Associate Professor of Spanish Applied Linguistics 
Graduate Program Director, Spanish MAT             
Ph.D.,University of Massachusetts, Amherst   
 

pg289@camden.rutgers.edu / @PGarciaRU
http://prosperogarcia.weebly.com/

405-407 Cooper St., Room 304
Camden, NJ
(856) 225-2689

 

Associate Professor Próspero N. García holds a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics (2012) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a focus on Applied Linguistics and Language Program Direction and Administration. As an applied linguist, his research interests lie in the fields of Spanish second language (L2) acquisition and pedagogy, Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of mind, second language evaluation and assessment, technology enhanced language learning, educational linguistics, teacher training and development, and bilingual education.

His most recent publications have explored the role of Sociocultural Theory in Spanish L2 education, the implementation of Dynamic Assessment to promote L2 teacher’s conceptual development, the role of Conscious Conceptual Manipulation in the development of grammatical categories, the implementation of concept-based instruction (CBI) in the heritage and second language classrooms, and the role of emotion and agency in the development and internalization of scientific concepts. Currently, he is exploring the role of conscious conceptual manipulation in the teaching and learning of conceptual categories in the Spanish K-12 classroom, the implementation of a Dynamic Assessment approach as a tool to foster L2 learning and development in secondary education, and the role of CBI in the grammatical and pedagogical development of K-12 native and heritage educators.

Dr. Garcia’s excellence in community engagement as well as graduate/undergraduate education has been recognized at the regional and national levels. He is the recipient of several teaching and community engagement awards including the 2024 Chancellor’s Award for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement for Community-Engaged Scholarship, the 2020 Warren I. Susman Award for Excellence in Teaching at Rutgers University, the 2017-2018 Graduate Faculty Teaching Award from the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS), the 2017-2018 President Fellowship for Teaching Excellence at Rutgers University, the 2017 Chancellor’s Award for teaching excellence at Rutgers University-Camden, and was also nominated on two occasions to the Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has also served as project coordinator for CALPER at PennState in a multiyear grant from the Department of Education for the development of teaching materials to implement of CBI in the Spanish classroom, and his pedagogical materials have been published in several textbooks. 

Research Interests

  • Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Learning and Teaching                                     
  • Spanish Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy
  • Evaluation and Assessment in the Second Language Classroom
  • Foreign Language Teaching Methodology and Pedagogical Grammar
  • Language Program Direction and Administration                                           
  • Technology Enhanced Language Learning

Recent Refereed Publications

Books

Special Issues

Articles in Refereed Journals 

Refered Book Chapters

Refered Proceedings

Refereed Book Reviews

Textbooks

  • Blanco, J., C. C. Tocaimaza-Hatch & P. N. García (2013). Enlaces. Vista Higher Learning. Boston, MA. ISBN: 978-1-60576-092-6. [Contributing writer]
  • Courtad, J, K. Everly, & M. Gaspar (2012) Intrigas: Advanced Spanish Through Literature and Film. Vista Higher Learning. Boston, MA. ISBN 13 978-1-617-671036. [Contributing writer]
  • Amores, M., J. L. Suárez García, & M. Morris (2012) Experience Spanish. McGraw Hill. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-07-353439-8. [Member of the Editorial Board of Advisors]
  • Blanco, J., C. C. Tocaimaza-Hatch & P. N. García (2011). Sueña, Second Edition. Vista Higher Learning. Boston, MA. ISBN: 978-1-60576-250-0. [Contributing writer]
  • Blanco, J., C. C. Tocaimaza-Hatch & P. N. García (2010). Imagina, Second Edition. Vista Higher Learning. Boston, MA. ISBN: 978-1-60576-092-6. [Contributing writer]

Forthcoming

  • García, P. N. (in preparation). Understanding language diagnosis as developmentally-mediated activity through Dynamic Assessment. In D. Leontjev, M. Poehner, & A. Huhta (eds.) Dynamic and diagnostic language assessment. Learning across frameworks to support L2 education. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
  • García P. N., Perez-Cortes, S. & Rosborough, A. (Submitted, under review). Conscious Conceptual Manipulation in the Heritage Language Classroom: Fostering Aspectual Development and Agentive control Through Mediated Verbalizations. Foreign Language Annals.García, P. N. (Submitted, under review). Verbalizing: A Meditational to Promoting and Ascertaining Conceptual Development in the L2 Classroom. Language Teaching Research.
  • García P.N. & Perez-Cortes, S. (Submitted, under review). Developing Grammatical Categories of Meaning Through Mediated Verbalizations in the Heritage Language Classroom. RESLA.
  • Rosborough, A., Buescher, K., Garcia, P. N., Hults, A., McCafferty, S., & Negueruela-Azarola (In preparation). A Pedagogy with People Who Feel: Teaching and Learning World Languages in a Contradictory and Complex Educational Universe. To be submitted to the Harvard Educational Review.
  • García, P.N. (in preparation). Developing aspectual awareness through Conscious Conceptual Manipulation for spatial and temporal control in the L2. To be Submitted to Language Awareness.
  • García, P. N. (in preparation). Conscious Conceptual Manipulation as a tool for Development in the Second Language Classroom. To be Submitted to Language, Teaching, Research.
  • García, P. N. (in preparation). Collaborative learning in the L2 classroom: Zones of Potential Development v. Affective factors. To be Submitted to Language Learning Journal.
  • García, P. N. (in preparation). Exploring the Role of Mediation in the Development of in-service L2 Teachers’ Critical Language Awareness. To be Submitted to Applied Linguistics.
  • García, P. N. (Work in progress). Group Dynamic Assessment in the Spanish Classroom: Towards a Model of Development-Referenced Assessment.

Courses Offered

  • Methods of Teaching Spanish
  • Acquisition of Spanish as a Second Language
  • Assessment and Evaluation in the Spanish Classroom
  • Psychological Foundations of Teaching Spanish
  • Sociocultural Theory in the Spanish Classroom: Rethinking activity
  • Technology in the Spanish Classroom
  • Spanish Grammar & Linguistics I
  • Spanish Grammar & Linguistics II
  • Introduction to Spanish Applied Linguistics
  • Introduction to Spanish Sociolinguistics
  • Concept Based Teaching in the k-12 Classroom

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