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- Creator:
- Blackwell, Hope
- Description:
- In my thesis exhibition, clandestine: conversations with a shadow, I render elements of my psyche to act as a window for the outside world, exploring the psychological concept of the shadow self. The concept of the shadow self, is a psychological archetype suggested in research conducted by psychologist Carl. The shadow self is understood to be the repressed unconscious of an individual that can manifest in feelings or thoughts that contradicts the character of an individual. The research of Jung was the foundation for this exhibition alongside my personal experience with the loss of my father. This exhibition consists of projected still images and videos that attempt to bring the shadow self and the exploration of loss out of the subconscious and into the physical world. I use lens-based media to record my body as the primary subject for this work. The gallery installation is meant to become the physical representation of my mind, where the shadow lives, creating an environment where viewers can encounter something that normally is not seen.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Art and Art History
- Creator:
- Aguiar, Stephanie
- Description:
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a disease that affects the normal growth of myeloid cells, which are blood cells that protect the body against foreign invaders in the blood and bone marrow. In humans, 95% of CML cases are caused by a chromosomal translocation that inappropriately links the breakpoint cluster region (BCR) to Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene-1 (ABL1), forming a mutant oncogene called BCR-ABL1 . A protein that physically interacts with BCR-ABL1 is growth receptor bound protein-2 (GRB2), an intracellular adaptor protein involved in cell growth and differentiation. Specifically, BCR-ABL1 binds to a region of GRB2 known as the SRC homology-2 (SH2) domain. This interaction transforms hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, initiating leukemic transformation. The current frontline therapy to treat CML is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib. Some patients have developed a resistance to imatinib, and thus the demand for additional anticancer drugs are needed. To prevent growth of CML cells, Dr. Arpin and her students of the CSU Chemistry and Biochemistry department created two novel SH2 antagonists (NHD2-15 and NHD2-114) and we tested their ability to prevent cell proliferation in the human BCR-ABL1 + K562 myelogenous leukemia cell line. The most significant growth reduction was observed 72 hours after the addition of 30 μM of NHD2 - 15. Furthermore, adding drugs combinatorially (60 μM NHD2-15, 30 μM NHD2-114, and 1 μM imatinib) to K562 cells showed over 2-fold growth reduction than with imatinib alone. To assess if these compounds are toxic to living organisms, we added the two compounds individually to the water of healthy adult zebrafish, and found that NHD2-15 was non-toxic. After using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) we also found that these two novel drugs exhibited prominent binding affinities to GRB2; NHD2-15 with K d = 119 ± 2 μM, and NHD2 - 114 with K d = 440 ± 7 μM (Lewis et al., in revision, 2019). Western blots were performed to determine the pathway these novel antagonists in fluence, and to ultimately indicate if these drugs stop cancerous cell proliferation via the Janus kinase signal transducer and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, as well as the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (M APK/PI3K) pathway. Results of western blotting indicated that the combinatorial treatments of both novel drugs reduces expression of proteins involved in both the JAK/STAT and MAPK/PI3K pathways, suggesting these compounds inhibit different target proteins within BCR-ABL+ cells to decrease leukemic cell proliferation. This research should provide an additional alternative treatment for patients who develop imatinib resistance.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Maxey, Tamara
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Anthropology
- Creator:
- Smart, Jay W.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Geosciences
5. A soft word
- Creator:
- Blank, Malinda
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Art
- Creator:
- Tjarks, Heyo
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Morgan, Jason P. T.
- Description:
- Summer camps in the US gross more than $18 billion in revenue while providing over 14,000 individual programs. Summer camp counselors, like other outdoor workers, are at risk of occupational solar exposure. Occupational solar exposure increases an individual’s lifetime accumulation of solar radiation, leading to skin damage and higher rates of skin cancer. This study fills a gap in the research about the sun protection behaviors of summer camp counselors and their attitude towards provision of sun protection for themselves and the campers in their care. Counselors’ usage of sun protection measures were found to be inadequate. Most counselors were either unprotected or under-protected from occupational solar exposure. Female counselors were significantly more likely to use sun protection measures and reported a higher desire to protect themselves and their campers from solar exposure. Counselors who used sun protection measures for themselves were significantly more likely to feel responsibility for protecting their campers from solar exposure. These findings suggest that summer camps are not adequately protecting their staff from occupational solar exposure. This leads to the conclusion that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is failing to hold summer camps accountable to protect this group of employees from a known workplace hazard. The findings have implications for hiring, training, and risk management practices at summer camps.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management
- Creator:
- Gradone, Dayne Anthony
- Description:
- Making sense of health practices requires attention to the lives and experiences of the individuals and collectivities involved in them, along with a basic understanding of the historical, sociocultural, political economic, and ecological contexts that structure and inform those practices and individuals. This applies to Iten, Kenya, a small town located in the western highlands of Kenya. Iten's plethora of both conventional health facilities and traditional herbalists, known as chepkerichinik, make it an intriguing place to study the interactions of traditional and western medicine. Based on four months of ethnographic fieldwork in Iten Kenya, this study explores the role chepkerichinik play as community healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, culture bearers, and the physical embodiments of Kalenjin tradition. Semi-structured interviews with sixteen Kalenjin herbalists reveal that chepkerichinik provide at least forty-two medical services to community members, and routinely base their treatments on herbal remedies that have been maintained in their families for multiple generations. The study concludes that chepkerichinik remain important purveyors of community healthcare, and provide services that not only address the major disease burdens of the community, but also "fill the gaps" where biomedical services are perceived to be the most deficient. Through describing the role of Kalenjin herbalists, the cultural contexts of their remedies, and the reality of interpenetrating medical pluralism, this work demonstrates the need for close, granular analyses of medical systems in an effort to understand the durability and mutability of tradition in the face of profound cultural changes.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Anthropology
- Creator:
- Flett, James "Saylor"
- Description:
- Vocational preparation programs in institutions of higher education aim to develop skill sets that transfer to participants post graduate experiences. The literature suggest that outdoor education programs aim to increase technical, interpersonal, and meta skills in its participants; however, few studies have included long-term, follow up assessments of college graduates from outdoor recreation experiential education programs to see if the learning outcomes are transferrable and long lasting. This research provides an analysis of the effectiveness of experiential education in higher education through looking at alumni from the Outdoor Recreation Leadership program at Feather River College. A mixed methods research approach, utilizing surveys and follow up interviews (N=73), is used to assess the impact of experiential education on program participants. The results of this study indicate that student alumni believe their experience at Feather River College positively prepared them for postsecondary education, employability and job decidedness, and transferrable skill development in their professional and personal postgraduate lives. It is evident from the data and emergent student narratives that the experiential education model used by the Outdoor Recreation Leadership program at Feather River College effectively serves ORL alumni in their post-graduation experiences. The knowledge gained from this study reveals that educators in institutions of higher education should carefully develop and intentionally integrate more experiential education practices into their programs and curriculum.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management
10. The effects of blood glucose concentration on decision making in the context of outdoor education
- Creator:
- Faris, Ellsworth, IV
- Description:
- It has been hypothesized that some accidents in the backcountry are due to individuals being hypoglycemic (low blood glucose concentration). Glucose is the brain’s main energy source. Without proper blood glucose concentrations, the brain’s functionality decreases. When this happens the ability to make decisions may be impaired. In outdoor education, instructors, students, and staff are actively involved in decision making which includes choices affecting the safety of themselves as well as others. The purpose of the study was to examine if blood glucose concentration affects the ability to make decisions in the context of outdoor education. The study was a blind randomized cross-over design in which half the subjects consumed a carbohydrate replacement beverage while the other half consumed artificially flavored water as a placebo. Six subjects participated in the study and hiked 10.2 miles with 25% of their body weight to simulate the activity of backpacking. During predetermined time intervals, the subjects would have their blood glucose concentration measured and performed a basic decision making test. The results of this study showed that drinking a carbohydrate replacement drink had a significant effect on blood glucose concentrations; however, it did not show that blood glucose concentration had an effect on decision making. Current literature supports that blood glucose concentration does have an effect on decision-making. Understanding the physiological impacts of blood glucose concentration in relation to decision making can further improve risk management practices of outdoor education programs.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Creator:
- Nielsen, Ryan
- Description:
- The area of study for this project is a microRNA called miR-375 which is overexpressed in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and has been linked to decreased insulin secretion and beta cell proliferation. Investigation into the transcription factor inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) as an intermediate regulator of miR-375 was proposed because both were found to be regulated by cAMP pathway. To investigate ICER’s binding affinity to the miR-375 promoter, a luciferase reporter assay was conducted. HEK-293T cells that were transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid containing a cAMP recognition element (CRE) and a plasmid driving the overexpression of ICER had a 75% decrease when compared to our control (p < 0.05). Additionally, ICER’s expression was measured in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293T) when co-transfected with a plasmid containing ICER and a small interfering RNA (siRNA) using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. A luciferase reporter assay showed a 13.1-fold increase from the miR-375 luciferase reporter plasmid containing the AP-1 promoter (p < 0.05). INS-1 cells that were transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid the miR-375 promoter and a plasmid driving the overexpression of ICER had no significant fold change when compared to the control (p > 0.05). The goal of this project was to test the potential binding and regulation of the miR-375 promoter by ICER. The findings that I made indicate that there is potential binding and further investigation into this area could lead to a better understanding of the cAMP dependent regulation mechanism of miR-375.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Biological Sciences
- Creator:
- Howell, Matthew
- Description:
- Proliferation of nuclear weapons is currently one of the most critical issues facing international relations. The region where this is currently of greatest concern is the Middle East. The Islamic Republic of Iran is an emerging regional power in the Middle East and has had an advanced nuclear weapons program. Iran's nuclear threat was supposed to be resolved with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), however the two main signatories, the US and Iran, have pulled out. Understanding the behavior of Iran and the situation with Iran's nuclear program is therefore of critical importance, which this thesis addresses through a review of contemporary international relations theory. Iran's behavior is clearly a pragmatic and survival based approach in reaction to Iran's environment, best explained by the offensive realism theory of John Mearsheimer in The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. This is proven by analyzing and comparing the behavior of Iran with the behavior of other states in a similar situation to Iran, within the framework of offensive realism. A case study of nuclear-armed states and other states in the region that have attempted to obtain nuclear weapons is used to review the variables that indicate which direction a rational state will take in the context of nuclear proliferation. It is determined that it is logical for Iran to pursue a nuclear deterrent, and this outcome should be expected and prepared for.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Political Science and Criminal Justice
13. Reasons to worry
- Creator:
- Allen, Ian T.
- Description:
- Reasons to Worry is a collection of short stories and flash fiction focused on the traditions of literary fabulism and speculative fiction. Their genres span across cyberpunk, gothic, folklore, science fiction, horror, magical realism, and cosmicism. Each narrative explores different aspects of anxiety, self-identity, and personal metamorphosis, often interweaving humor, satire, and hyperbole to emphasize these themes and to create undercurrents of meaning. Reasons to Worry also seeks to blur the lines between what is considered the real and the fantastic, posing the question of “what if?” and seeks to eventually supplant this speculation with the revelation of “what is.” The critical introduction of this project provides a deeper examination of its incorporated craft elements such as the strategic use of genre, subtlety, and form. It expands on these with examples supplemented by the works of Charles Baxter, Rob Davidson, Tara L. Masih, Herman Melville, Maria Romasco Moore, Annie Neugebauer, Virgilio Piñera, and Neal Stephenson. Additionally, it touches on a few of its methods of inspiration, revision, and the evolution of its overall style into its current iteration.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Cahill, Daniel
- Description:
- Our understanding of the contemporary museum is changing. Gone are the days of looking at the museum as a stuffy institution with glass cases, stanchions, and “don’t touch” signs. Today’s museums have become dynamic, interactive, and family-oriented centers of exploration and learning. Reflecting on the social change that surrounds them, museums have evolved alongside technology. Moore’s Law is a prediction and forecast that technology only moves forward, and doubles every year. Whether it is the number of circuit boards or memory, computers and technology are always pushing forward. This push is impacting museums across the world, calling for the integration of digital technologies in museum programming to offer new and exciting exhibitions, access to collections, and program incentives to their patrons. With these exciting changes to museums, there is a growing disparity between the application of technology in museums and what they provide as pedagogical tools for museum work and training. Many museums integrate new technologies, such as 3D scanning and Virtual Reality (VR) into exhibition and collection management work, digitally knocking down the four walls of the museum exhibit and bringing artifacts into the living room. While these technologies may stimulate museum patrons and speak directly to connecting museums to our current digital age, museums have failed to employ these technologies as pedagogical tools for museum training and project development. This thesis presents the use of 3D scanning coupled with Virtual Reality (VR) as a pedagogical tool for training future museum professionals - university museum studies students. Through the creation of a 3D previsualization of the exhibition space at the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology, at California State University, Chico, university students will have the capacity to intuitively and interactively develop new museum exhibition designs and layouts using virtual reality. The thesis articulates the development and applicability of using this previsualization technology to enhance knowledge of 3D scanning and VR and provide immersive learning experiences for university museum studies students. The thesis project demonstrates the utility in current digital technology as pedagogical tools to boost museum studies educational programs, training, and the future of museum development.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Creator:
- Jena, Sourav
- Description:
- Solar energy is amongst the fastest growing renewable energy source in the 21st century. The research and development of panel efficiency over the course of the last 40 years has proliferated the scale of photovoltaic (PV) systems to reach grid parity. The objective of this project is to address the energy crisis of a hospital that currently uses diesel generators as the sole source of electricity. To ameliorate the current operating condition, a 25 kW PV power plant is to be constructed in Ozu Abam, Nigeria. A comprehensive study on the fundamentals of PV systems is presented. This is followed by a design phase involving the investigation of PV system components that are available in the market. The implications of component selection have been analyzed and compared to present a viable solution.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Computer Science
- Creator:
- Tran, Tiffany L.
- Description:
- No abstract.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Social Work
- Creator:
- Smith, Jennifer L.
- Description:
- Touch the Stars/Touch the Earth is a collection of four short stories that explore themes of grief, death, loss and agency through the medium of fiction, specifically using the genres of fabulist and science fiction. Each story has a central theme of loss and a regaining of agency. Each story uses genre to get at issues that are utterly mundane: the loss of a loved one, feeling stagnant, the process of being depressed and possibly suicidal, an unwanted pregnancy. Prefacing these stories is a discussion dwelling on the influences, theories, and popular culture that have helped shape the creative work, in particular the writing of Ursula K. Le Guin, English folk ballad Tam Lin, and numerous discussions that have taken place both online and in the real world regarding representation and how diversity is echoed or not echoed in popular fiction.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Martinez, Zeth M.
- Description:
- The Cost of Freedom and Other Stories is a collection of interconnected fictional short stories that turn the internal conflict into a tangible obstacle the characters must overcome. By exploring themes of escapism, obsession, and toxic patterns, The Cost of Freedom and Other Stories takes a hybrid approach to the genres of Cyberpunk and Fabulist Fiction. This hybridity allows the fabulist elements to take on a more active role in the plot of the story. The critical introduction discusses the craft elements of defamiliarization and characterization as they explore the fabulist elements of the stories. The authors discussed in the critical introduction are Kôbô Abe, Charles Baxter, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Gloria Naylor, Marge Piercy, and Victor Shklovsky.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- January, Morgan P.
- Description:
- The proposed curriculum in this project combines the practices of journalism education, news media literacy, and 11th grade U.S. history. The journalism lessons and activities included in this curriculum are aligned with the standards and expectations of the California Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Common Core Standards. This project identifies the intuitively symbiotic relationship between journalism and history education. It uses that relationship to enhance levels of student engagement, academic achievement, and two aspects of civic engagement: current events knowledge and a desire to engage in civil discourse. It consists of lessons and activities that are organized into three sections: journalism writing, journalism in U.S. history, and a project that combines history and journalism practices. Ideally, teachers would select lessons from each section, but they do not have to in order to be effective. Additionally, lessons from each section do not have to be implemented in a specific order. These lessons and activities are designed to promote student choice, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application of the skills and knowledge acquired.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Social Work
- Creator:
- Arvikar, Anurag Yeshwant
- Description:
- The scarcity of electricity and the limited number of conventional energy resources are affecting the overall development of Nigeria. Renewable energy resources can meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity in urban and remote places in Nigeria. Solar energy is one of the excellent options for power generation. Solar energy is abundantly available and cost-efficient. The main aim of the project is to generate 5 kW of solar energy. The generated energy will power the lighting and cooling requirements for a clinic in Ozu Abam, Nigeria. The project provides a critical aspect of solar power plant design. The project includes a literature review and a survey of the existing technologies and the effects of external factors such as shading, soiling on the PV panels. Further, it explains the clinic load estimation, PV panel tilt angle calculations, effective insolation calculations, and the solar panel type required for the design. The selection of a fixed tilt angle of 5.33° for an entire year and the effective insolation of 684.02 W/m2 proved to accomplish the requirement of 5-kW power generation for the clinic usage.
- Resource Type:
- Project
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Computer Science
- Creator:
- Rougle, Wolfgang Davis
- Description:
- California has a grave fire deficit, threatening public safety and ecological integrity. Increasing prescribed fire is a state priority. Yet despite California’s rich history of community-based prescribed fire, today’s private landowners are not lighting the fires California needs. The reasons why are not well studied. This study explores the barriers private landowners encounter and the ways landowners have banded together to overcome them. It is the first study to survey the prescribed burn association (PBA) movement in California as a whole. Public administrators leading PBAs and several other private-lands burn groups are interviewed, and the groups’ administrative structures are compared. Also, motivated Butte County landowners are surveyed about barriers they have encountered to prescribed fire. Selected fire-relevant policies across the U.S. and the world are compared. Finally, policy recommendations are offered for public administrators seeking to increase prescribed fire on private lands in California. Previous research on impediments to prescribed fire has focused on public land managers or has been conducted outside of California. This study suggests California could increase prescribed fire on private lands by investing in PBAs, and also by creating a certified burner program that is equitable, accessible, and privileged with access to a gross negligence liability standard. These two approaches can be pursued simultaneously. Further research could explore how CAL FIRE public administrators could nurture community-based burn capacity, and how tribal burners and non-tribal landowners could work together to light more fires that have eco-cultural benefits.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Political Science and Criminal Justice
- Creator:
- Lee, Pei-Ying
- Description:
- ABSTRACT LANGUAGE POLICY IN TAIWAN: AGE AS A FACTOR OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION by Pei-Ying Lee Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Spring 2009 Age has been viewed as the most important factor of language acquisition in Taiwan, and it is also used as a slogan to attract parents to send their children to learn English at an earlier age. The theory of the Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) leads parents to believe that children should learn English as soon as possible or lose their advantages. Other factors such as motivation and environment have been ignored in considerations of language acquisition in Taiwan. Proponents of the CPH have argued that children who acquire a second language earlier can obtain native-like accents, but opponents stress that children perform better in second language acquisition once they already acquire their first language. In the last ten years, English language policy has been changed and revised, especially the official starting age of learning English in Taiwan. Before 2001, English vii was officially taught in seventh grade. Due to a high demand from the public, the Ministry of Education (MOE) decided to offer English instruction in the elementary schools. Related to the issues of English language policy in Taiwan are unqualified teachers, limited class time, inconsistent curriculum, limited teacher training and resources for rural areas. It is important to help children establish interests in learning English and the government should provide alternate ways for public to access English education, such as television program on public television service and internet resources.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Mireles, Gerardo E.
- Description:
- PRÉCIS This thesis is a study of the Mexican short story that reflects the Cristero Revolution between 1926-1929 and 1934-1941. The Cristero Revolution between Church and State takes place on two different occasions. The second revolution is a continuation of the first one, because achieving a resolution on the first conflict was not achieved on 1929. The first part of this thesis summarizes some of the major factors from a historical perspective that explains the 400 years of conflict between Church and State, until the first Cristero Revolution in 1926. It is not that there were no other conflicts between the church and state in Mexico before the Cristero Revolution, but it had never become an armed rebellion due to persecution on the part of the state. In the literary study, three short stories are analyzed to compare and contrast the literary as well as ideological differences between the short story from the Mexican Revolution and the short story from the Cristero Revolution: Dios en la tierra / God on Earth by José Revueltas (1944). It is a short story in position against the Cristero movement in the second rebellion. It is from the book by the same name, Dios en la tierra / God on Earth. La noche que lo dejaron solo / The night he was left alone by Juan Rulfo (1953). It is a short story in favor of the Cristero movement from the first rebellion. It is from the book, El llano en llamas / The fields of fire) y La otra mejilla / The Other cheek by Antonio Ávila-Hernández (2000) (short story in favor of Cristero movement from the first rebellion, it comes out of the vii book, Narrativa típica / Typical Narrative). This three authors offer a very good representation of the most common themes in the short story from the Cristero Rebellion. On the historical perspective, the critic Jean Meyer mentions how, since the arrival and conquest by the Europeans, church and state have been fighting each other for the power to control the millions of indigenous people on this continent. Very early in this history the Crown in Spain established laws limiting the amount of land own by the church. By 1735, the Crown of Spain had already established that no territories given to the conquerors could be passed on to the church. The Crown was trying to avoid having a Catholic Church with vast territories in the new lands. The complete separation of church and state comes in 1767, when more than 500 Jesuit priests were ordered to leave the territories and go back to Spain by the Viceroy on the New Spain. Some people revolted against the state, but there were no major attacks against the government. After the Mexican Independence, the liberal government enacted a new constitution in 1857, in which it was established that the government is a separate and independent entity from the church. Article 3 of the New Constitution eliminated the privileges of the church, and the authority of the church to hold special tribunals for the people. However, after the government realized that the new laws were not popular among the Christian citizens, it was decided not to implement most of these laws. The Government of President Plutarco Elias Calles decided to implement those laws in 1926; which is what lead to the Cristero Rebellion. The historical significance of this event for the Mexican literature is the literature starts to flourish like never before. The authors of the short stories created their viii own reality to reflect this period, who for the most part, were all children during the conflict. Therefore, these authors are trying to tell stories of the conflict they lived in their youth. The short story of the Cristero rebellion is defined by several unique characteristics that makes us to be able to separate this literature from that of the Mexican revolution. The historical period in which the short story of the Cristero Revolution occurs always makes reference to the presidency of Plutarco Elias Calles, the president in power during the persecution. In the short story of the Mexican Revolution, the historical references are most commonly associated with Pancho Villa, Emilano Zapata, and a few other heroes who have all die prior to the Cristero Revolution. The most recurrent themes in the short story from the Mexican Cristero Revolution are: religious persecution, torture, dehumanization, and war. The most common characters in this type of story are: the ordinary everyday Catholic Christian, religious authorities, and the Mexican army of the period. The combination of all of these literary themes and characters offers readers the unique literature of the common people who rises to fight back despite persecution by the government. These elements offer us a unique perspective on the Cristero Rebellion. Perhaps one of the most unique literary elements that characterize the short story from the Cristero Rebellion is the religious symbolism. Common symbols on this type of literature are: Good, Jesus, and the New and Old Testaments. There are frequent references of God. In the short story Dios en la tierra, the author Jose Revueltas mentions God twenty one times, and this is a short story against the ideals of the Cristero ix movement. References to the Old Testaments are made by the authors to point out the God who is on the side of those who worship Him. The New Testament is used to show opposition to God, who wants peace and harmony among all of his people. In the short story of the Mexican Revolution, references to God are made only occasionally. In these references the characters are asking God to protect them from being killed in the conflict. The environment in which these stories happen is also limited. The Cristero Rebellion only took place in the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Durango, and Nayarit. Therefore, these are the only areas where we can find the setting for these stories. The Mexican Revolution was a war that extended itself throughout the entire Mexican nation. Therefore, the setting for the short stories from this period can take place in any part of Mexico. The short stories that were analyzed reflect the differences between the short story from the Cristero Revolution and the short story from the Mexican revolution. These two Revolutions have given Mexico a wealth of literary work. However, as mentioned before, each one has specific characteristics. It is these characteristics that allow us to be able to separate the short story of the Cristero Rebellion from the short story of the Mexican Revolution.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Ito, Kotoe
- Description:
- ABSTRACT LIFE IN JAPAN DURING WORLD WAR II: A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY FOR JAPANESE LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS by © Kotoe Ito 2010 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Summer 2010 This project focuses on incorporating a social and cultural history of World War II into the Japanese language classroom. The failure to make connections to tragic historical events in language classrooms may be rooted in difficulties in presentation, lowered motivations of learners and the lack of unbiased materials. This project highlights the advantages of overcoming these obstacles while maintaining the foreign language standards. Leading students to make connections between the past and future can open minds to the peace movement. For students, learning about the target culture through historical events and comparing the products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture with their own are essential to cultural learning in foreign language classrooms. This project will reduce the teachers’ preparation time and encourage Japanese language teachers to present the perspectives of Japanese people on WWII, giving learners the opportunity to learn more about the target language, culture, and people. A review of the literature related to the issues of incorporating a social and cultural history of WWII in foreign language instruction shows that lack of resources and teachers’ negative attitudes about incorporating a social and cultural history of WWII are some of the obstacles. The benefits of incorporating a social and cultural history of WWII events into foreign language classrooms include making connections to other disciplines, allowing students to make comparisons with their own culture, and learning about the relationship of the products, practices, and perspectives in the target culture. The appendices offer Japanese language teachers cultural products for teaching the social and cultural history of WWII. These include eight different categories of cultural products: literature, broadcast media, newspaper, advertisement, songs and music, film, and arts and crafts. Each product suggests targeted proficiency and appropriate age groups. The project’s efficient outline reduces the time required to find resources, identify the national and state standards, and address five dimensions of culture. For each cultural product, sample activities are matched with the standards, providing opportunities for students to learn more about the perspectives of the target culture and community. Rubrics for the assessment of learners’ speaking and writing skills, and information on graphic organizers for use in suggested activities are also included.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Wildhaber, Steven Paul Jr.
- Description:
- ABSTRACT KINESTHETIC TEAMBUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR A GERMAN FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSROOM by Steven Paul Wildhaber, Jr. Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Summer 2010 As a handbook, this project offers German language teachers at the university- level the theory, methodology, and practices for the integration of an experiential approach to language teaching. By adapting the community-building methods and practices developed by Adventure Educators, kinesthetic teambuilding activities provide meaningful opportunities for foreign language application. Current research in the field of Foreign Language Education (FLE) suggests the need for a paradigm shift in the relationships between learner, teacher and content based on an experiential approach. However, to date there are few concrete methods for such a transition in FLE. Additional research reveals a strong correlation between the use of kinesthetic teaching practices, such as Total Physical Response (TPR) and language acquisition. Yet beyond TPR there remains a gap in concrete methods for the activation of the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence as defined by Multiple Intelligence Theory. As a result of the integration this project aims to: lower anxiety associated with the learning process through teambuilding, provide a wide variety of activities that activate the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, inspire students' intrinsic motivation to learn German as well as a sense of accountability for personal behavior and the attainment of community learning objectives, and lastly to provide students the opportunity to process learning through facilitated reflection in the target language, which is a significant step toward a fully experiential approach to foreign language learning.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
26. Converging a Graduate TESOL Certificate Program into an Online Environment: An Action Research Study
- Creator:
- Murillo Leon, Susana
- Description:
- ABSTRACT CONVERGING A GRADUATE TESOL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM INTO AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT: AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY by Susana Mercedes Murillo León Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Summer 2009 E-learning is a popular educational tool used by students throughout the world. It provides students online access to traditional face-to-face course offerings. This thesis addresses how to converge face-to-face courses into effective online courses. It examines a variety of components, such as the use of tools in Blackboard (WebCT) Vista, the roles of instructors and students in a computer-based setting, the use of different strategies and techniques for special need students using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) paradigm, and the pros and cons of online and face-to-face courses. This study also offers guidelines for a five-hour training session for faculty based on e-learning design, evaluation and netiquette. Twenty-five students in a graduate course participated in an online learning module that included individual and group tasks. A survey was used to evaluate their responses to the module. A Technology and Learning xi Program (TLP) expert extensively evaluated the online course. He offered suggestions for improving the application of e-learning design, and use of the UDL. Results from the survey, the IT’s evaluation, and theory analysis, provided insights and revealed how diverse students react differently to an online setting. Overall, this study presents a framework on how online learning affects students socially, economically and culturally, and how this educational approach enables faculty, students, and institutions to remain competitive.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Medlin, Laura
- Description:
- ABSTRACT ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (ESP): NURSING IN THE U.S. HOSPITAL by © Laura Medlin 2009 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Fall 2009 Advances in medical technology have increased the human life span, and as elderly populations increase, so will jobs in healthcare. Unable to find a book specifically targeting American English for nursing, this need has been met by designing material for nurses and language instructors. The project provides a general overview of the workplace setting and review of the literature organized around three areas: English for specific purposes, hospital language, and cultural aspects of patient care. Within these three areas, the topics of content-based language instruction and learner motivation, medical terminology and abbreviations, and how cultural background can influence a person’s response to illness and hospitalization are addressed. There is a review of six books related to medical English and English for nurses and healthcare professionals. Most of these books are designed for physicians, and emphasize British English. This project involves the creation of a prototype for a handbook on teaching American Hospital English to nurses and other healthcare professionals who are not native speakers of English. The handbook consists of ten chapters on the topics of body systems, patient care, weights and measures, a glossary of terms, a Basic Life Support lesson plan, medical transcription templates, the nursing process, patient privacy and the legal language of healthcare, recommended resources, and a reader questionnaire. A preliminary section addresses the needs of instructors by outlining information on meeting state and national standards for English as a second language and foreign language instruction. Suggestions for further research and reference tools are also included.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Alsadah, Huda Abdullah
- Description:
- For ESL/EFL students to develop a more complete knowledge of the target language, they must also possess general knowledge of the culture as well. The information in this thesis does not only apply to successfully learning a new language, but to other subjects as well. Education is the foundation for success in today’s world. This is dependent on the quality, not quantity of education that is available. A student can learn the grammar and vocabulary, but will not be able to have functional conversations with native speakers without learning about the culture. Without the use of authentic materials and the teaching of culture, students will never fully grasp the language. In this thesis, I will identify how students can understand and accept that there are different ways to view the world, and other people’s actions and behaviors. Through education we can work towards the goal of globalization and bridging the international communication gap. In order to bridge intercultural gaps, we need to focus on the development of language education. In particular, we need to focus on learning the cultures of the foreign languages we strive to acquire. Knowledge of the language as well as culture will help us to bridge the gaps in the international community. Without the knowledge and skills, Saudi Institutes, and instructors will not be able to teach the English language effectively or efficiently; students will not get the rich, culturally complete knowledge of the target language.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Cairns-Stephens, Patricia
- Description:
- By addressing language acquisition and reading theory, the value of receptive input a first language (L1) provides and its significance to literacy within a family of incompatible modals (e.g., hearing parents and hearing-impaired child) was underscored. The author’s primary purpose was to foster hearing parents’ confidence in learning beginning American Sign Language (ASL), encourage them to be better firstlinguistic teachers, and raise awareness to the importance parental support plays in the emerging literacy of a hearing-impaired child through vocabulary and phrases used from popular children’s books. The vehicle used to accomplish the author’s objectives, an interactive website, was done in cooperation with a literacy program entitled The Shared Reading Project through Gallaudet University’s Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. Intended as a resource to bridge the gap between the beginning level of a hearing parent’s needs and the advanced level presented on the signed tapes, the website serves as a key to children’s books and corresponding DVDs/tapes by providing an English- ASL pictorial glossed translation. Hyperlinks allow the user to access explanations and give insight into contrastive linguistics of both languages. Establishing that ASL is a natural language, the principles of bilingualism apply supporting cognitive, social, and linguistic growth. Research revealed a direct correlation between improved literacy and school progress when there was strong receptive and expressive vocabularies in both languages. Often referred to as the Matthew effect, research further revealed that a diminished linguistic foundation lead to an educational gap that cannot be closed between the poor reader and the more proficient peer.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Lodi, Rose-Marie
- Description:
- ABSTRACT LA FRANCE ET LE MAGHREB (L’ALGÉRIE, LA TUNISIE, LE MAROC): PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES ET VALEURS CULTURELLES by Rose-Marie Lodi Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Summer 2010 Le grand nombre d’immigrés musulmans en France est la source d’une tension importante et de différents conflits qui troublent les relations entre les Français et les Maghrébins depuis longtemps. Les populations sont diverses et l’intégration de ces derniers ne va pas sans embûches. En France, les immigrés habitent dans la banlieue des grandes villes, surtout celles de Paris, et sont mal intégrés dans la société. La pauvreté, le chômage et la violence en sont caractéristiques. Les Musulmans disent qu’ils sont victimes de racisme et se plaignent de ne pas avoir autant de possibilités d’éducation et de travail que les Français. L’Etat français est neutre et laïque, et n’est pas compatible avec les pratiques religieuses musulmanes. La loi donne aux écoles le devoir d’éduquer les élèves, tout en xiii les protégeant des influences extérieures, y compris les associations politiques et religieuses. En France, la religion est personnelle, et interdite dans le système scolaire. Les Musulmans ont du mal à obtenir leurs droits religieux car ils manquent d’infrastructure centrale pour rejoindre les différents groupes. L’Islam n’est pas une religion centralisée comme l’Eglise catholique à Rome. Les Français s’attendent à ce que les immigrés assimilent leur mode de vie et délaissent leur identité culturelle. Pour s’adapter à la culture française, il faut adopter ses coutumes et s’y intégrer. La France n’est pas une société qui accepte la manifestation de différences culturelles en public. Sa discrimination envers ces principes est rigide. De plus, les Français ont une mauvaise perception des Musulmans parce qu’ils associent l’Islam avec la violence. On reproche également aux Musulmans leur traitement inégal des femmes car elle est radicale et ne suit pas la devise de la France : liberté, égalité et fraternité. En France, où l’Etat et l’Eglise sont séparés, on voit une opposition contre l’expression publique des affiliations religieuses; on s’attend à ce qu’ils ne pratiquent pas la religion dans l’espace public. Les Français et les Maghrébins n’ont pas la même histoire; leurs mentalités divergent. Le résultat est trop souvent la peur, le racisme et l’intolérance.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Goekler, Jamie Louise
- Description:
- ABSTRACT UCHI-SOTO (INSIDE-OUTSIDE): LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN CONTEXT FOR THE JAPANESE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (JFL) LEARNER by © Jamie Louise Goekler 2010 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Fall 2010 Japanese as a Foreign Language (JFL) learners have frequently been exposed to learning materials which are neither contextualized culturally nor linguistically from the target language perspective. This research review addresses the cultural and communicative gaps which exist in many JFL textbooks and enhances JFL students’ awareness of similarities and differences between the Japanese culture and their own. To teach JFL from an emic perspective, teachers must first provide students with cultural and communicative content that matches target culture and linguistic norms; students must come to recognize the meaning of uchi (insider) and soto (outsider) if they are to communicate from an insider perspective. This body of research provides information on cultural, linguistic, and paralinguistic factors essential to communicative competence x in Japanese. This information will help JFL students develop communicative competence by becoming linguistic and cultural insiders, viewing Japanese from an emic perspective. Students will also learn about the implications of insider relationships and how they influence language and social relations. This research details uchi-soto relationships, hierarchy, honorific language use, communication styles and strategies, gendered language, and aidzuchi (Japanese discourse markers and techniques).
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Donaldson, Rebekah
- Description:
- ABSTRACT TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGE CONVERSATION: A CONVERSATION NORMS APPROACH by © Rebekah M. Donaldson 2011 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Spring 2011 Being able to converse is an essential part of a complete foreign language education. However, the teaching of conversation is often equated with the teaching of speaking, leaving language learners unprepared for target language interaction with members of the target culture. A Conversation Norms Approach to teaching conversation incorporates aspects of authentic native speaker (or expert speaker) conversation, such as spoken grammar and pragmatics, into instruction. This paper takes a closer look at conversation and its pedagogic history, and examines issues connected with the effective teaching of conversation. An informal inquiry of the foreign language conversation classroom also provides insight into the reality of teaching and allows for a practical application of the theory found in the literature.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
33. Learning Strategies Use by International Students from Taiwan in a University Context: A Case Study
- Creator:
- Wu, I-Ju
- Description:
- ABSTRACT LEARNING STRATEGIES USE BY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM TAIWAN IN A UNIVERSITY CONTEXT: A CASE STUDY by ©I-Ju Wu 2011 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Summer 2011 There are increasing numbers of international students from Taiwan who choose to advance their higher education and English learning in the United States. However, the academic language that is required in the university classroom is more cognitively demanding than the proficiency level the Taiwanese students develop through prior English education. Therefore, this study addresses the academic challenges that international students face in American universities. It examines how they overcome these challenges, the language learning strategies they use and their effectiveness. This study investigates the use of language learning strategies and their use in academic learning by six Taiwanese international students at CSU, Chico. Like previous studies, the results show some similar patterns of learning strategy use among participants. The participants frequently use compensation, cognitive, and metacognitive strategies to support their academic learning, but use fewer memory and affective strategies at the university level. However, each participant had different past learning experiences, motivations and academic difficulties which interacted with their strategy use. The findings suggest that learners, instructors, and administrators of language institutes should emphasize learning strategy training in order to support the increasing numbers of international students from Taiwan. The instructors and administrators in universities within the United States should also address international students’ difficulties in academic learning and take steps to facilitate their success.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Alsheail, Abdulrahman
- Description:
- ABSTRACT TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND/FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN A UBIQUITOUS LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: A GUIDE FOR ESL/EFL INSTRUCTORS by © Abdulrahman Alsheail 2010 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Spring 2010 The goal of this project is to design a guide for teaching English as a Second/ Foreign Language in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment. At the beginning of the project, different aspects related to ESL/EFL education were explored. First, the definitions of Ubiquitous Learning and Ubiquitous Learning Environment were explored and discussed and new definitions provided. The term “Ubiquitous Learning Materials” was also introduced and defined. In addition, the characteristics of Ubiquitous Learning Environment were examined and discussed. The effects of using new technologies in teaching ESL/EFL was also explored, and the project that applied a Ubiquitous Learning Environment to teach languages is examined and discussed. Moreover, several ix educational theories were selected and investigated to build the theoretical foundation for TESL/TEFL in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment. The methodology examines the evolution of TESL/TEFL in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment from a basic idea to classroom application. The result is a guide for TESL/TEFL in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment. The guide includes specific steps and instructions that enable ESL/EFL instructors teach ESL/EFL courses to adults in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Rahmonova, Tojiniso
- Description:
- ABSTRACT LITERACY IN TAJIKISTAN: CHALLENGING UNESCO’S HIGH LITERACY RATES FOR TAJIKISTAN by © Tojiniso Rahmonova 2009 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Fall 2009 Research has shown that the literacy rate in Tajikistan has been going up since 2002, following the stabilization of conflict that continued after the end of the civil war in 1997. The current state of education in Tajikistan is dire, and educational resources are scarce. The International Crisis Group’s report contends that Tajikistan is a potential “failed state,” which contrasts sharply with a literacy rate of 99.6% reported by UNESCO and the government of Tajikistan. This research will investigate why the high literacy rates claimed by the government of Tajikistan cannot be accurate. Specifically, this study will challenge the unreliability of the figures published by UNESCO, which are based on government statistics. There are political, economic, social, and cultural factors that hinder the development of literacy in Tajikistan. This paper urges both the international community and citizens of Tajikistan to make efforts towards maintaining the high literacy rates enjoyed during Soviet times, and not to wait until the outcomes are irreversible. Tajikistan is already 10-15 years behind in achieving literacy targets due to civil war and its aftermath. Literacy rates need to be improved from existing levels, rather than continuing to drop.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Chung, Hwa-Su
- Description:
- vii ABSTRACT TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN KOREA by Hwa-Su Chung Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Spring 2011 The desire to educate students in English is very strong in Korea. English proficiency is not only a language skill, but also a compulsory element to live as an independent citizen in Korea. Through analyzing of research studies, this study points out identification, the Response to Intervention model, and building an interactive learning environment. These concepts are required for teaching a foreign language, English as a second language, or English as a foreign language to students with special needs. This study also reveals that English education for students with special needs in Korea focuses on fostering communicative competence. Further, it is revealed that most of Korean students with special needs are in physically inclusive settings, but not in instructionally inclusive settings for English education. In this study, recommendations are provide for general and special education teachers, parents, and administrators to teach students with special needs English as a foreign language.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Wangkijchinda, Kornvadee
- Description:
- ABSTRACT DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE: A GUIDE FOR ENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN THAILAND by Kornvadee Wangkijchinda Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Spring 2011 Today's rapid globalization brings people closer together. People from different sociocultural backgrounds adjust to fulfill their needs to become interculturally competent due to the challenges of global competitiveness, including education. Thai people still maintain their strong traditional culture and values with their own notion of communicative competence, harmonious hierarchy relationships based on collectivism and non-confrontation. This paper highlights aspects of Thai cultural values and Buddhist religion that may influence Thai students' behaviors and attitudes in Thailand. Being obedient, friendly and respectful to teachers are characteristics of Thai students' learning behavior. However, Thai learners are also regarded as passive and shy learners who are reluctant to ask questions (non-risk takers) for fear of being wrong and embarrassed. Without an understanding of intercultural awareness and knowledge, such behaviors may lead to frustration and negative cultural stereotyping in language classrooms in which foreign EFL teachers as well as Thai learners come from different cultural backgrounds. Understanding the learners' culture, therefore, is essential for the improvement of instructional methods as part of English language pedagogy. This thesis looks at Thai learners' cultural backgrounds and how culture influences their learning behaviors and attitudes in order to identify appropriate teaching approaches that suit Thai learners' needs and preferences. Conclusions from the research suggest that in order to help Thai students become successful intercultural communicators, they need to develop a notion of communicative competence that includes using social networks as a supplemental tool in class to reduce shyness and intimidation. The design of effective weblog tools along with the development of collaborative social networks allow Thai students to express themselves clearly and properly, as well as create a positive attitude toward learning English. Use of weblog tools can also foster self-regulated lifelong learning which is considered to be the heart of Thailand's new education reform with the aim of developing Thailand into a knowledge-based economy and society.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Mwema, Kazembe
- Description:
- RÉSUMÉ L’IMPACT DE LA COLONISATION SUR LA CULTURE KONGOLAISE by Kazembe Fredecode Mwema Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Summer 2011 On ne parle pas de l’impact de la colonisation sans faire une introspection de la genèse de l’histoire du peuple Kongolais. Ainsi, cet exposé essaie d’examiner les faits et les méfaits de la découverte et colonisation du Kongo. Il propose que les colonisateurs avaient une conception erronée du peuple Kongolais et sa culture. En outre, souvent ils ignoraient toutes les structures sociopolitiques des autochtones pour exécuter leurs objectifs mal intentionnés: d’occuper et s’enrichir au détriment des indigènes. Ceci est un point fondamental de tous les maux que traversent le Kongo et son peuple aujourd’hui. En plus, les Kongolais avaient contribué aussi à ces maux d’une part et d’autres. Pour explorer ces constatations, cette thèse examine quatre périodes principales de l’histoire Kongolaise: La période précoloniale. Le processus de la colonisation. La prise de conscience et la lutte pour l’indépendance. Les chaos perpétuels: immaturité politique. La thèse prend en considération les royaumes—notamment Kongo, Kuba, Luba, et Lunda—qui jouent un rôle primordial. Ces derniers avaient une structure sociopolitique bien organisée, et étaient parmi les premiers d’avoir contact avec les colonisateurs occidentaux. Ces contacts font des impacts sur la civilisation des indigènes. Les coutumes des indigènes étaient arriérées, et la culture occidentale était “un signe d’évolution culturelle.” Finalement, cette thèse propose que pour une construction effective du pays, en est que les Kongolais connaissent leur passé, pardonnent, et ne retombent pas dans les mêmes erreurs, tout en tendant une main forte vers l’Occident. Ceux sont les seuls moyens de s’en guérir du passé et reconstruire les structures culturelles qui étaient annihilées. Note aux lecteurs: la République Démocratique du Congo est nommée après le royaume Kongo que les explorateurs ont rencontré. Mais le nom était changé au Congo par les colonisateurs. Vous allez noter dans cette thèse l’usage du mot Kongo au lieu du Congo.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Bashaikh, Abeer Abdulrahim
- Description:
- ABSTRACT THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING CULTURE IN ENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS by Abeer Abdulrahim Bashaikh Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Fall 2011 The culture of Saudi Arabia is a mystery to the world and what is known about Saudi Arabia is often what people have surmised through their own culture. Saudi students miss the opportunity to be effective ambassadors for Saudi Arabia and Islam by being unable to change the mistaken impressions until they have learned English well enough to communicate the beauty of the Saudi and Islamic cultures. In this thesis, I identify one of the key reasons that Saudi students are unable to communicate effectively; the American culture is not a part of the language learning process and curriculum in Saudi Arabia. This thesis surveys the scholarly literature of English Language Teaching (ELT) and determines that the lack of culture is the primary reason for students not learning the English language sufficiently to enter university courses despite years of study of the English language. Teaching language without culture is like teaching the alphabet without the vowels; the students will learn some things but not enough to make the language useful. The consensus is clear that culture is the essential element in language learning, and its absence in the Saudi curriculum is why miscommunication continues, preventing the American people a better understanding of and appreciation for Saudi Arabia and Islam.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
40. A Critical Approach to Understanding ESL Learners' Expectations and Preferences in Tutoring Writing
- Creator:
- Quinley, Stephanie
- Description:
- ABSTRACT A CRITICAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING ESL LEARNERS‟ EXPECTATIONS AND PREFERENCES IN TUTORING WRITING by © Stephanie A. Quinley Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Fall 2011 Despite the increasing prevalence of English-as-a-Second-Language writing centers on university campuses, there is a lack of research addressing the cultural implications of tutoring students from other countries. This study aims to contribute to the research base by taking a critical look at tutoring Chinese and Saudi Arabian international students in writing, with the theoretical basis that their expectations and preferences of tutoring composition are influenced by the rhetoric and discourse styles of their home countries. From a review of the literature, hypotheses of the two culture groups‟ expectations and preferences are drawn. Actual student input is then collected and analyzed through a written questionnaire. The comparison-contrast of the literature and data reveal a mismatch between the expected outcomes and actual student input, indicating that the two culture groups are open to a „Western‟ approach to tutoring.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Lance, Tomoko S.
- Description:
- The Japanese language has an abundance of onomatopoeic and mimetic expressions. Native speakers use this unique feature of the language frequently. However, in the reading of Japanese authentic materials, such as literature, newspapers and advertisements, many intermediate to advanced JFL students are unable to understand the meaning of onomatope. The purpose of this project is to provide Japanese as a foreign language (JFL) teachers and students effective and easy-to-use teaching materials focusing on onomatope, presented through the use of authentic cultural products such as literature, music and song, newspapers, and advertisements. Commonly used and highly functional onomatope words, phrases, and expressions are presented with abundant examples of English translations. Useful resources are listed to facilitate selection of materials. This project focuses on teaching Japanese onomatopoetic and mimetic words in JFL classrooms, using Japanese cultural products. Depicting not only various sounds and voices produced by animated beings and inanimate objects, Japanese onomatopoeias and mimesis also describe “non-audible” situations, such as appearance, scenes, and psychological states of living things, including humans and animals. This type of lexicon is not adequately addressed in JFL classrooms, despite its unique and effective functions (mainly as adverbs), and frequent use in daily life. Japanese onomatope have rich and unique cultural and linguistic elements. By learning onomatope via authentic materials, such as the cultural products introduced in the appendices of this project, JFL learners can more effectively acquire onomotope in a natural way. When JFL students acquire this important linguistic aspect of language, they are able to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture, and develop more native-like, natural expressions and communicative competence.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Milosevic, Rebecca D.
- Description:
- This study analyzed the Voice Onset Time (VOT) production of six early sequential Spanish-English bilinguals. In this study, the VOT values for Spanish and English word-initial stops /b d g/ are compared to monolingual ranges for Spanish and English. All of the subjects had first learned Spanish at home and were not exposed to English until they were three to five years old. The subjects completed a language experience questionnaire in which they reported English as their dominant language. The amount of Spanish (L1) use was also reported. The major aim of this study was to determine whether the bilinguals produce language specific differences for the word-initial stops in their two languages. Language interaction was also considered as a possible outcome in a secondary analysis which considered the effects of two factors: language dominance and language use. x The VOT values were measured and analyzed in order to determine if subjects were able to keep their two languages separate or if language interaction was present in their productions. Statistical analysis was also performed in order to determine whether subjects were more accurate in their dominant language (English) than Spanish, as well as to see if VOT production differed significantly based on varying amounts of L1 use. In general, the results show that the subjects’ performance significantly differed in their Spanish and English VOT production for word-initial stops /b d g/. Closer examination of the individual productions revealed that language interaction was present in both languages. Language dominance was found to be an influential factor in the subjects’ VOT production, with a significantly higher percentage of accurate English productions than Spanish productions. Amount of L1 use was also found to be significant in the Low L1 use group. These subjects produced significantly different VOT values in Spanish than the subjects with moderate and high amounts of Spanish (L1) use. Implications of the findings in this study are intended to contribute to the area of early sequential bilingual phonology with a focus on Spanish and English VOT production. Moreover, this study is an exploration of the causes and effects of language interaction in bilingual VOT production. This study should provide insight into factors other than age that influence bilingual pronunciation, such as language dominance and language use.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Viciana, Elizabeth
- Description:
- Given the current demographic profile for Hispanics in the United States, academic underachievement is of increasing concern. This study investigates factors that promote and impede academic achievement of Hispanic students of Mexican ancestry in postsecondary education. Chapter 1 highlights the research questions used to guide this study: (1) What does research reveal about the relationship of the living conditions, traditions, and habits of Hispanic students of Mexican ancestry and their educational attainment?; (2) What does research reveal about the key socio-cultural factors that keep at- risk students of Mexican ancestry from getting a college education?; (3) What does research reveal about key factors in the K-12 educational systems that contribute to underachievement?; and (4) What does research identify as key features of successful educational programs implemented for students of Mexican ancestry at the community college level? In responding to these questions, the study emphasizes the social, economic, cultural, and educational factors that affect Hispanics living in northern California. It addresses educational attainment as it relates to living conditions, with an emphasis on home and family, and focuses on social mobility, cultural capital and class stratification. The study then highlights conditions in the K-12 that contribute to underachievement, and addresses successful practices and program characteristics.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Altawil, Abdulmohsin Nasser
- Description:
- Online learning is still emerging in Saudi Arabian universities. The literature review in this study showed the educational and cultural backgrounds that Saudi students have. The literature review also showed the seven generally used components of online learning. This study is an attempt to investigate the Saudi Arabian students’ perceptions of online learning, specifically regarding the seven components. This study investigates the questions of: What are Saudi Arabian students’ perceptions of online learning, specifically regarding seven generally used components? To what extent do Saudi ESL students perceive these components to help or hinder them in their fully online courses at the university level? Finally, to what extent do Saudi students believe online learning can be successfully applied in Saudi Arabia? A survey with 30 likert-scale questions was created by using SurveyMonkey. The survey was piloted by using the Cognitive Interviews, and then posted in Saudi students’ Facebook groups and also on my personal Twitter account to get as many participants as possible. The data were collected after three weeks, and 709 participants completed the whole survey. The data were carefully analyzed, and some recommendations were suggested.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Marinescu, Tiberiu Dan
- Description:
- As a high school foreign language teacher in California, I am a first-hand witness to the rapid transformation the traditional teaching environment is undergoing. After experiencing classroom size increases, certified and classified staff reductions, lay-offs, lack of adequate budgeting for classroom resources I had become a little disillusioned with my job and the support I received as an educator. My desire to change things and to develop professionally as a language teacher gave birth to the idea for my dissertation. The current project is a compilation of five lessons intended for use in a virtual environment at a high school level. The lessons are adapted from a traditional curriculum and designed to meet the needs of students that attend classes online.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Romanowich, Erina
- Description:
- The Japanese language is often described as subtle and vague by non-native Japanese speakers. Even simple Japanese sentences can cause difficulty for non-native Japanese speakers. One reason for this difficulty may be differences in the cognitive process of verbalization. Specifically, there are different roles for speakers and listeners in Japanese and English. Unlike English, native Japanese speakers prefer using monologue type communication that often omits subjects and objects. Thus, non-native Japanese speakers have difficulty decoding native Japanese communication. In addition, non-native Japanese speakers lack knowledge about how native Japanese speakers capture and verbalize certain situations. A textbook analysis reveals that three current Japanese textbooks do not adequately address these two important cognitive linguistic differences between Japanese and English. Without proper explanation and application of these cognitive linguistic concepts, developing natural Japanese is difficult.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Obermiller, Ruby Frances
- Description:
- This project suggests an integration of English composition and ESL writing research and developments, in order to come closer to meeting the needs of multilingual learners in the first-year academic writing classroom. ESL writing research has provided invaluable insight into the specific discourses within academia and it is imperative for instructors of first-year academic writing to be well-acquainted with this research. However, English composition has recently revealed the social, cultural, and political implications of asking multilingual students to orient themselves to these specific discourses of academia. Currently, English composition suggests ways in which these implications can be addressed in the academic writing classroom in order to make the process of orienting themselves to the academic discourse community less difficult for multilingual learners. Therefore, through this project and concurrent curriculum guide, I establish the ways in which the research and developments of ESL writing and English composition have attempted to meet the needs of multilingual learners in the past and also suggest the ways in which these two fields should be integrated in the future, in order to provide a more holistic approach to teaching first-year academic writing and come closer to meeting needs of multilingual learners.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- White, Julie A.
- Description:
- This project facilitates and encourages the teaching of Basque culture in the secondary Spanish classroom by providing teachers with easily accessible materials that they can use to plan lessons to incorporate this important regional culture of Spain. The cultural products comprising the project are appropriate for the high school setting in that they meet the language proficiency needs of Stage II, III, and IV language learners, as defined by the World Language Content Standards for California Public Schools. A review of the literature analyzing the inclusion of culture in foreign language textbooks reveals the fragmented, inaccurate, or missing cultural content in the majority of textbooks analyzed. This missing component provides justification for this project and establishes the need for ancillary materials to help teachers accurately and appropriately teach culture. Cultural products present information through native eyes. They include: literature, the broadcast media, newspapers, advertising, song and music, film, and information and communications technologies (ICT). The products in this project represent these categories, and are aligned with the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. Each product presents an important element of Basque culture through the Spanish language, whether it be products, practices, communities, perspectives, or persons. To reinforce key themes, the products are also paired with a reading from the textbook, Orhipean: El País de Euskara. The goals of the project include enhancing teacher preparation and promoting the incorporation of Basque culture into the Spanish language curriculum. Therefore, accompanying each cultural product is a compilation of suggested classroom activities that allow and encourage students to interact with the material. Aligned with state and national standards, these activities will assist teachers with lesson planning and implementation. Finally, an additional opportunity for learning about the Basque language is provided in Appendix B.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Tavano, Bryce
- Description:
- Last year, the enrollment of international students in American universities hit an all-time high. Unable to find a book specifically targeting academic English for finance, this need has been met by designing material for students and language instructors. The project reports a corpus-based lexical study of university finance textbooks. The study resulted in the first Financial Academic Corpus and Financial Academic Word List. The word list identifies the most frequently used academic words in university finance texts, and accounts for 13.51% of the texts under study. These words are crucial for any English language learner who plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in finance at an American University. This project involves the creation of a guide for teaching financial academic vocabulary to students that are not native speakers of English. The guide covers the topics of vocabulary development and teaching, and demonstrates how to effectively implement the Financial Academic Word List into a curriculum. The guide includes the Financial Academic Word List, recommended resources, and an intensive four-week course in financial academic English. The course includes a syllabus, unit overviews, and five lesson plans.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Creator:
- Beecroft, Maria A.
- Description:
- There has been increasing incidence and awareness of autism spectrum disorders in recent years. Improved outcomes due to early intervention and continued assistance throughout the school years have created the need for ongoing support for adults on the autism spectrum. Recent advances in computer technology and understanding of the human brain offer the possibility that specific computer based training may provide a cost effective means to deliver this necessary support. The affinity of individuals with autism towards all things computer combined with the limited side effects and availability anywhere, anytime, are a winning combination. This case study examined to what extent, if any, training software produces improvements in the language and social skills of a bilingual, young adult who has autism. Primary focus was on working memory, sequencing, and facial recognition. This study involved pre and post testing, using real-world tasks, to measure the effects of using the Posit Science computer based training programs designed to improve language and social skills. Results suggest that computer based training was beneficial for the participant in these areas. Previous research conducted in this field has been encouraging, but limited in scope or generalized from individuals with related neurological conditions. More research is needed in this area and it is recommended that software designed specifically for individuals with autism be developed and used. Larger populations and longer time commitments are also necessary to determine if programs like this could be beneficial for other individuals on the autism spectrum.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico