The Effects of Acculturation on Second Language Proficiency in a Community with a Two-Way Bilingual Program

Abstract

This is a study of why native Spanish speakers (NSSs) in a small town in northern Mexico with a sizable English-speaking minority population and a two-way bilingual program in the schools are developing native-like proficiency in English. A 9% sample of native Spanish-speaking households in the town were selected and members of each household were asked a series of questions relating to Schumann’s acculturation variables. Each subject was also given an oral proficiency interview (OPI) in English. Results indicate that in spite of the favorable conditions for English language acquisition among NSSs on all variables except enclosure, the only NSSs acquiring much English are those attending the bilingual schools. It was concluded that the native-like proficiency being attained by the NSSs attending the bilingual schools was likely due to their favorable attitudes toward the English-speaking community and the fact that they developed close friendships with native English-speaking peers.