Christina Isabelli-García, PhD
Illinois Wesleyan University
Curriculum Vitae
Hispanic Studies
Illinois Wesleyan University
P.O. Box 2900
Bloomington, IL 61702
USA

309-556-3174
309-556-3284 (fax)

email me
 
 
 
  
 

 


















Dr. Christina Isabelli is an applied linguist that specializes in second language acquisition in the study abroad context.  Her book, Study abroad: A case study of the factors in the development of Spanish language skills, focuses on the role that motivation toward the host culture plays on students’ linguistic ability and attitude towards creating extended networks with native speakers. She has also written on the development of oral communication skills abroad, study-abroad social-network implications for second language acquisition and ability to produce speech acts, on the benefits that computer mediated communication has regarding enhancing cultural acquisition, and on the development of Spanish gender agreement abroad and at home. Currently, she is working on data with the goal of identifying processes of forming social networks abroad and how they function as contexts for language learning.
Education
Ph.D., 2000, University of Texas - Austin Ibero-Romance Philology and Linguistics
M.A., 1994, University of Iowa Spanish Linguistics and Literature
B.A., 1992, Illinois State University Spanish and Mathematics
Academic Positions
Illinois Wesleyan University, Department of Hispanic Studies
  Associate Professor, 2005 - present; Assistant Professor, 2000 - 2005; Instructor, 1999 - 2000

Middlebury College, Spanish Language School Graduate Program, Middlebury, Vermont
   Visiting Professor, 2010, 2011, 2012 (summers)

Universidad Internacional, Spanish Department Graduate Program, Cuernavaca, Mexico
  Visiting Professor, 2009 (summer)  

University of Texas - Austin, Department of Spanish and Portuguese 
   Assistant Instructor of Spanish, 1994 - 1999, Spn 508K Coordinator 1998-1999

University of Iowa, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
   Graduate Teaching Assistant of Spanish, 1992 - 1994

Publications -  full text version can be accessed here

Isabelli-García, C., & Slough, R. (in press). Acquisition of the non-generic definite article by Spanish learners of English as a foreign language. Onomázein, 25.

Hartweg, D., & Isabelli-García, C., & McEwen, M. (in press). Being physically active: Perceptions of recent Mexican immigrant women on the Arizona-Mexico border. Hispanic Health Care International, 10(3).

Isabelli-García, C. (2010). Acquisition of Spanish gender agreement in two learning contexts: Study abroad and at home. Foreign Language Annals, 43(2), 289-303.

Echeverría, M., Irizarry, G., & Isabelli-García, C. (2009). Second-Year Spanish II - Oral Expression, Reading and Composition: A Study Guide. (120 pp). Austin, TX: The University of Texas at Austin: University Extension.

Hartweg, D., & Isabelli-García, C. (2007). Health perceptions of low-income, immigrant Spanish-speaking Latinas in the United States. Hispanic Health Care International, 5(2), 7-17.
Kastner, C., & Isabelli-García, C. (2007). Estudiar en el extranjero: La influencia del contacto con hablantes nativos en el desarrollo de la habilidad de producir actos de habla. In L. Ruiz Miyares (Ed), Proceedings of the 10th international symposium on social communication (pp. 673-676). Santiago de Cuba, Cuba: Centro de Lingüística Aplicada.

Isabelli-García, C. (2006). Study abroad social networks, motivation and attitudes: Implications for second language acquisition.  In E. Churchill & M. DuFon (Eds.), Language learners in study abroad contexts (pp. 231-258). Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.

Zeiss, E., & Isabelli-García, C. (2005). The benefits of asynchronous computer mediated communication in enhancing cultural acquisition. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 18(3), 151-169.

Isabelli-García, C. (2004). A case study of the factors in the development of Spanish linguistic accuracy and oral communication skills: Motivation and extended interaction in the study abroad context. Preface by Barbara Freed. New York, NY: Edwin Mellen Press.

Isabelli-García, C. (2003). Development of oral communication skills abroad. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 9, 149-173.


Book Reviews
2011 - R. Lewin. (Ed.). The handbook of practice and research in study abroad. Modern Language Journal, 95, 332-333.

2008 - M. Byram & A. Feng. (Eds.). Living and studying abroad: Research and practice. Modern Language Journal, 92, 474-475.

2007 - V. Pellegrino Aveni. Study abroad and second language use: Constructing the self. Modern Language Journal, 91, 132-133.

2005 - M-M. Dowell & K. P. Mirsky.  Study abroad? How to get the most out of your experience. Modern Language Journal, 89(1), 139-140.

2002 - R. D.  Lambert & E. Shohamy. (Eds.)  Language policy and pedagogy. Language Problems and Language Planning, 26(1), 104-107.

2001 - J.P. Lantolf (Ed.)  Sociocultural theory and second language learning. Language Problems and Language Planning, 25(3), 311-333.  

In Progress

Isabelli-García, C., Pan, Y., & Lubkemann, S. (under review). Observing census enumeration of non-English-speaking households in 2010 Census: Spanish Report. Washington DC: U.S. Census Evaluations, Experiments, and Assessments, U.S. Census Bureau.

Processes of forming social networks abroad and how they function as contexts for language learning.

Selected Presentations
August 2011. "Observing census enumeration of Spanish-speaking households in the 2010 Census." Invited speaker, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington DC.

July 2010. "El desarrollo lingüístico de los estudiantes durante una estancia en el extranjero: Una ruptura de las expectativas tradicionales." [Linguistic development in the study-abroad context: A break from traditional expectations]. Invited speaker, Middlebury College Round Table. Middlebury, Vermont.

September 2009. "Linguistic development in the study-abroad context: What can we expect?" invited speaker, IIX Congreso Internacional UNINTERlingua Communicación.  Cuernavaca, Mexico.

November, 2008. "Language Learning Abroad: Acculturation, Integration or Both?" Midwest Modern Language Association. Minneapolis, MN.

November, 2007."Acquisition of Gender Agreement in Two Learning Contexts." Hispanic Linguistics Symposium. San Antonio, Texas.

November, 2006. "Social Networks and Some Recommendations for Study Abroad Success." Council on International  Educational Exchange Conference. Seville, Spain.

October, 2003."The Benefits of Asynchronous Computer Mediated Communication in Enhancing Cultural Acquisition." Co-authored with Elizabeth Zeiss.  Second Language Research Forum.  University of Arizona, Tucson.  

October 2002. "Linguistic Development of Spanish Language Accuracy in the Study Abroad Context: What Can be Expected." Co-authored with Chiyo Nishida.  6th Conference on Hispanic Linguistics and L1 and L2 Acquisition of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Illinois Wesleyan University service
2011- present    Chair, Department of Hispanic Studies
2011 - present   IWU Fulbright Faculty Program Advisor
F2010                On-site Director of the London IWU semester abroad program
2009 - 2011       Curriculum Council (elected), Academic Standards Committee (Chair, 09-10)
S2007                On-site Director of the Madrid IWU semester abroad program
2005 - 2007       Promotion and Tenure Committee (elected)
2003 - 2005       Hearing Committee (elected)
2002 - 2009       Institutional Review Board (2002-2005, S2009)
2005 - present   Teacher Education Committee
2000 - present   Faculty Advisor of Sigma Delta Pi - National Hispanic Honors Society, Upsilon Rho
2000 - present   Latin American Studies Team (Leader 2005-07, 2011-present)
2000 - 2008       First Year Advisor
1999 - 2001       Coordinator International Film Series
Honors and Awards
Artistic and Scholarly Development grants 
2008 - "Perception of Physical Activity and Health by Border-Dwelling Mexican Women" with Donna Hartweg
2007 -  "Spanish Gender Agreement in the Study-Abroad and At-Home Contexts"
2006 -  "Study-Abroad Social Networks and Second Language Acquisition"
2005 -  "Perception of Physical Activity by Hispanic Women" with Donna Hartweg
2003 -  "Perception of Health by Hispanic Women: A Pilot Study" with Donna Hartweg 
2001 -  "Explaining Students’ Foreign Language Choice" with Scott Sheridan
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