Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Humphries, Steven
Author's Email Address	s_humphries@yahoo.com
URN	etd-03222005-183715
Title	English and Social Capital in an American University in the Republic of Panama
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Middle and Secondary Education, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Elizabeth P. Platt Committee Member Frank B. Brooks Committee Member John K. Mayo Committee Member
Keywords	Reproduction Theory Social Reproduction Linguistic Capital EFL
Date of Defense	2004-12-06
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study examined whether knowledge of English fosters reproduction of inequitable social structures in the Republic of Panama. Two hundred coeducational students taking English-medium undergraduate courses or noncredit English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) courses at an American university participated. Participants completed a survey determining their English proficiency by institutional placement and self-report, plus the social capital they possessed, and the social capital they expected to gain through English. Self-reported measures of proficiency were obtained through a form of Clark's (1981) "can-do" test modified to reflect potential English use in Panama. Social capital was measured as social connections in vocational positions containing wealth, status, and power using a form of Lin's (2001) "position generator" model modified for Panama. Simple linear regressions measured correlations between English proficiency and social capital, with p = < .05 indicating statistical significance. The study found no reproduction through social capital, but did through ethnicity, wealth, and language, specifically English. Policy implications for Panama and recommendations for further study are discussed.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    humphriesdissertation.pdf 680.63 Kb 00:03:09 00:01:37 00:01:25 00:00:42 00:00:03