Purpose: Although community colleges play a role in democratizing education and engaging in social integration, particularly in times of economic transition, there remains a lack of qualitative studies on academic achievement gaps between the various student populations attending community colleges. Therefore, this study examines the academic…

This study analyzed and observed the oral discourse of Local Community College students. A descriptive analysis was conducted to find out the communicative competence level among the one hundred fifty randomly chosen respondents. A triangulation method was initiated to ensure the legitimacy of the gathered data. "Focus Group Discussion,"…

The purpose of this narrative study is to explore the lived experiences and motivations that propelled six American immigrants to lead American higher education institutions. This study focused particularly on immigrant college presidents for whom English is not a native language to examine if accent or lack of native fluency posed a challenge to…

This study explores the influence of self-assessment of vocabulary competence on a group of students' oral fluency. Twenty-four young adult learners participated in a learning process that promoted their oral skills and vocabulary development. Self-assessment was mainly examined through the analysis of students' learning logs, field notes and…

It is no secret that the United States is falling way behind in world educational rankings. In 1995, the United States ranked 1st in the world for college graduates however, its ranking dramatically fell in 2005, earning 15th place (Woodruff, 2008). According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, most states earn a grade of C, D, or F when it comes to…

Language learners with high working memory capacity have an advantage, all other factors being equal, during the second language acquisition (SLA) process; therefore, identifying a pedagogical intervention that can compensate for low working memory capacity would be advantageous to language learners and instructors. Extensive research on the…

This study had a three-fold purpose: first, to assess the attitudes of student affairs administrators working in the Florida College System (FCS) about globalization, internationalization, and their strategies for effecting internationalization efforts at their community/state colleges. This study also investigated the relationship between student…

Ojibwemotaadidaa Omaa Gidakiiminaang (let's speak Ojibwe to one another here on our Earth) is an Ojibwe language immersion program funded by Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC, Cloquet, MN) and with grants from the State of Minnesota. With a development team that included FDLTCC President Larry Anderson, among others, participants…

The authors present two experiences of assimilation, "melting-pot" and "salad-bowl" processes, their connections to the WASP framework of skin color, language, and religion, and their influences in the classroom. They focus on how fluency in the English language is the dominant assimilation factor for immigrant students and share their experiences…

Adults who immigrate to the United States recognize the value of fluency in the dominant language as a bridge to social mobility in their new homeland. In California, many of them invest time and energy in noncredit English as a Second Language (ESL) programs offered within the community college system to gain communicative competence and enhance…