Date of Award

2014

Rights

Access is available to all users

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA) in English: Teaching English as a Second Language

Department

English

First Advisor

LaVona Reeves

Second Advisor

Christina Valeo

Third Advisor

Sheila Woodward

Abstract

In the summer of 2012, 29 students ages 12-17 came from China to Spokane with a special three-week teaching program for intensive English language instruction and community field trips. Since they were middle and high school students, they had been studying English from four to 13 years in their home country. A mixed methodology of retrospective diary study, case study, and critical and autoethnography helped me to refine my teaching for this population and to prepare others to teach English to Chinese adolescents in the United States. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to (1) describe the experience teaching in the program; (2) describe the experience of hosting two students in my home with my four children for the three weeks; (3) document classroom teaching, management, and materials; (4) explain students' behaviors, expectations, attitudes, and motivation; and (5) reflect on my communication style and how I adjusted it for them.

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