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Language Competency and Social Work Practice in the Old Spanish States Presentation at the Western Social Science Association 2005 Emilia E. Martinez Brawley and Paz M-B Zorita Slide 2 Purpose To determine whether Spanish language competency was important in social work education in the southwest. To determine whether Spanish competency appeared to be an overwhelming priority of programs. To assess whether interest in Spanish language competence, if any, translated into programmatic initiatives. To assess the level of creativity used by programs, their successes or failures. Slide 3 Methodology Email letters with an attached survey instrument were sent to 84 U and G program directors listed in the CSWE web-site. Recipients were asked to forward the survey letter to the appropriate person if changes in program leadership had occurred. Six emails were immediately returned because of address problems. A letter and email survey were sent to all UG and G programs in social work in the southwestern states. Programs were re-assured of the anonymity of their responses. Questions often elicited opinions and respondents were encouraged to answer based on the best of their knowledge A reminder email was sent to all two weeks before the deadline. Slide 4 Pilot Nature of Project It was a first effort to survey social work programs about language proficiency issues. It was anticipated that the survey would render information for future research. Many of the questions required narrative answers. More extensive investigation would be necessary before any conclusive comments could be made. Slide 5 Limitations The survey was sent to individuals listed in the CSWE directory, which could have been incomplete or incorrect. The instrument used for the survey could not be pre-tested extensively. There was little opportunity for corroborating the interpretations of the narrative responses done by the authors. The computerized survey rejected selection of program level other than G or UG because of technical problems. Some responses from combined programs were recorded in other narrative responses, but not everybody did this. Many respondent appeared not to have been aware that a range of percentages could be selected in Q.4 by clicking on an arrow. This may have limited the ranges reported. Slide 6 Copy of Questionnaire Spanish Language Competency Questionnaire Please respond by February 15th. Thank you. 1. Your State AZ CA CO NV NM TX UT 2. Your Program C G UG 3. How important is Spanish language competency for social work practice in your state? Very important Important Somewhat important Unimportant Please explain 4. To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of your students are fluent Spanish speakers? (Range provided) 5. In your program, is Spanish language competency a goal? an aspiration? neither other 6. If a goal or an aspiration, what steps has your program taken to encourage Spanish language competency among your students? Please explain 7.If you have taken some steps, how successful were they? Please explain 8. What were the biggest impediments to your efforts or reasons for inaction? Please explain Thank you. This is the end of the questionnaire. Slide 7 The Data 37 responses were received. This represented 44% percent of the surveyed. The narrative data was analyzed and fitted into categories suggested by the data themselves. Patterns were identified and efforts were made to find some distinctive elements in those patterns. Where appropriate, meta categories were created. As anticipated, the data included some interesting and unique responses that were maintained in the reporting. Slide 8 Survey Questionnaires Sent-- by state Texas38 California23 Utah6 Arizona5 Colorado4 Nevada4 New Mexico4 Slide 9 Responses Received by State Texas 16 California 8 Arizona 3 Colorado 3 Nevada 2 Utah 2 New Mexico 1 Non-Identified 2 Slide 10 Responses by Program level n=37 Slide 11 Findings Most program suggested that Spanish language proficiency was very important (24). Only eight programs stated it was important and two responded somewhat important. The largest number of responses (approx. 42% or 16) from a single state came from TX. Slide 12 Importance given to Spanish language acquisition by State Slide 13 Reasons given for Spanish language programming decisions by State (mega categories) Slide 14 Humanistic Categories Cited Border state tradition Global Interests Expansion of Worldview Slide 15 Specific Reasons Cited by State : Large Hispanic Population Growth/Demographics n=17 Slide 16 Specific Reasons Cited by State : Monolingual Clientele/ Recent Immigrants n=10 Slide 17 Specific Reasons Cited by State : Shortage of bi-lingual workers/Marketability n=8 Slide 18 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition Adult Learners or Low Student Effort Faculty Resistance, Language Department Limitations or Low Support Financial Limitations Political Will Priorities No Impediments No Response Slide 19 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition All reasons n=37 Slide 20 No impediments to Spanish language acquisition: by State (actual # reported) n=3 Slide 21 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition - by State (actual # reported) Other priorities n=4 Slide 22 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition by State (actual # reported) - Political will n=2 Slide 23 n=3 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition by State (actual # reported) - Financial limitations Slide 24 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition by State (actual # reported) - Faculty resistance or low support from Language department n=5 Slide 25 Impediments to Spanish language acquisition by State (actual # reported) - Adult learners and low student effort n=4 Slide 26 Spanish language acquisition - Not required by program level n=19 Slide 27 Spanish language acquisition required by program level n=8 Slide 28 Spanish language acquisition not encouraged by program level n=7 Slide 29 What programs do to achieve language proficiency: Spanish language acquisition encouraged by program level n=22 Slide 30 What programs do to achieve language proficiency: Spanish language acquisition intensive training available by program level n=20 Slide 31 What programs do to achieve language proficiency: Spanish language acquisition non-intensive training available by program level n=21 Slide 32 Types of Language Acquisition Encouragements offered by Programs (intensive or not) Double counting language courses Summer program offerings Bi-lingual track or certification A plus in admission criteria Study abroad language programs Slide 33 Conclusions Response rate was as expected. Spanish language learning, though reportedly of high importance, does not appear to translate into a high programmatic priority. Language learning is conceptualized in utilitarian terms rather than viewed as an asset in and of itself or as a mark of the educated individual. Very few conceptualize the addition of a language as the expansion of their worldview. Slide 34 Conclusions A few programs have developed creative ways of incorporating language learning (e.g. special certificates; language competency tracks.) It appears that in spite of stated market needs, the rewards do not balance the efforts required for competency. There appears not to be a critical mass of faculty comfortable and capable of functioning and training in Spanish. Slide 35 Conclusions Programs appear to rely on existing talent (native speakers) rather than on developing capacity. There appears to be not only competing priorities among subject area requirements but perceived competition among minority language groups. There appears to be perceived problems related to the adult nature of many social work students who are viewed as less flexible and capable of learning a new language.