Exploring the Educational Experiences and Challenges of Heritage Speakers in a Language Education Program

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Promoting Critical Awareness of Diversity in Teacher Preparation

Abstract

The purpose of this case study is to explore the experiences of a group of Latina students in a teacher education program and describe their motivation to teach their heritage language, as well as their development as teachers of Spanish through their academic program. Seven themes emerged from analysis of data from interviews and classroom observations: Motivation to become a Spanish teacher, language proficiency, issues with the formal register, the need for grammar, learning how to teach Spanish, heritage speakers teaching heritage speakers, and issues during the program. The findings from this study bring light into issues that this particular population in world language programs go through in order to better support their needs in the teacher certification process.

Author

• Carolina Bustamante, SUNY - College at Old Westbury