ERIC Number: EJ762028
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 10
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-6620
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Available Date: N/A
Reflections on Being Biliterate: Lessons from Paraprofessionals
Lenski, Susan Davis
Action in Teacher Education, v28 n4 p104-113 Win 2007
The purpose of this study is to examine the strengths that biliterate paraprofessionals bring to the teaching workforce. Paraprofessionals, such as teachers' aides, are commonly used in classes for English-language learners. Because of the pending teacher shortage for English-language learners, a variety of teacher preparation programs have been developed to certify paraprofessionals as teachers. Little research, however, has been conducted about these programs or the teachers who are becoming certified in them. The participants of this study included 10 bilingual/bicultural paraprofessionals who were enrolled in the Bilingual Teacher Pathways program at a large western university. The data sources for this interpretive study were journal entries, interviews, class discussions, and memos. Data were primarily analyzed using the constant comparative method. The analysis of the data indicates that the biliterate paraprofessionals have unique strengths that fall into four categories: a personal understanding of cultural complexities, a learned knowledge of language systems, an ability to communicate with students and families, and a keen awareness of their responsibility as role models. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Teacher Shortage, Role Models, Bilingualism, Bilingual Teachers, Bilingual Teacher Aides, Paraprofessional School Personnel, Second Language Learning, Alternative Teacher Certification, Interviews, Comparative Analysis, Cultural Awareness, Interpersonal Communication, Preservice Teacher Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A