They look like me: impactos y beneficios de la comunidad en los programas de español para hablantes de herencia

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Cristina Arango Callejas (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Mariche Bayonas

Abstract: Recently, the number of researchers who are interested in creating specific curriculums for Heritage Speakers (HS) have been growing significantly (Potowski 2014, Valdés 2001, Carreira 2011, Villa 1996, Reznicek-Parrado 2015, etc.). But these researchers mainly focus on the dynamics between Spanish as a Heritage Language (SHL) programs and the language development granted by the class. Despite the abundance of the research in heritage language (HL), academically based research that encompasses students’ voices is scarce. Because SHL programs in universities must continue to reshape their curricula to accommodate the needs of the growing Latino population with a broad range of bilingual and identity competencies, it is necessary to switch scope to new implementations of how to incorporate meaningful material in SHL programs. Thus, the purpose of this research is to summarize current investigations incorporating HS and SHL classrooms and how HS identify themselves in the classroom when they are exposed to a different context, to understand how the community impacts their academic and personal development as Latino college students. This research tracks identity issues based on student’s previous language ideologies, and it analyses it from different classroom contexts. Additionally, it takes into account students feeling, impacts and reactions about taking SPA 302 (Advance Spanish for Heritage Speakers) and how this class provides HS a place of belonging and a better sense of the Latino community. Overall, this study gives students the voice they need to advocate for better understanding of what makes SHL classes the best academic and personal learning experience.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: Spanish; Castilian
Date: 2019
Keywords
Community of Practice, Heritage Speakers, Identity, SHL
Subjects
Heritage language speakers $x Education (Higher)
Spanish language $x Study and teaching (Higher)
Hispanic Americans $x Ethnic identity
Language and culture

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