In this online discussion, guest speakers Dr. Stephen Krashen and Dr. Nooshan Ashtari present a broad overview of heritage language development, including its importance, flaws in how heritage languages are currently taught, and methods for encouraging effective language learning.
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Full heritage language development has only advantages and no disadvantages for the individual and for society. It leads to bilingualism, which gives heritage language speakers access to the wisdom of both cultures, better cognitive development, school and career success, and it promotes international trade and cooperation.
But heritage language development often stops at the basic level. This is due to heritage languages classes that use ‘traditional’ grammar-based methods, and fluent heritage language speakers who blame young acquirers for their incomplete competence in the language.
Recent studies have suggested that a path to high levels of acquisition of the heritage language is self-selected pleasure reading. The problem is that reading material in heritage languages that is both interesting and comprehensible for acquirers of different ages and levels is often very hard to find. This is a problem that can be solved by improving selection and access in schools, libraries, and in physical and online bookstores.
#savecantonese #heritagelanguage #bilingualeducation