Identity and Communicative Competence in Spanish for Specific Purposes analyzes the experiences of three Spanish for specific purposes (SSP) students, offering insight into the intersectionality of society, politics, identity, and linguistics in community-based settings.
Analyses provide empirical evidence to a growing body of work about how experiential language learning (EX-LL) enhances student preparation to utilize target languages in professional services. Ethnographic portraits and discourse analysis also illustrate how EX-LL, such as internships, provides students with opportunities to position and protect their identities using linguistic and extralinguistic resources. Discussions are presented throughout the volume on how to implement EX-LL from a critical perspective that supports students while mutually benefiting community members. Harnessing community members’ stories to contextualise and illustrate the disparities U.S. Hispanic/Latinx communities face in accessing high-quality care and services, the volume proposes SSP as a form of advocacy to narrow this gap while simultaneously enhancing students’ skills in Spanish.
Designed for graduate students, educators, researchers, and program developers in SSP, second language acquisition, heritage language pedagogy, and sociolinguistics, this volume will prompt the reader to (re)imagine how language learning traverses society, politics, and identity in community-based settings.
By:
Alexis A. Vollmer Rivera
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Weight: 430g
ISBN: 9781032189666
ISBN 10: 1032189665
Series: Routledge Innovations in Spanish Language Teaching
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 30 July 2025
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Foreword Glenn A. Martínez Preface A Snapshot of My Journey Purpose and Audience of the Book Organization of the Book !Feliz viaje! Reference List 1 Spanish for Specific Purposes as an Opportunity for Advocacy: Introducing the Cases of Maria, Petra, and Penelope Introduction The Why of the Book The Purpose of the Book: SSP to Bridge the Gap The Pedagogical Background of the Book The Pertinent Theories and Frameworks of the Book The Research Contexts, Participants, and Sites of the Book Takeaways and Points for Continued Reflection Reference List 2 Soy Puertorriqueña, Punto: Maria’s Journey of Constructing Her Identity as a Female Puerto Rican Producer and Journalist in the Southwestern United States Introduction Narration of María’s Positionality as a Nonlocal Native Speaker: Colonization, Translanguaging, and Language Ideologies Claiming Her Puertorriquenidad in Broadcast Linguistic Proficiency and Commitment to an Academic Standard Variety Maintaining Her Authentic Self Within a Gender-biased Professional Environment Implications for EX-LL/LSP Pedagogy and Internship Design Takeaways and Points for Continued Reflection Reference List 3 Don’t Worry, Be Nappy: Petra’s Journey of Positioning Her Identity as a Legitimate and Authentically Multilingual/Multidialectal Speaker Across Racial Boundaries Introduction Narration of Petra’s Authentically Multilingual/Multidialectal Self Self-protection in Situations of Linguistic Discomfort Language as a Vehicle for Interpersonal Communication Hair as a Site of Resistance in (White) European-dominated Societies Implications for EX-LL/LSP Pedagogy and Internship Design Takeaways and Points for Continued Reflection Reference List 4 Penelope or Penelope?: Penelope’s Journey Introduction Narration of Penélope’s Language Acquisition Background Journalism as a Bridge to Family and Community Development of (Linguistic) Empathy for Generational Journeys (Re)Claiming a Mexican-American Identity Implications for EX-LL/LSP Pedagogy and Internship Design Takeaways and Points for Continued Reflection Reference List 5 Strategic Knowledge in Professional Discourse: Innovative Communicative Strategies and Their Social Functions Introduction Strategic Knowledge: A Brief Review Communicative Strategies During in situ Encounters Communicative Strategies During Premeditative Conversations Implications for EX-LL/LSP Pedagogy and Internship Design: Expanding and Providing Instruction on Communicative Strategies and Communicative Competence Takeaways and Points for Continued Reflection Reference List 6 Raising Our Thinking About Critical Engagement With the Community Introduction Frameworks for Collaborating Critically With (Minoritized) Communities Frameworks for Engaging in Critical EX-LL Research and Evaluation in the Community Takeaways and Points for Continued Reflection Reference List Index
Alexis A. Vollmer Rivera holds a B.S. in Spanish education from Minnesota State University Moorhead, U.S.A, and a master’s in Spanish (linguistics), a Ph.D. in Spanish (linguistics) with a focus on second language acquisition, and a graduate certificate in computer assisted language learning from Arizona State University, U.S.A. She is a monitoring, research, and evaluation specialist with expertise in conducting research and evaluation in multilingual community contexts, including leading work spanning over ten countries with members of the community, government, civil society organizations, international agencies, academia, and media, among others. She is committed to collaborating with community members and stakeholders to amplify their experiences and build their capacity to make data-driven decisions to impact their communities positively.
