This study examined the collegiate experience of strongly ethnically identified Italian American college students and sought to understand how they made sense of their experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants who graduated from a Bachelor's degree program in the United States within the last five years.…

Suggests that ethnic American literature might help promote FL study through themes also recurrent in the target group literature and through English usages reminiscent of target language features. Sees these shared characteristics as a potential aid to learning, usually obscured by the emphasis placed on contrastive aspects. (MES)

This book is a study of the assimilation process as it applies to Italian Americans. Chapters One and Two provide a contextual framework for the study by discussing the theoretical paradigms that have been advanced to describe ethnic behaviors or the assimilation experience and by reviewing pre-immigration and early immigration experiences of…

The American school system precariously bridged the two separate worlds in which the Italian immigrant child existed, that of his ethnic community and of the dominant society. The failure of Italian Americans to participate fully in all levels of academia will diminish expectations in higher education and in the society as a whole. (CJ)

The events of the 1960's served as a catalyst in bringing about the resurgence of "white ethnic groups." The dynamics of an increasing ethnic consciousness and militancy among Italian Americans are, however, found in the cultural and demographic changes currently taking place within the ethnic group. (Author/AM)

When analyzing the question of ehtnic identity, it is crucial to pay attention to oral history and biographical material: ethnicity is not so much a collective phenomenon as an individual one. For example, much has been written about Italian migration to the United States, but the lives of the ordinary immigrants and the rich detail of their…

After a review of how Blacks went about constructing a new self-identity, an analysis of the Italian-American case reveals three motifs to be introduced as a potential frame of reference for identity building: the grandeur of Renaissance Italy; pastoralism; and the immigrant experience (family and work). (Author/EB)

Proposes a model of ethnic behavior that describes group behavior as constrained by the following aspects of social structure: demographic opportunity, economic opportunity, and cultural heritage. Tests the model by comparing the single ancestry rates of the following ethnic groups: Italian, Polish, Slovak, and Hungarian. (Author/BJV)

A study examined the relationship between language experiences of Italo-Canadian students at home and school and their perceptions of group vitality and ethnic language maintenance. Subjects were in grade eight integrated and non-integrated heritage language programs. (58 references) (Author/MSE)

The essays prepared for this symposium range from the scholarly and highly structured to the impressionistic and subjective. Together, they comprise a substantive exploration of Italian American life and serve as a model for research into American ethnicity. In the papers three different areas are addressed: (1) current research and issues in the…

An exploratory research study was undertaken to determine the extent of drug abuse in three ethnic neighborhoods. The nature and scope of drug use among Italian and Polish Americans in three working class neighborhoods were examined in the light of the role class and cultural identity plays in the development and treatment of drug abuse. Results…

The ethnic press has played a vital role in the assimilation and the social and geographic mobility of immigrant groups. Its coverage of and editorial positions on ethnic relations, "Americanization," news and events occurring in the country of origin, the issue of language retention, and labor and economic concerns have influenced this…

This research report summarizes data on six immigrant groups residing in the New York City borough of Queens: Colombians, Greeks, Italians, Koreans, Indians, and Israelis. Data on which this report is based include aggregate qualitative data, analysis of previous surveys, data from other projects and public agencies, and a review of scholarly and…

This curriculum guide contains information, materials, and resources dealing with Italian Americans and Italian American culture. The guide is organized into 5 units, each presenting a major theme related to the history of Italian Americans from their immigration to their integration into American society. Each unit provides historical and…

It is pointed out that establishing classroom environments enabling students to actively engage in cross-cultural interaction and communication is essential to the success of a culturally pluralistic society. In this examination of an effective multicultural teacher education program it is implied that each institution has the responsibility for…