Racialization and Language in Nativist America: Testimonios of Spanish Heritage Language Learners

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Language, Pláticas, and Testimonios In School and Community

Abstract

This study examines how racialization and nativist ideologies shape Spanish heritage language (SHL) speakers’ identities and their desire to maintain and develop their heritage language in low-density Hispanic communities in Massachusetts. Drawing on LatCrit theory and testimonios, the research analyzes narratives from four second generation SHL learners. Findings reveal that participants face exclusion and discrimination. Despite these challenges, participants view Spanish as a crucial ethnic marker and express a desire to strengthen their proficiency as an act of resistance against English-only ideologies. The study highlights the inadequacy of Spanish-as-a-foreign-language instruction for SHL learners and calls for critical pedagogies and curriculum reform grounded in students’ lived experiences. By centering SHL voices, the research advocates for linguistically and socially just educational practices.

Author

• Tina S. Randall, University of Massachusetts Boston