Date of Award
2020
Degree Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Education PhD, Joint with San Diego State University
Program
School of Educational Studies
Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair
Cristina Alfaro
Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member
Lucrecia Santibañez
Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member
Sera Hernandez
Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member
Gilda Ochoa
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2020 Verónica González
Keywords
dual language, equity, social justice, sociocultural competence
Subject Categories
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Education
Abstract
Despite the ideological controversies and political backlash that surround the field of bilingual education in the United States, current research indicates a growing interest in dual language (DL) programs—an additive bilingual education model. However, this growing interest has been accompanied by inequities in the implementation of DL programs that negatively affect minoritized students. One recommendation is for DL programs to center equity through sociocultural competence—the third goal of DL education (Howard et al., 2018). Through an analysis of administrator and teacher interviews, school documents, and field observations, this single case study examines educators’ ideologies and practices in regards to sociocultural competence at a high-performing Spanish-English DL school—Escuelita Montes de Oca (MdO). Findings suggest that sociocultural competence is conceptualized to include identity development, diversity awareness, justice, and action. Additionally, “gaps in knowledge,” which work to uphold the status quo, emerged as a challenge to the implementation of sociocultural competence. Through a critically conscious and culturally sustaining lens, this study provides evidence that fostering sociocultural competence is imperative for the creation of DL programs that honor minoritized students’ right to an equity-centered bilingual education.
ISBN
9798662407824
Recommended Citation
González, Verónica. (2020). Beyond Language: Critical and Sustainable Sociocultural Competence in a Dual Language Program. CGU Theses & Dissertations, 678. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/678.
