A tale of two courses: exploring the relationship between identity, modern language, and career aspirations of undergraduate students in language for specific purposes classrooms

This study concerns itself with how identity, modern language, and career aspirations function on a micro-level and macro-level as it pertains to the Trump administration. Through two language for specific purpose (LSP) classrooms, questions explore personal identity, Spanish major and minor connections, and how Spanish connects to career aspirations. This also explores the professor’s perspective with her personal identity, Spanish connection, and experience as a professor of Spanish teaching students in these LSP courses. Based on sixteen semi-structured interviews with seven students and one professor, observations, and my experience as a modern language learner, a key finding is that language is political and complex as it lends itself to how students view themselves and their interests in the future. This finding has implications for the creation of LSP courses as well as better practices for academic/career advising, teaching, and the increased enrollment of language learners.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Policy Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Mosley Vaughan, Robin Nicole

Contributors dc:contributor

• Haas Dyson, Anne
• Trent, William
• Smith, Patrick
• Hood, Denice

• Spanish language learning
• Language for specific purposes
• Undergraduate students
• Students of color
• Personal and professional development

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Robin Mosley Vaughan

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98205

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/98205