The content and objectives of the Pacesetter Spanish course, developed by the College Board, are compared with those of the "National Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the Twenty-First Century," published in 1996 and are generally adopted by the foreign language teaching community. The comparison begins with the…

As society becomes increasingly diverse, the issue about language used for assessments becomes critical. Research suggests that completing measures in a language other than one's native language may result in inaccurate scores. The Children's Hope Scale (Snyder et al., 1997), a scale assessing dispositional hope in children ages 8 to 16, was…

A study examined the use of the ethnic language as it relates to ethnic self-identification in three generations of a bilingual family of Mexican origin in San Antonio (Texas). Family members were speakers of Texas Spanish and English. Two questionnaires and follow-up discussions examined fluency in Spanish and English; language preferences;…

This book offers an ethnographic account of language socialization practices within Mexican-background families residing in California and Texas. It illustrates cases where language is used by speakers to choose between alternative self-definitions and where language interacts differentially with other defining categories (ethnicity, gender, and…

This article presents an overview of the literature on program models for teaching Spanish to heritage speakers, noting definitions, intake and placement procedures, typical offerings, and effective approaches, and covering a proficiency orientation, infusion of subculture materials, study of sociolinguists, community involvement, and cooperative…

This CD-ROM is part of an interactive and dynamic multimedia package of information and games for learning K'iche' and Ixil. This CD-ROM contains a database of 3,000 culturally-relevant vocabulary words in K'iche', Ixil, and Spanish, with appropriate illustrations that describe traditional Mayan rituals, foods, beliefs, clothing, and other topics.…

This study is based on new projections of Hispanic population growth from 2000 to 2050, which uses unique methodology to disaggregate growth rates and other demographic indicators by generation. The result is a more detailed look at demographic trends than is possible from the Census Bureau's projections or its published tabulations of data from…

This study investigated whether participation in a computer lab would improve high school students' performance on Spanish vocabulary, grammar, and listening comprehension. Students participated in classroom and computer lab activities. Analysis of student data (including student surveys) throughout five units indicated that the computer lab was a…

This paper presents an analysis of the correlation between the Hispanic Bilingual Gifted Screening Instrument (HBGSI), a recently developed inclusionary gifted identification measure, and the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) when administered to Hispanic elementary school children (grades K-4) in a large urban school district in Texas. The…

This document is a comprehensive two-way Spanish immersion third grade curriculum. The paper highlights the Maxwell Elementary Escuela de Inmersion de Espanol, Fayette County Public Schools, Lexington, KY. It includes "essential questions," a scoring guide, and detailed instructional sequence guidelines. Detailed ideas are provided for…

Article, based on an educational research study, "The Puerto Rican Experience", presented the opinions of superintendents and principals concerning their attitudes on bilingual programs for Puerto Rican students. (Editor/RK)

Discusses some of the problems and subtle discrimination facing Spanish-American students in schools in the southwestern United States. (TO)

The story of slavery in New Mexico covers American Indians, Mexican American Ricos'', Mexicans, and the Anglo Americans. (FF)

Aroused Mexican-American educators have organized a national task force to improve learning opportunities for their fellow chicanos. (Editor)

Differing histories, racial compositions, economic interests, and present circumstances cut across the Mexican American people obliquely and work against a sense of ethnic identity or cultural nationalism. (Author)