recommendations to promote the academic advancement of latina esl students

Presentation to the SBCCD Board of Trusteesby Dirkson Lee

Associate Professor, SBVC English Department

◦ Taught English composition and ESL at SBVC since 2001

Writing Center Lead Instructor

Goal of Student Success Initiative ◦to increase the effectiveness of basic skills instruction.

Promote the advancement of English language learnersImprovement rates of ESL students at SBVC have declined (ARCC Report, 2012)

Latina English as a second language (ESL) students.

Although Latinas are a growing population of ESL students at SBVC, few have been documented to reach transfer level readiness.

To examine the experiences of academically successful Latina ESL community college students to understand how they prepare themselves academically for college transfer level readiness

What are the barriers and challenges that Latina ESL students experience in community college?

What are the types of capitals that enable Latina ESL students to address their barriers and challenges?

How did the types of capitals that Latina ESL students used affect their educational trajectories, and more specifically, their transition from ESL to transfer level readiness?

Yosso’s model of Community Cultural Wealth(Yosso, 2005)

Qualitative study

In-depth interviews

Analysis of participant narratives

Identification of students by the college’s Department of Research

Total of 10 participants

Language barriers◦Students who complete ESL program exhibit ELL characteristics long into their academic pathways.

Expectations of linguistic homogeneity in transfer level coursework

Offer professional development workshops to help faculty to be more attuned to the needs of ELLs, in particular mainstream classes.

Unfamiliarity with college system◦Disadvantagesfinancialacademic

Advice for mandatory orientation policy: Caution using the following info delivery methods:◦Web-based orientation tools◦Text only documents

High levels of family support and involvement◦Parents◦Husbands ◦Children

Provide campus wide activities for students that include family members, in particular spouses and children.

Possible events/activities:◦Motivational speakers◦Orientation of college and providing information of key resources.

Baca, M., Cabaldon, C., Carroll, C. M., Cooper, T., Delahoussaye, Y., Duran, B.,…Shulock, N. (2012). Advancing student success in the California Community Colleges: Recommendations of the California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force. Student Success Task Force.

Baca, M., Baum, L. B., Berg, N., Bielanski, J. J., Hawkinds, D. E., Himelstein, S.,…Izumi, L. T. (2012, March 31). Focus on

results: Accountability reporting for the California community colleges. California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Collins, M. L. (2010, June 18). Overview of the national landscape for developmental education improvement: Testimony before the Texas Senate Higher Education Committee. Jobs for the Future. Yosso, T. J. (2005). Whose culture has capital? A critical race theory

discussion of community cultural wealth. Race Ethnicity and Education. 8(1), 69-91.

Thank You!