Management: 2/2 are Case Management: 2/2 are bilingualbilingual

• Personal and Home Personal and Home Management: 2/2 are bilingualManagement: 2/2 are bilingual

• Orientation and Mobility: 1/3.5 are Orientation and Mobility: 1/3.5 are bilingualbilingual

• Computer, Braille and Job Computer, Braille and Job Readiness: 3/5 are bilingualReadiness: 3/5 are bilingual

Programs: • Adult: IL, ILAP, VR,

Scholarship• Transition• Star I and II• Blind Babies

Services:• Low Vision Services • Solutions Store• Center-based and

community-based instruction

• Personal and Home Management, O&M, Keyboarding, Computers, Braille, Job Readiness

• SGA (Social Group Activities)

• Support Group• ESOL Classes

Addressing cultural and Linguistic Needs

•Website and pamphlets available in Website and pamphlets available in SpanishSpanish

•Bilingual InstructionBilingual Instruction

•ESOL classes offeredESOL classes offered

Family participation is encouragedFamily participation is encouraged

Assessments and Placements

Materials and Handouts• Materials in

Spanish- Low Vision/O&M bilingual dictionary

• Low Vision conditions- powerpoints and info sheets from NEI

• TEXT Versions

BrainstormingBrainstorming