Roberta Z. Lavine
Professor Emerita, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Professor Emerita, Spanish and Portuguese
Research Expertise
Business Language
Intercultural competence
Roberta Z. Lavine received her PhD from the Catholic University of America in 1983. She is Professor Emerita of Spanish in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and served as Director of the Undergraduate Program in Spanish. She has 25 years of teaching experience and has taught all levels of Spanish language, Business Spanish, Cross-cultural Communication, and methodology, among other courses. Her research interests deal with learner variables in language learning, especially learning disabilities, Language for Specific Purposes, and technology. She has extensive experience in technology and the use of computers for instructional purposes, and currently teaches Business language and cross-cultural communication in a technology-enhanced environment. She has won the University of Maryland Award for Innovation in Teaching with Technology as well as a Fellowship from the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities. She has published in all of the above mentioned areas and has lectured and given workshops all over the world.
Publications
Special Educators and Spanish
This chapter explores diverse aspects of learning disabilities (LD) in English Language Learners (ELLs), such as the nature of LD, the need for bilingual special educators and suitable teacher certification, and best instructional practices.
Author/Lead: Roberta Z. LavineAmong current educational challenges are an increasing number of English Language Learners (ELLs) and a lack of bilingual special educators adequately prepared in the areas of bilingualism, cultural diversity and disability. This chapter begins by exploring learning disabilities (LD) in ELLs, the nature of LD and the need for bilingual special educators. It next considers research on the lack of appropriate assessments, disproportionality of ELLs in special education, and best instructional practices. It ends by looking at future issues such as appropriate teacher certification, new uses of technology and college age students and adults with learning disabilities. Lavine, R. Z. & Goode, C. “Special Educators and Spanish”. Ed. Manel Lacorte. In The Routledge Handbook of Hispanic Applied Linguistics, New York: Routledge, 2015: 438-456.
Rutas
This is an integrated intermediate Spanish textbook and online platform utilizing current research in language teaching and learning.
Author/Lead: Roberta Z. LavineNon-ARHU Contributor(s): Danielle C. Velardi and Paula V. Croci (Co-Authors)