The Puerto Rican Acculturation of English Literature:

UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT RÍO PIEDRAS
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GRADUATE STUDIES PROGRAM
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION (TESL)
The Puerto Rican
Acculturation of
English Literature:
A Vygotskyan Mediation for UPRH
English Pre-Basic Students
Proposal presented as a requisite for the doctoral exam to the Department of Graduate Studies School of Education
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
Aníbal Muñoz Claudio
December 1, 2010
P r e v i e w • Introduction
d
• Historical foundations / background
December 1, 2010
1 2010
• Foundations of Public
Educational Policies
• Theoretical / Psychological Foundations
• Socio-cultural
Socio cultural Foundations
• Methodology
• Mixed –Method Design
• Q
Quantitative Pre/Post
/
Test and
Qualitative Survey Design
Historical Foundations
Historical Background of the teaching of English in PR
l
k
f h
h
f
l h
Español
5 siglos English
5 siglos
1 century
The English dilemma p
Three different processes
acting independently
Puerto Rican
Culture
English
g
Language
Teaching of
English
Literature
in PR
Introduction 9The teaching of English in PR. –A perennial dilemma for the island’ss educational authorities
for the island
educational authorities
9Lots of theories and studies…lack of action
9M
9My proposal: l
I am proposing direct affirmative action based on:
Major Learning Theories
L2 Acquisition Theories
q
Existing Linguistic Paradigms Worldwide
Related Studies
Related Studies
9PRDE public policies –hidden curriculum
Purpose
• This study seeks to lessen students’ reluctance and apprehension towards their English literature classes and h
d h
l hl
l
d
enhance their attainment of reading skills by utilizing a different kind of literature (Puerto Rican acculturation of English literature)
English literature). • This process serves as the mediation (Vigotsky, 1978) needed to foster the st dents’ lang age competence The st d
to foster the students’ language competence. The study emulates existing paradigms of successful contextualization processes taking place in various educational settings worldwide.
worldwide
Research Question
Research Question
• This
This study proposes the following question: study proposes the following question:
• Can the Puerto Rican acculturation of English literature enhance the UPRH students’ literature enhance the UPRH students
appreciation for English literature as well as their attainment of English reading skills in
their attainment of English reading skills in their English Pre‐Basic courses?
Research Design
Research Design
• The
The Quantitative
Quantitative–Quasi‐Experimental
Quasi Experimental Design Design
fits well for this research since the purpose of the method is to determine cause and effect
the method is to determine cause and effect with a direct manipulation of the conditions. • In this approach and design there
In this approach and design there’ss no random no random
assignment of participants to groups (McMillan & Schumaker 2005)
(McMillan & Schumaker, 2005). methodology
• At the UPRH settings, the researcher would be able to use intact groups as they are assigned by sections (pre‐basic English courses, INGL 0080) that can be divided into one select control group and one select experimental group with their respective number of students. • Then, following the guidelines suggested in the control‐group‐
pretest and posttest design ‐ (Creswell, 2003, 1995, McMillan pretest and posttest design (Creswell, 2003, 1995, McMillan
& Schumaker, 2005), the control group will use in their course the traditional literature (textbook and/or similar reading selections used in the past) and the select group will receive
selections used in the past), and the select group will receive the experimental treatment (use of Puerto Rican content‐
based literature) Methodology cont.
Methodology cont.
• In
In order to gather data for the variable of literature order to gather data for the variable of literature
appreciation, the researcher will administer a questionnaire (attitudes and perceptions of previous English literature –see annex no. 4) to the select experimental group prior the treatment. • This questionnaire is intended to gather data related to the participants’ previous experiences with English reading selections and their perceptions toward
reading selections and their perceptions toward them. Methodology cont.
Methodology cont.
• In order to gather data for the variable of attainment of reading skills, the researcher will administer a pre and post‐
test (reading skills test to be designed later) to both groups. • This pre and post test will cover reading skills such as: vocabulary in context, reading comprehension, main idea, author’ss purpose, making inferences, story elements like: author
purpose making inferences story elements like:
setting, characterization, identifying conflict, figurative language, imagery (sensory images), and others. Foundations of Educational Public Policies
(The Proposed Perspective)
The Puerto Rican Acculturation of English Literature.
The main objective of this teaching strategy will be the teaching of English holistically from a contextualized cultural perspective in which the reading materials must be acculturated Puerto Rican selections. Foundations of Educational Public Policies
( h
(The Proposed Perspective)
d
i )
The acculturation of English literature implies that in every single paragraph, or at least in every single reading page of any
least in every single reading page of any English reading material, Puerto Rican students can encounter familiar vocabulary, settings, or any situation related to their culture.
I thi
In this way, students can appreciate and t d t
i t
d
identify with the reading selection and thus, bring about their previous cultural ,
g
p
experiences. At least one or more of these features must appear in every page!
must appear in every page!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spanish titles (to attract reader’s attention)
Simple and user‐friendly vocabulary
Appealing Spanish phrases Spanish colloquial terms, and expressions
Spanish colloquial terms, and expressions Names of local settings, and people (schools, avenues, towns, cities, bridges, shopping malls, hospitals, and others.),
Onomatopoeic constructions with local familiar sounds
Onomatopoeic constructions with local familiar sounds, Sayings and/or swears, Anglicized forms generally used and of widely acceptance, Oi i l
Original morphological constructions (Graffitiando, etc.), h l i l
i
(G ffi i d
)
Pictures and drawings of familiar settings and environments, and most importantly,
Puerto Rican school and community contexts. Others
The PR Acculturation of English Lit.
The PR Acculturation of English Lit.
• The Puerto Rican acculturation of English Literature g
does not intend in any way or form to:
• Deconstruct the English language
• Diminish the English language
Di i i h th E li h l
• Change the English language
•
It is about inserting all possible contextualized
material into the English reading selections in order
to mediate
di
and
d provide
id the
h scaffolding
ff ldi necessary in
i
the learning (L2 acquisition) process as suggested in
Vygotsky’s theories.
Psychological / Theoretical Foundations
Psychological / Theoretical Foundations
• Vygotsky’s
Vygotsky s (1978) Major Learning Theories
(1978) Major Learning Theories
Mediation
S ff ldi
Scaffolding
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
• Ausubel
Ausubel (1963) –Meaningful
Meaningful Learning Theory
Learning Theory
• Lambert W.(1963) –Acculturation and Anomie
• Krashen S. K h S (1982) Affective Filter Hypothesis
Aff i Fil H
h i
Socio‐Cultural Foundations
Existing Linguistic Paradigms
Kachru’s (1991) model in India (Indianization)
The “Indianization”of English in India has led to e d a at o o
g s
d a as ed to
a situation in which English has few if any British g g
,
cultural attributes. Learning English in India, for example, really does not involve taking on a new culture since one is acquiring Indian English in q
g
g
India (Brown, 2007).
Language Ownership –a cultural invitation • The language then belongs to those who use it
as their first language, and to those who use it as
an additional language, whether in its standard
form or in its localized forms.
• According to Kachru’s (1991) research in India,
process of language
g g acculturation facilitates
the p
learning while eradicating cultural imposition.
PRDE English “Hidden Curriculum”
g
• Giroux’s
Giroux s assertions about assertions about
the hidden curriculum
• Americanization agenda in PR
Americanization agenda in PR
(Negrón de Montilla, 1990 & Torres, 2002)
• Current Literature textbooks used in PRDE:
• Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, others
No Puerto Rican contexts
• No Puerto Rican contexts
Conclusion: The ideal scenario
Creativity / our contributions to the world PR traditions/diversity
Involvement/Commitment
Ethical principles
Teaching English Literature
promote the
to p
Puerto Rican Culture
Social Transformation
Contextualization
E D
Y
Would you like to find it?
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com
Just a Lipstick
p
We changed our naïve touch for a more daring approach to life. And we were challenging
And we were challenging authorities…We were demanding our rights… We
demanding our rights… We were exploring the pleasures of life… Tra
Tra…
Tra…
Tra…
Tra
Find out what happens to the love and friendship of a p
young couple when reggaeton lyrics get in their way
in their way…
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Graffitiando Graffitiando
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Michelle’s
Little
Surprise
Things were so Things
were so
different three years ago when she was
ago… when she was only 12 at her seventh grade.
grade
…
My One O’ Clock y
English Class
One day, in the middle of
the middle of my tormenting d i
desires, the h
English class came to my rescue once again. The class was for
class was for me like a genie lamp –
granting me ti
wishes whenever I needed them the most.
…For Ángel, g
the paperboy, it was another day at his h
usual business.
business
T PPaper B
The
Boy’s
’ Wish
Just…
how
difficult it gets
t fall
to
f ll in
i love
l
f
for
the very first
time…
“E“ll Grajeo”
rajeo”
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art Find out about what
about what happened in these particular Ch i
Christmas!
!
Merry Christmas in Cupey
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art Emily’ss Voices
Emily
She knew that at 1:30 A M it
at 1:30 A.M. it was too late and she needed to
she needed to go to sleep… But she didn’t want to… She knew that the voices were waiting for iti f
her… Waiting for the best
for the best timing to make her suffer more.
“Eugenio, el Genio”
D
Do you remember the day you took the b th d
t k th
College Board Exam?
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art The Night that ‘Georges’ Came
• Get ready for the The hurricane hurricane season!
season will be ill b
back year after year!!
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“Marbete”
Sometimes, when you face
some PR police officers
you need to be dt b
way more than ready…
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art Get Out of Here!
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art But as the weeks went by, Glenda’s illness began worsening and, little by little, the number of visitors was reducing considerably. In less than a month, there was nobody else visiting her except for the usual 7:30 P.M. visit of her parents.
The Last Halloween Night
The Last Halloween Night
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“Los
Los Prepas
Prepas”
It was his first day at the new
school…
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Oh God, ,
I Hate M d !
Mondays!
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art Monday mornings…
I hated them…
“Dame una
Coors Light!”
At 8:00 P.M. they were ready! Their friends picked them up at a gas station and went to the Oscar Liquor Store ,where they bought two cases of Coors Lights. Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art Driving the Explorer
Without thinking it Wi
h
hi ki i
twice, he jumped inside the car and quickly turned it on. Wao! It felt great… the dashboard the
dashboard, the steering wheel, the leather seats, the controls, the digital t l th di it l
radio…everything! He felt like a king! He wanted to drive it.
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com
LA COME M…
She felt like a Goddess
walking among mere
mortals,like a Queen
sorrounded by her servants,
like a Rock Star admired
by her devoted fans…
But she never knew what
others had to say about
her.
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In a hot September In
a hot September
morning, the two students couldn’tt take it students couldn
take it
anymore…
Pl
Pelea…
Pelea
Pl
Images obtained from internet source: www.ask.com /clip art G
T
Since the day that Tina and Gina were Since
the day that Tina and Gina were
born, their parents and everybody else knew they were going to be something special… thi
i l
And then, adolescence came around…
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Karla Santiago and her Boyfriend
g
y
The water was so cool…
She felt so free, and
free, and so
liberated
…
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What will happen when pp
two old friends speed race in Road no. 30?
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Copy
P ti
Pasting
101
What kind of
class did Leo
go to?
How did he
finish his
l
lessons?
?
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Read about how energized a group of
energized a group of students became when they were told that the Secretary of
that the Secretary of Education was going to visit their school.
The Secretary is Coming to School
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TK
Where else can we live in Puerto Rico nowadays?
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15
209
Únete..
Únete...
Luchasi
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Writers Association
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