The Carpinteria Preschool Spanish Immersion Project was developed to bring Spanish speaking children to a level in school readiness skills that matched English dominant children upon entrance to kindergarten. A description of the program and its effectiveness is offered. (DF)

This bibliographic essay discussing books in Spanish for children and young adults includes both books which have a high potential for involving or interesting young readers and those which are basically dull. Tentative grade levels for each book are given in the 23-item bibliography at the end of the article. (EJS)

Examines the relationship between integrative motivation and acquired second language proficiency among Spanish-speaking kindergartners in an American classroom. Results show that the advanced children showed significantly more integrative orientation to the target language group than the beginners, suggesting that integrative attitudes follow…

Three Tzotzil-speaking Mexican sisters were interviewed about their attitudes toward their Indian schooling. They enjoyed school and felt it was important to attend school to learn Spanish, though they had not acquired few linguistic skills. (BW)

Discusses research on secondary school students' language communication strategies. Shows that despite grammatical errors and limited vocabulary, even second year students can understand each other and are able to use paraphrases and circumlocutions. (EKN)

This Issue Brief describes school-to-home communication practices and opportunities for parent involvement at school as reported by parents of U.S. school-age students from primarily English-and primarily Spanish-speaking households during the 2002-03 school year. Data are drawn from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the…

This study investigated the writing processes of first grade bilinguals from majority- and minority-language backgrounds who were in a two-way bilingual education (TWBE) program. The program integrated native English and native Spanish speakers for all or most of the day, promoting high academic achievement, dual language and literacy development,…

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence that participation in a two-way bilingual elementary program has had on former program participants' language and achievement outcomes; current schooling path and college plans; and attitudes toward school, self, and others. Study participants were current high school students who were…

This curriculum guide, almost entirely in Spanish, outlines adult basic education course content to be taught in a Spanish-language high school equivalency program. The course is designed to help students prepare for the General Educational Development (G.E.D.) exam in written expression. The guide begins with a Spanish skills placement test.…

An analysis of a random sample of first- and second-year Spanish textbooks reveals that language textbooks fall short of achieving the affective goals learners and teachers value most, the aspect of culture that focuses on philosophical perspectives involving meaning, value, attitudes, and ideas. Moreover, most textbooks treat culture as products…

Biographies in this series represent the diversity of Hispanic heritage in the United States. Those featured are contemporary figures whose national origins range from Argentina to the United States, and whose careers and contributions cover many aspects of American life. Each person profiled is a positive role model, not only for people of…

The Medical Interpreter Training Project, created as a collaborative effort of Northern Essex Community College (Massachusetts), private businesses, and medical care providers in Massachusetts, developed a 28-credit, competency-based certificate program to prepare bilingual adults to work as medical interpreters in a range of health care settings.…

These three journals of contemporary cultural, historical, and social interest contain activities designed to enhance the awareness of students of Spanish as a foreign language regarding the entire panorama of daily life in Spain. Number 21 focuses on the role of modern Spanish women; their career status; female authors; and the changing place of…

The internal construct validity of the 1989 Advanced Placement Spanish Language Examination was analyzed to determine whether the traditional four-factor examination structure hypothesized by test developers (listening, reading, writing, speaking) was invariant for relevant subpopulations. Using a nested hierarchical design, multiple confirmatory…

This curriculum unit, designed for a Spanish I class at the high school level, explores the Olmec, an ancient civilization in Mexico. The unit aims for students to develop an appreciation for early civilizations and their importance to the present day. It gives seven objectives for students to work toward and lists detailed strategies for…