Santiago-Vega, Kimberly N.

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    Agriculture students’ language needs in general education courses: A case study
    (2012) Santiago-Vega, Kimberly N.; Rivera, Rosita L.; College of Arts and Sciences - Arts; Mazak, Catherine M.; Carroll, Kevin; Department of English; Bellido, Carmen
    This study was designed to explore the language needs of Spanish speaking Agriculture Students in general education courses at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez (UPRM). The participants were 17 students who were chosen by convenience sampling for gender, major within the College of Agriculture and College Entrance Examination Board scores of 469 or less in English. These students formed part of a 2007 pilot study conducted to analyze if Content Based Instruction would help Agriculture students to be successful English language learners. Data were collected by three research assistants, including myself. We observed focal students in all of their general education courses, interviewed focal participants including students and professors and conducted a Perceptions of Language Use Survey. In order to provide a better understanding of the context of this study, I provide an analysis of the institutional language policy of UPRM. Although all of the professors who participated in the study believe that English is essential for future success, most do not take it as a responsibility to deal with language issues within their general education classroom. While most believe that students are able to understand and use English easily and correctly; students presented difficulty regarding language use in all of the courses that they took that were offered in English or included an English component.