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Current issues in Spanish heritage language education

  • Kim Potowski
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Abstract

As the present volume makes abundantly clear, the Latino population in the United States is increasing and making an important impact all levels of education. The five chapters in this section focus on the teaching of Spanish to heritage speakers in postsecondary contexts. This introductory chapter summarizes the issues put forth in the chapters, including appropriate assessment techniques for heritage speaker courses, the important role of learner attitudes, the connections between Latino identity and the Spanish language, and how to teach classes with a mixture of heritage and second language students. It also advocates for inclusion of K-8 in future studies of heritage language education.

Abstract

As the present volume makes abundantly clear, the Latino population in the United States is increasing and making an important impact all levels of education. The five chapters in this section focus on the teaching of Spanish to heritage speakers in postsecondary contexts. This introductory chapter summarizes the issues put forth in the chapters, including appropriate assessment techniques for heritage speaker courses, the important role of learner attitudes, the connections between Latino identity and the Spanish language, and how to teach classes with a mixture of heritage and second language students. It also advocates for inclusion of K-8 in future studies of heritage language education.

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