THE MAJOR PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH WAS TO INVESTIGATE MEDIA BEHAVIOR OF A SPANISH-SPEAKING POPULATION SAMPLE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO TELEVISION AND RADIO, AND IN THIS CONNECTION TO STUDY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SPANISH-SPEAKING AUDIENCES AT LOWER ECONOMIC LEVELS. THIS WAS DONE TO APPRAISE THE POSSIBLE USE OF RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR REACHING…

This study is an attempt to explore systematically language attitudes among the younger and more socially mobile Mexican Americans, to determine what linguistic and demographic variables are correlated with differential language attitudes, and to ascertain to what extent, if any, attitudinal commitment to Spanish correlates with behavioral…

Operation Breakthrough, a special demonstration project to upgrade Spanish-speaking workers in entry-level factory jobs, was evaluated by a third-party evaluator at the end of its first year. The teacher training program was found, through interviews with teachers and aides, to be excellent. Curriculum materials were provided by the project, but…

The results of a questionnaire designed to investigate Puerto Rican students' attitudes toward learning English show that there is a predominantly positive attitude toward English-as-a-second language in the Puerto Rican town studied in this survey. The questionnaires solicit information from students in grades five through eight concerning…

The second year evaluation of the effects and usage of "Carrascolendas," a children's television series in Spanish and English, was conducted in three phases. A field experiment used criterion referenced tests among Mexican-American children comprising the target audience to measure learning effects. Two experimental groups viewed the…

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)

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 study examined the underlying factor structure of the Motivation Orientation Scale (MOS), determining its degree of consistency across two distinct cultures and identifying variables affecting students' motivation in learning a second language. The study investigated how intention theory with its three motivation orientations, and Gardner's…

Studied attitudes of Hispanic secondary school students and their parents (N=500) toward higher education. Includes questionnaire, written in Spanish, which was distributed in three community centers. Found 70 percent of the students and 80 percent of the parents indicated financial problems prevented college attendance but that they did value…

Discusses Gardner and Lambert's Attitude and Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) and its application in Canada. Study's purpose was to test sociopsychological theory of second-language learning by validating an adapted AMTB in the U.S. with American students of Spanish. Sought to compare underlying structure of adapted ATMB with original ATMB and…

Advanced-level college students of Spanish experienced U.S. Hispanic cultures through participation in a community-based experiential course with a service earning option. Results of a quantitative study indicate that subjects enrolled in the course formed positive and accepting attitudes toward Spanish speakers and their cultures and found a…

Reviews studies delineating positive effects of visually engaging, authentic classroom materials on language learning and cultural attitude formation. Cross-disciplinary approaches combining language, literature, history, and art emerge as effective methods of creatively using class time to achieve linguistic and cultural proficiency. (30…

Describes the author's experiences and eventual success of teaching Spanish as a Second Language in Puerto Rico. Notes one student's success in eradicating his self-imposed barriers to learning a second language. Discusses three key principles for building a safe learning climate for students. (SR)

Perceptions about speakers of Spanish, English, and Chinese were studied among 303 Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanic students in grades 3 and 8 in the southwestern United States. Students' prior experience with a language increased favorable attitudes toward the language, solidarity with its speakers, and perceptions of status associated with…

Investigated the reliability and construct validity of scores on a Spanish version of an academic self-concept measure for economically disadvantaged Hispanic middle school, English as a Second Language students. Results did not completely support five hypothesized constructs corresponding to five factor subscales on the English version. Students…