The Language of Learning: The Academic Engagement of Newcomer Immigrant Youth

Ha Yeon Kim, Carola Suárez-Orozco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The current study uses an accelerated longitudinal design to examine the role of three dimensions of academic engagement (behavioral, relational, and cognitive) in explaining the influence of English language proficiency on newcomer immigrant youths' academic performance across adolescence. The sample included 354 youth from Central America, China, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Mexico. As established with other populations, the behavioral, relational, and cognitive dimensions of academic engagement were closely associated to one another and significantly contributed to academic performance. Mediation analyses revealed that immigrant youth with limited English language proficiency were more likely to experience low levels of relational and behavioral engagement, which contributed to lower levels of academic performance over time.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-245
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Research on Adolescence
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cultural Studies
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Language of Learning: The Academic Engagement of Newcomer Immigrant Youth'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this