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Neighborhoods Initiative Urban Affairs Review Chicago
Politics |
Faculty Scholar Detail, 2006-2007Kimberly PotowskiAssistant Professor Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Arresting Attrition: Spanish Language Maintenance in Chicago’s Elementary Schools The scholar year for Dr. Potowski included work on three linguistic projects: a study of the discourse markers so and entonces in Chicago Spanish; an experiment testing the viability of processing instruction with the acquisition of the subjunctive among heritage speakers; and finalizing the manuscript of a co-edited volume about Spanish in contact with other languages. The first project focused on whether Mexicans and Puerto Ricans use different rates of so in Spanish, and whether first, second, and third generation speakers use different rates of so in Spanish. This research found that as Spanish proficiency declined, use of so increased by a statistically significant degree. The second project compared the effects of a particular type of instruction, called processing instruction, with traditional instruction. Dr. Potowski found a lack of difference between the instructional methods. The third project was the production of a co-edited volume about Spanish in contact with other languages, which will be published by John Benjamins in July 2007. Professor Potowski presented findings of these projects at the 21st conference on Spanish in the U.S. in Washington, D.C., at the American Association of Applied Linguistics in Costa Mesa, CA, and at the Hispanic Linguistics Symposium in London, Ontario, Canada. The Great Cities Institute Faculty Scholars Program brings UIC faculty to the institute for a year in residence to begin, further, or complete an engaged research project. Scholars are free from their formal teaching responsibilities during their term. Prospective scholars apply by submitting a proposal that is peer reviewed along three key metrics of engaged research: interdisciplinarity, partnership, and impact. GCI Faculty Scholars implement and further their own research agendas, as well as develop grant proposals, participate in the Great Cities Institute Lecture Series, and contribute to the Great Cities Institute Working Paper Series. Applications are released in the fall semester and due at the start of the spring semester. |
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