The Phenomenon of International Adoption with a Focus on Second Language Acquisition

245 Pages·2017·1.99 MB·English

Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Knowledge Repository @ IUP
Theses and Dissertations (All)
12-2009
The Phenomenon of International Adoption with a
Focus on Second Language Acquisition: A Case
Study of Internationally Adopted Children and
Adolescents from Russia
Daniela DiGregorio
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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DiGregorio, Daniela, "The Phenomenon of International Adoption with a Focus on Second Language Acquisition: A Case Study of
Internationally Adopted Children and Adolescents from Russia" (2009).Theses and Dissertations (All). 1023.
http://knowledge.library.iup.edu/etd/1023
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THE PHENOMENON OF INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION WITH A FOCUS ON
SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: A CASE STUDY OF INTERNATIONALLY
ADOPTED CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS FROM RUSSIA

A Dissertation
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy

Daniela DiGregorio
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
December 2009
© 2009 by Daniela DiGregorio
All Rights Reserved

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Indiana University of Pennsylvania
The School of Graduate Studies and Research
Department of English

We hereby approve the dissertation of

Daniela DiGregorio

Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

________________________ __________________________________________
Nancy Hayward, Ph.D.
Professor of English, Advisor

________________________ __________________________________________
Sharon K. Deckert, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English

________________________ __________________________________________

Carole Bencich, Ed. D.
Professor Emeritus of English

ACCEPTED

__________________________________________ ___________________
Michele S. Schwietz, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Research
The School of Graduate Studies and Research

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Title: The Phenomenon of International Adoption with a Focus on Second Language
Acquisition: A Case Study of Internationally Adopted Children and Adolescents
from Russia
Author: Daniela DiGregorio
Dissertation Chair: Dr. Nancy Hayward
Dissertation Committee Members: Dr. Sharon Deckert
Dr. Carole Bencich

The phenomenon of international adoption with a focus on second language (L2)
acquisition of international adoptees (IA) was examined through the personal experiences
of a small number of ethnically Russian children and adolescents who were in the process
of adapting to a new language, culture and society in the United States. The aim of this
qualitative study was to get inside the minds of six IA children and tell their stories by
providing thick descriptions of their holistic experiences. The focus of this study was on
answering these questions:
1. How do these IA children experience and perceive their L2 acquisition?
2. How do these IA children maintain their native language?
Data collection included interviews, school observations and analysis of students’
official records (standardized tests, report cards, evaluations) as well as unofficial
documents (photographs, essays, drawings). This qualitative study employed the
ethnographic approach to provide detailed descriptions of six participants (ages 8- 21)
and the thematic approach with focus on L2 acquisition, first language (L1) maintenance
and identity construction.
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The analysis of interviews, observations and artifacts resulted in the following
findings. The IA students acquired English as a second language in the same stages as
typical immigrant children but the process of their L2 acquisition was considerably faster.
The IA children adopted at the age of 11 or earlier had a native-like American accent
while the older IA students had traces of a Russian accent in their L2. All of the
participants struggled with reading comprehension on their standardized tests due to
unfamiliar vocabulary.
Five out of 6 participants experienced subtractive bilingualism during which their
L1 deteriorated and L2 became dominant. The oldest participant experienced additive
bilingualism and was able to preserve her L1 while acquiring L2.
The interviews also revealed that three older participants identified themselves
with both Russian and U.S. cultures while 3 younger participants became fully
Americanized.
These findings suggest that school staff need to take into consideration cultural
and personal backgrounds of IA students and modify the language instruction for them to
meet their needs.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I would like to thank to Nancy Hayward, my director, for
patiently advising me on this tremendous endeavor. Your encouraging words and positive
feedback let me get this far.
I thank Carole Bencich and Sharon Deckert, my committee members, for sharing
their time and wisdom. I appreciate your compassion. I also thank my unofficial reader,
Lisa Chavey, who helped me see my study from a different perspective.
I am especially grateful to my husband Chris for all his support, cheering me up
and never letting me give up. I could not do it without all your help.
I am grateful to my participants and their parents for allowing me tell their stories.
I appreciate your kindness and openness. Your stories make this study interesting and
inspiring.
Lastly, I would like to thank the members of our IUPABD club for always being
there, especially, when I had a dissertation question only you would understand. This
network of support is truly priceless.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page
One INTRODUCTION........................................................................1

The Choice of the Topic...............................................................1
Statement of the Problem..............................................................2
Background for the Study.............................................................4
Significance of the Study..............................................................8
Purpose of the Study and Research Questions..............................9
Limitations of the Study..............................................................11

Two REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE............................................12

Introduction.................................................................................12
The Phenomenon of Migration ..………………………….. 12
Host Country Acceptance of Immigrants.............................17
International Adoptees and Identity Development...............18
International Adoption..........................................................25
International Law and Identity........................................27
Adopted Children from Eastern Europe.........................29
Second Language Acquisition and Maintenance of
Native Language...................................................................30
Second Language Acquisition and First Language
Maintenance of International Adoptees................................37
Russian Culture, Literacy and Education System.................38
Conclusion..................................................................................42

Three STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY..............................44

The Qualitative Research............................................................44
Using Ethnographic Methods...............................................46
Artifact Analysis...................................................................47
Setting...................................................................................51
The Region............................................................................52
English as a Second Language Program...............................53
Selection of Participants.......................................................53
Research Relationships and Ethical Issues...........................55
Design of the Study.....................................................................57
Interviews..............................................................................58
Observation...........................................................................59
Validity and Reliability.........................................................61
Triangulation.........................................................................62
Member Checking.................................................................63
Peer Debriefing.....................................................................63
Representativeness and Coding Check.................................63
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Researcher’s Role.................................................................64

Four PARTICIPANTS’ DESCRIPTIONS..........................................66

Introduction.................................................................................66
The Walker Family.....................................................................67
Alyona Walker......................................................................68
The Smith Family.......................................................................72
Alice Nadia Smith.................................................................72
Valerie Katarina Smith.........................................................74
The Brown Family......................................................................76
Meredith Natalia Brown.......................................................76
The Peters Family.......................................................................79
Alex George Peters...............................................................80
Katya Hope Peters.................................................................81
Conclusion..................................................................................82

Five RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS, OBSERVATIONS AND
ARTIFACT ANALYSES...........................................................83

Introduction.................................................................................83
The Walker Family.....................................................................85
Second Language Acquisition of Alyona Walker................85
L1 Maintenance of Alyona Walker.....................................101
The Smith Family.....................................................................104
Second Language Acquisition of Alice Nadia Smith.........104
L1 Maintenance of Alice Nadia Smith...............................115
Second Language Acquisition of Valerie Katarina Smith..120
L1 Maintenance of Valerie Katarina Smith........................131
The Brown Family....................................................................134
Second Language Acquisition of
Meredith Natalia Brown.....................................................134
L1 Maintenance of Meredith Natalia Brown......................145
The Peters Family.....................................................................148
Second Language Acquisition of Alex George Peters........148
L1 Maintenance of Alex George Peters .............................161
Second Language Acquisition of Katya Hope Peters.........163
L1 Maintenance of Katya Hope Peters...............................169
Conclusion................................................................................171

Six CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS................................172

Conclusions...............................................................................172
The Process of Second Language Acquisition....................172
Pronunciation................................................................175
Reading Comprehension...............................................177
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First Language Maintenance...............................................180
Implications of the Study..........................................................191
Implications for Future Research........................................193

REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………….195

APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………...213

Appendix A - Student Consent Forms......................................213
Appendix B - Parent Consent Form..........................................219
Appendix C- Interview Questions...........................................221
Appendix D- Observation Checklist........................................224
Appendix E - Permission to Copy Official Records.................225
Appendix F - Letter of Permission to Contact Parents of
IA Students.........................................................226
Appendix G - Site Consent Form..............................................227
Appendix H- Participants’ Drawings.......................................228

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