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

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

email me
 
 
 
 
  
 

 


















Pictures

Dr. Christina Isabelli 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 collected in Spain 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
Department of Hispanic Studies, Illinois Wesleyan University
  Associate Professor, 2005 - present
  Assistant Professor, 2000 - 2005
  Instructor, 1999 - 2000   

Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Texas - Austin
   Assistant Instructor of Spanish, 1994 - 1999

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

Publications

Isabelli-García, C. (under review). Acquisition of Spanish gender agreement in two learning contexts: Study abroad and at home.

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.

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. [online version]

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.


Book Reviews
2008 - Byram, M. & 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

Perception of Physical Activity by Border-Dwelling Mexican Women. Co-authored with Donna Hartweg.

Acquisition of the article the by Spanish native speakers. Co-authored with Rachel Slough.

Selected Conference Papers
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.

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

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
2009 - present   Curriculum Council (elected), Academic Standards Committee (Chair)
2007 (Spring)   On-site Director of the Madrid IWU Program at the Fundación Ortega and Gasset
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   Member of Latin American Studies Team and Steering Committee
2000 - 2008      First Year Advisor
1999 - 2001      Coordinator International Film Series
Honors and Awards
Artistic and Scholarly Development grant 
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 
Curriculum Development grant 
2005 -   for developing a study-abroad course
2003 -  "Creating the Italian Language Rubric” with Scott Sheridan 
2001 -  "Revising the Hispanic Studies Curriculum" with Carmela Ferradáns 
2000 -   for developing a May Term travel course
Humanities Series grant 
2002 - to bring performing group “Tres Vidas” to IWU 
2001 - "García Márquez and World Literature - Michael Palencia-Roth" with Mauricio Parra
Home