Date of Award
Spring 2018
Document Type
Dissertation Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education Policy, Planning, and Administration
Committee Chairperson
Heather R. Schugar, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Maria Cabrera-Puche, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Michael D. Snopkowski, Ed.D.
Abstract
This study examined the experiences of fifth-grade Latino, Spanish-speaking students with academic Spanish language instruction in an after-school setting. Specifically, using these students’ Spanish home language use as the primary method through which they maintain Spanish, I addressed the following questions: (1) In what ways do students engage with the academic Spanish content taught within the after-school setting? (2) What types of language shifts are made after formal instruction? (3) Does an after-school program increase students’ abilities to use academic Spanish language structures correctly? and, (4) Is there evidence in terms of growth for these students in their correct application of academic Spanish language structures after formal instruction? The results of this investigation indicated that these elementary-age students enthusiastically engaged in academic Spanish language instruction and appropriately applied Spanish orthographic language structures, particularly with the tilde as a diacritical accent mark.
Recommended Citation
Ortega-Moran, Natalie, "Heritage Language Maintenance: The Experience of Fifth-Grade Students with Formal Academic Spanish Language Instruction" (2018). West Chester University Doctoral Projects. 4.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_doctoral/4