Identity and Communicative Competence in Spanish for Specific Purposes

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.

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