"In-Between" English and Spanish: An Inquiry Into a Latino Bilingual Teacher's Experience

• In Event: 51.081 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Nine - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 51.081-8 - Stories of Teacher Identity Formation

Abstract

This narrative inquiry explores the experiences of one young Latino Spanish bilingual teacher who uses the image of being “in-between” to describe his struggles with bilingualism and navigating bilingual and ESL programs. His stories of experience both as a former ELL student and current bilingual/ESL teacher provide insights into challenges facing prospective and practicing bilingual teachers. The purpose is to reveal “leaks” in the Spanish bilingual teacher pipeline, as well as ideas to improve the recruitment, preparation, and retention of bilingual teachers. Findings offer implications for educational leaders, policy makers, administrators, teachers and teacher educators working to ameliorate the persistent shortage of Spanish bilingual teachers.

Authors

• Leslie M Gauna, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Christine Beaudry, Nevada State University

• Jane Mcintosh Cooper, University of Houston