Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Multiethnic Education'

This study investigated how multiethnic Bilingual Education (BE) classrooms (English and Mother-tongue: Sinhala or Tamil) in post-conflict Sri Lanka can shape students' ethnic identities towards an ethnically inclusive national identity. Using Bourdieu's theories of capital, habitus and field, the study identifies two key findings: the importance of the flexible use of all available languages in multiethnic classrooms to scaffold language and academic content learning; and the creation of inter-ethnic reciprocity. Findings also show the dual role of English as a tool of reconciliation, and a weapon of social stratification. The study presents positive practices to be applied, and negative practices to be avoided both at implementation and policy levels in similar contexts.

This essay is about schools in Belize and how they handle the variety of cultures and languages. The study is based on observations and interviews made in four different schools. We spent one week in each school and every school represent one specific ethnic group. These ethnic groups are Creole, Maya, Garifuna and Mestiso. The interviews treat the different ethnic groups, their view of school and their relationship to the other ethnic groups living in Belize. To give an understanding about Belize we also present some common facts about the country which we have got from various books.

This study explored how a multicultural/multilingual school negotiated culture with limited English proficient (LEP) students' families, particularly in the context of parent involvement activities. In order to understand how such negotiation of culture occurred, the researcher focused on the perspectives that school administrators, teachers and parents of students in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program had on the education of LEP students and their parents' involvement in school-organized activities. It also focused on the participants' understandings of cultural capital and the extent to which the school builds on immigrant /sojourner families' knowledge and culture to support their children's education. In this ethnographical study, the researcher used a variety of data collection procedures: a questionnaire for teachers and parents, document analysis, interviews, and participant observation. While results from the questionnaires show that teachers and parents had similar views of LEP student education and parent involvement, more detailed information gathered through interviews and observations show that school personnel and immigrant/sojourner parents held different perspectives and expectations. Moreover, the results revealed that cultural capital, social class, and parents' educational attainment level influence the way parents understand the academic and social expectations of the school's dominant culture and their interactions with school personnel. Likewise, cultural biases influence school administrators and teachers' perceptions and interactions with parents from ethnic/linguistic minority groups.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1992.
Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2751. Abstract precedes thesis as [3] preliminary leaves. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-69).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Kent State University, 2008.
Title from OhioLINK ETD abstract webpage (viewed Feb. 2, 2010) Advisor: Mark Bracher. Keywords: Literature; Multiethnic; Pedagogy. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.M.)--Cleveland State University, 2009.
Abstract. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Dec. 15, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-55). Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center and also available in print.

Current scholarship in literacy education underscores the inefficacy of standardized education in public schools, particularly for minority students. At the same time, a longstanding lack of understanding between the various culture groups that live in the United States often results in minority groups that are either stereotyped, misunderstood, or viewed as Other. Both of these issues can be traced to the literature that students read in school, which focuses on "classic" literature—often synonymous with "white" literature—that excludes minority narratives. While minorities struggle more with "academic literacy" (the ability to read and write in an active, reflective manner), there is also a pressing need to educate all students in "cultural literacy," or a knowledge of and appreciation for difference in worldview, culture, and opinion. One possible solution is a more effective implementation of multiethnic young adult literature in the classroom. Careful consideration of specific cultural texts can help minority students connect positively with literature, increasing student engagement with academics. Providing educators, librarians, and parents with a framework for selecting literature that begins to address this issue is a critical first step in empowering minority students with emotional and intellectual development as well as providing mainstream students with alternative perspectives that establish common ground, develop social awareness, and reduce stereotyping across groups. This thesis examines literacy and education studies to develop criteria and rationales for selecting books that appeal not only to minorities, but to readers from outside those groups. These criteria provide useful guidelines for educators and librarians in selecting multicultural novels for young adults that (1) act as "mirrors" of relatability to boost self-esteem and foster a love of reading in minority youth, and (2) provide "windows" into other cultures that promote greater cross-cultural respect and understanding. After setting up a theoretical framework that lays out the challenges and benefits to this approach as well as criteria for selecting these novels, this paper provides analyses of several books that meet these criteria as well as a booklist of additional titles. Addressing these issues within the context of young adult literature is crucial to the development of self-assertive, productive adults who value themselves and the different individuals that they interact with on a daily basis; on the other hand, failure to address these issues early perpetuates a cycle of marginalization and distrust that is difficult to break in the adult world.

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Taking language as a cultural diacritic and as mark of ethnic identity, I develop in this text, an argument that seeks to establish a relationship between identity, language and culture. The focus of the approach is oriented for the empirical context of the emergence of new collective identities indigenous. The objective is to demonstrate the processes of reconstruction of ethnic identity from the handling and/or mobilization of the diacritic signs that can be used to demarcate the "ethnic boundaries" of a culture. The analysis covers the empirical context of the middle Rio Negro region, more specifically the Cartucho indigenous community, located on the island of Wabada in the Middle Rio Negro Indigenous Lands II - AM. From this perspective, the object of study the research present are the social and political uses of language General Amazon (the Nheengatu) that derives historically the Tupinamba and was adopted as the franca language during the colonial period establishing the communication and social interaction between indigenous and non-indigenous. Currently, this language is still spoken in the entire region of Rio Negro and is used by many people as an instrument of ethnic identity affirmation, as observed among The Bare, whose original language is no longer spoken. The choice of the Indigenous Land Middle Rio Negro - II is due to cultural and linguistic diversity existing in this region. The main reason given in the anthropological literature for the maintenance of this multiethnic complex is the persistence of linguistic exogamy and patrilocal residence, i.e. in this region men usually marry women who speak a language different from yours. In such circumstances, children grow up speaking two languages. However, the language that identifies the person, the village and the ethnic group is mainly the language of the father and not the language of the linguistic group of the mother. Indeed, they are speakers that dominate three or more languages which are spoken in daily life and in the family. These native language speakers are still to able understand other indigenous languages spoken in the community, as well as Portuguese, but between them they speak predominantly Nheengatu. This scenario presents itself as the ideal for the study of social and political uses of Nheengatu due to be a context of bi-and multilingualism. The initial question is to know the reasons why certain languages are spoken or not, depending on the social context or situations of collective communication and social interaction, circumstantial or otherwise, in that speakers are in concrete achievements in domains social of language. The hypothesis that guiding this research is a that the Nheengatu was consolidated as a franca language, and for this reason, became the instrument that enables communication and social interaction, serving as a inter-ethnics mediator in the region of and even more, has established itself as the native language or traditional language, that has been adopted by various ethnic groups who have lost their native tongues, as is the case the Bare people. The method adopted for carrying out the fieldwork research was participant observation. Data collection was performed by authorized recordings of individual interviews and collective, that is, in speech in public meetings of the Association of Indigenous Communities and Riparian - ACIR, as well as social events, sports and cultural community.
Tomando a linguagem como um diacrítico cultural e como marca da identidade étnica, desenvolvo neste texto, um argumento que busca estabelecer uma relação entre linguagem, identidade e cultura. O foco da abordagem é orientada para o contexto empírico da emergência de novas identidades coletivas indígenas. O objetivo é demonstrar os processos de reconstrução da identidade étnica a partir da manipulação e/ou mobilização dos sinais diacríticos que podem ser usados para demarcar as fronteiras étnicas de uma cultura. A análise abrange o contexto empírico da região do Médio do Rio Negro, mais especificamente a comunidade indígena do Cartucho, localizada na ilha de Wabada nas Terras Indígenas Médio Rio Negro II - AM. A partir desta perspectiva, o objeto de estudo do presente pesquisa são os usos sociais e políticos da Língua Geral Amazônica (o Nheengatu) que deriva historicamente o Tupinambá e foi adotado como a língua franca durante o período colonial que institui a comunicação ea interação social entre indígenas e não-indígenas. Atualmente, essa língua ainda é falada em toda a região do Rio Negro e é usado por muitas pessoas como um instrumento de afirmação da identidade étnica, como observado entre os Baré, cuja língua original não é mais falada. A escolha da Terra Indígena Médio Rio Negro - II é devido à diversidade cultural e linguística existente nesta região. A principal razão apontada na literatura antropológica para a manutenção deste complexo multi-étnico é a persistência da exogamia linguística e residência patrilocal, ou seja, nesta região os homens geralmente se casam com mulheres que falam uma língua diferente da sua. Em tais circunstâncias, as crianças crescem falando dois idiomas. No entanto, a linguagem que identifica a pessoa, a aldeia e o grupo étnico é, principalmente, a linguagem do pai e não o idioma do grupo linguístico da mãe. Na verdade, eles são falantes que dominam três ou mais línguas que são faladas na vida diária e na família. Estes falantes nativos ainda são capazes de compreender outras línguas indígenas faladas na comunidade, bem como o Português, mas entre eles, falam predominantemente o Nheengatu. Este cenário apresenta-se como a ideal para o estudo dos usos sociais e políticos do Nheengatu, devido a ser um contexto de bi-e multilinguismo. A pergunta inicial é conhecer as razões pelas quais certas línguas são faladas ou não, dependendo do contexto social ou situações de comunicação coletiva e a interação social, circunstancial ou não, em que os falantes estão em realizações concretas nos domínios sociais da linguagem. A hipótese que norteiam esta pesquisa é que o Nheengatu consolidou-se como uma língua franca, e por esta razão, tornou-se o instrumento que permite a comunicação e interação social, servindo como mediador inter-étnico na região e, mais que isso, estabeleceu -se como a língua materna ou tradicional, e tem sido adotada por vários grupos étnicos que perderam suas línguas nativas, como é o caso do povo Baré. O método adotado para a realização da pesquisa de campo foi a observação participante. A coleta de dados foi realizada por gravações autorizadas de entrevistas individuais e coletivas, isto é, em discurso em reuniões públicas da Associação das Comunidades Indígenas e Ribeirinhas - ACIR, bem como eventos sociais, desportivos e da comunidade cultural.

Cross-ethnic friendships are likely to constitute an important feature of children’s social world in multiethnic educational settings such as London secondary schools, which are now more ethnically diverse than ever. This thesis extends current knowledge on cross-ethnic friendships by examining the prevalence and effects of such friendships on various developmental outcomes among ethnic majority and minority status children attending multiethnic schools. While Chapter 1 presented an overview of the literature on cross-ethnic friendships, following empirical chapters (Chapters 2-6) demonstrated findings from a comprehensive 3-wave school study conducted in London schools. Chapter 2 focused on patterns of cross-ethnic friendships and showed specific relationships between ethnic diversity, ethnic group and cross-ethnic friendships. Chapter 3 indicated that cross-ethnic friendships are related to positive outcomes such as psychological well-being, resilience and academic outcomes and moderate the negative effects of discrimination. Chapter 4 showed that interpersonal processes of self-disclosure and ideal self affirmation mediated the associations between cross-ethnic friendships and well-being measures. Chapter 5 examined anxiety and intimate self-disclosure in both same- and cross-ethnic friendships and indicated that reduced anxiety is a unique process whereby cross-ethnic friendships relate to positive outcomes. Chapter 6 revealed longitudinal associations between cross-ethnic friendships and positive outcomes and showed that these associations are stronger in classrooms with lower classroom racial tension. Finally, Chapter 7 investigated cross-ethnic friendships in the light of motivational outcomes; results of two experimental studies indicated that mental representations of cross-ethnic friendships may have effects on future career and academic choices of ethnic minority young adolescents. Overall, findings show that cross-ethnic friendships are important resources for children, providing benefits for the development of psychological, academic and motivational outcomes among children. The role of cross-ethnic friendships on positive development is discussed in the light of ethnic group differences and implications for school policies in multiethnic settings (Chapter 8).

Das Schulregister des Kultusministeriums MIUR verzeichnet, dass mehr als jede/r zehnte aller Schüler/innen in Italien keine italienische Staatsbürgerschaft hat, obwohl sie mehrheitlich dort geboren wurden. Zahlreiche Erhebungen weisen für sie im Vergleich zu den italienischen Mitschülern/innen geringere Italienischkenntnisse und weniger schulischen Erfolg auf. Innerhalb dieser explorativen Feldforschung haben Einzelinterviews mit 121 Schülern/innen (5.-8. Klasse) in Turiner Schulen und mit 26 Eltern, sowie die Auswertung von 141 an 27 Italienisch- und Herkunftsprachlehrer/innen verteilten Fragebögen ergeben, dass viele Schüler/innen "zweisprachige Natives" sind, da sie mit Italienisch und einer anderen Sprache aufwachsen. Dieser Polyglottismus, den die Interviewten sehr positiv bewerteten, findet jedoch in der Schulpraxis keine Entsprechung: Gezielte Förderung im Italienischen und der Unterricht der Familiensprache sind meist Wunschdenken. In der Kohorte haben die Schüler/innen mit den besten Italienischkenntnissen einen italophonen Elternteil bzw. kamen im Vorschulalter nach Italien und besuchten dort den Kindergarten. Dagegen sind, wie auch bei den INVALSI-Tests, die in Italien geborenen und die dann die Krippe besuchten, leicht benachteiligt. Was die Familiensprache angeht, verbessert ihr Erlernen die Kompetenzen darin, ohne dem Italienischen zu schaden: Im Gegenteil. Diese Ergebnisse bestätigen die wichtige Rolle der "anderen" Sprache für einen gelungen Spracherwerb. Das MIUR sollte also sein Schulregister mit Sprachdaten ergänzen, um die Curricula im Sinn der EU-Vorgaben umzuschreiben und den sprachlich heterogenen Klassen gezielte Ressourcen und definierte Vorgehensweisen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Mit geringeren Mitteln, im Vergleich zu den jetzigen Kosten für Herunterstufung, Klassenwiederholung und Schulabbruch würde man Schulerfolg, Chancengerechtigkeit und Mehrsprachigkeit fördern, mit positiven Folgen für den Einzelnen sowie für die Volkswirtschaft.
The Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) student register records that today in Italy more than one out of ten students is not an Italian citizen, although the majority of them were born there. Several statistical surveys indicate that "foreign" students, when compared to native students, show a poorer performance in Italian and in academic achievement. This exploratory fieldwork carried out in schools in Turin (5th to 8th grade) analyzed data obtained through semi-structured interviews with 121 students and 26 parents as well as 141 questionnaires filled in by 27 teachers of Italian and family language. It showed that many students are "bilingual natives", as they grow up acquiring both Italian and another language; however, despite the fact that the interviewees rate polyglottism positively, schools don't usually offer targeted support in either language. Within the cohort the broadest range of competences in Italian are found first among those with an Italian-speaking parent, then among those who arrived in Italy at pre-school age attending kindergarten there; this latter group shows higher competences than those born in Italy attending nursery there, as also in the INVALSI tests. As far as family language is concerned, data illustrate that its teaching increases its competences without affecting those in Italian: quite the opposite in fact. These results confirm the remarkable role played by the "other" language in successful language education. MIUR is therefore called upon to include also linguistic data in its student register, so as to redefine its curricula according to EU Guidelines, and to identify specific procedures and resources for multilingual classes. This new policy would reduce the current cost of placing students in a lower grade, grade retention and drop-outs, and would promote school success, equal opportunities and multilingualism, with positive consequences both for the individuals and for the national economy.
L'anagrafe studenti del MIUR registra come oggi in Italia più di uno studente su dieci non è cittadino italiano, pur essendo la maggioranza di loro nata in questo paese. Numerose indagini statistiche mostrano come gli allievi "stranieri" presentino, rispetto a quelli italiani, ridotte competenze in italiano e minore successo scolastico. Questa ricerca esplorativa svolta in alcune scuole di Torino (V elementare-III media) ha analizzato dati ottenuti tramite interviste semi-strutturate a 121 studenti e 26 genitori e 141 questionari compilati da 27 insegnanti di italiano e di lingua di famiglia. Da essa è emerso che molti studenti sono "nativi bilingui", poiché crescono usando l'italiano e un'altra lingua. Questo poliglottismo, valutato dagli intervistati assai positivamente, non si rispecchia però nella prassi scolastica: un supporto mirato in italiano e l'insegnamento della lingua di famiglia sono di regola una chimera. All'interno del campione le più ampie competenze in italiano si trovano fra chi ha un genitore italofono e chi è arrivato in Italia in età prescolare frequentandovi la scuola materna; come constatato anche nei test INVALSI, chi è nato in Italia e vi ha frequentato l'asilo nido è leggermente svantaggiato. Rispetto alla lingua di famiglia risulta che il suo studio porta a migliori competenze in essa, senza nuocere all'italiano: anzi. Emerge quindi il ruolo significativo della lingua "altra" per un'educazione linguistica efficace. L'invito al MIUR è quindi di integrare la propria anagrafe con dati linguistici, così da ridefinire i propri curricula secondo le Linee Guida Comunitarie, individuando procedure e risorse specifiche per le classi multilingui. Con un investimento ridotto, paragonato con il costo attuale dato da retrocessioni, ripetenze e abbandono scolastico, si riuscirebbe a sostenere il successo scolastico, le pari opportunità e il plurilinguismo, con conseguenze positive per i singoli e per l'economia nazionale.

This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study investigated the development of children's perceptions of interethnic and interracial friendships by employing the Perceptions of Intergroup Friendships Questionnaire , a measure designed for this study. A total of 103 children (53 Kindergarten and first graders and 50 fourth and fifth graders) attending one, ethnically/racially-diverse, urban, elementary school in a middle-sized Northeastern city, were interviewed employing the questionnaire. In addition, a sub sample of 17 children (7 Kindergarten and first graders and 10 fourth and fifth graders) were interviewed employing a lengthier semi-structured interview format. Results indicate that K/1st and 4 th/5th graders' differ significantly in their perceptions of intergroup friendships with younger children holding more positive perceptions than older children. African American children demonstrated more positive perceptions of intergroup friendships than European American children. Younger children and girls also held more positive perceptions of intragroup friendships than older children and boys. Children involved in intergroup friendships attributed lower levels of these relationships in the higher grades to prejudice and incidents of racist behavior in the school, along with fewer opportunities to interact with children of different ethnicities/race both within and outside of the school context. Children involved in exclusively intragroup relationships attributed lower levels of intergroup friendships to a normative developmental pattern through which children become increasingly more selective and include only "similar" peers in friendships circles. These differing perspectives are based in children's own racial attitudes and experiences of prejudice. Lastly, children shared their perspectives on how intergroup friendships could be better-supported in schools.

Bullying remains a serious issue in our schools. The goals of this study were three-fold. Firstly, to obtain an estimate of ethnic-racial bullying victimization in urban schools, secondly, to examine protective factors for bullying victimization, and finally, to explore gender differences in bullying behaviour. A total of 319 students in grades 6 and 7 completed a measure of bullying victimization and safe school environment. The results revealed an overall bullying victimization rate of 53.9% with 17.8% of students reporting being bullied based on their ethnicity or race. Contrary to previous research (McKenney, Pepler, Craig, & Connolly, 2006), girls and boys were equally likely to engage in all types of bullying behaviours. Extracurricular activities were generally not a protective factor against bullying, while a large network of close friends was. Bullying intervention programs need to focus on ethnic/racial bullying, and teachers need to increase their awareness of this problem.

Cette recherche a pour but d’étudier les pratiques enseignantes de soutien auprès des élèves immigrants récemment arrivés au Québec, ne maîtrisant pas le français et intégrés dans des classes ordinaires au primaire. Pour ce faire, nous avons mené une recherche de type qualitatif avec deux enseignantes et leurs trois élèves immigrantes. Afin de documenter les pratiques de soutien en contexte réel de la classe, comprendre les raisons des enseignantes à l’égard du soutien et le point de vue des élèves, nous avons procédé à des observations de classe et à des entrevues individuelles générales et spécifiques avec les participantes, en plus de consulter certaines productions écrites des élèves immigrantes participantes. La présentation des données prend la forme d’une étude multicas décrivant les pratiques de soutien mises en place par chacune des deux enseignantes à partir de 22 séquences de soutien qui ont été décrites en tenant compte du contexte de chaque classe, puis analysées à la lumière de deux cadres théoriques complémentaires, le cadre d’analyse du travail enseignant et l’approche sociohistorico-culturelle. Les résultats de cette recherche mettent en exergue le sens de la pratique enseignante de soutien qui se coconstruit dans les interactions entre l’enseignante et l’élève, selon leurs apports mutuels, et selon les facteurs de la classe. L’analyse des raisons des enseignantes à l’égard du soutien montre que devant les difficultés des élèves immigrantes anticipées, constatées ou signalées, les enseignantes prennent des décisions pour prendre ces difficultés en considération, les traiter et mettre en place des pratiques de soutien. Les décisions des enseignantes découlent d’un processus de négociation interne entre la prise en compte des difficultés, notamment imprévues, et le maintien de leurs tâches prescrites, tout en considérant les facteurs contextuels de la classe. Le processus de négociation se poursuit et se déplace ensuite entre l’enseignante et l’élève, lesquelles construisent le sens de soutien à travers leurs interactions. Les concepts empruntés de l’approche sociohistorico-culturelle nous permettent de comprendre la relation dialectique entre l’élève et l’enseignante lors des interactions. Les deux s’ajustent l’une par rapport à l’autre dans le but d’arriver à un consensus sur le sens de la difficulté. De ce fait, la pratique enseignante de soutien est construite suite aux négociations entre l’élève et l’enseignante, mais aussi suite à la négociation interne de l’enseignante, et ce, dépendamment des facteurs du contexte. Notre recherche a contribué à apporter cette clarification sur la manière d’appréhender les pratiques enseignantes de soutien en contexte de classe ordinaire.
This research studies teaching practices that support immigrant students recently arrived in Quebec. In most cases, those students have limited French proficiency and are required to be integrated into regular primary classes. A qualitative study was conducted with two teachers and their three immigrant students. Data collection was based on: 1) Classroom observation that allowed for documenting teaching support practices in real classroom context, 2) One to one interviews with teachers to understand their reasons when applying their supporting practices, 3) One to one interviews with students to comprehend their points of view regarding teaching support practices. Furthermore, some of the student’s written work was analysed. The research data is presented using a multi-case study that describes teaching practices for each participating teacher. For each case-study, the data was categorised based on twenty two supporting sequences described in regards to the context of each class. Then, the data was analysed using two theoretical complementary approaches: the teaching work analysis framework, and the cultural-historical approach. The results of this research emphasize on the significance of teaching practice that is co-constructed by collaborative interactions occurring between the teachers and their students. These interactions are defined by students and teachers mutual contributions correlated to specific classroom factors. The analysis of teacher’s reasons shows that implementing and processing of teaching support practices are influenced by the decisions that teachers must make momentarily when they encounter a student difficulty. Teachers’ decisions result from an inner negotiation process. Teachers have to choose quickly between implementing supporting practices and maintaining their on-going prescribed tasks. This negotiation process is continued between the teacher and the student during their interactions in order to co-construct the support practice. The concepts borrowed from historical-cultural approach facilitate understanding the dialectical relationship between the student and the teacher during their interfaces. Both the teacher and the student adjust their behaviors towards each other to re-define the meaning of difficulty. Consequently, teaching support practices are shaped concurrently by the teacher’s inner negotiation process and the external negotiation with their students, and also influenced by the context factors of the class. This research main contribution is reinforcing and developing our understanding to teaching practices of support in the context of the regular classroom.