In response to the growth of Spanish heritage language (SHL) learners in the United States, researchers and instructors in the field of SHL teaching proposed a set of goals and pedagogical approaches to meet these learners' needs. However, because few studies focused on SHL teachers' professional preparation and practice, it is unclear whether…

This multiple case study investigates the professional identities of three dual language immersion (DLI) teachers after they graduate from a teacher education program (TEP) that emphasizes DLI pedagogies. I use the communities of practice framework (Wenger, 1998), the portraiture methodology (Lawrence-Lightfoot, 1983, 1994; Lawrence-Lightfoot…

Whereas myriad studies have been published in the field of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in the past thirty years, research on the use and implementation of technology in the teaching and learning of Spanish as a heritage language (SHL) is very scarce. This study is aimed for those SHL instructors and researchers who are interested in…

One of the domains most commonly affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is communication (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Language deficits in children with ASD can be as severe as to warrant a label as nonverbal, or characterized by difficulties with the functions of communication. Additionally, deficits in language for children…

This article explores some of the distinctive challenges in Chinese language education in schools and discusses how the development of the "Australian Curriculum: Chinese" has responded to these challenges. It details how the curriculum framework outlined in the "Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages" (ACARA, 2011)…

Over the past four decades, scholars have debated the pedagogical and sociolinguistic needs of heritage language learners. It is widely accepted that these learners present several characteristics that are different from those of foreign (or non-heritage) language learners. However, scholars have also pointed to similarities between the two groups…

While heritage language learners are becoming visible in the research literature as a distinct group of language learners with specific needs, existing curriculum structures in secondary schools often focus on programs either for foreign language learners or for first language learners. The study reported here examines the experiences of heritage…

A summary of the findings and recommendations of the Swedish Government's Committee on Linguistic Minorities among Children of Preschool Age is provided in this report. The first six chapters supply background material. Chapter 1 describes the target group and its estimated size, and suggests new definitions for use in native language backing…

Ideas and guidance for literacy program tutors are offered. This guide presents the characteristics of an adult learner, in contrast to a student from elementary or high school, and describes how the relationship between the tutor and the student should be established and maintained. Goals should be set up at the beginning of the program, keeping…

Foreign students in American universities need to attain proficiency in English as a Second Language (ESL) as well as knowledge of American cultural and economic life in order to pursue further training in other fields of study. An examination of the needs of foreign students who are deficient in English language skills indicates that a…

The guide, entirely in French, is intended as a resource for regular elementary and early secondary school classroom teachers of reading to both native speakers of French and French immersion students in Canada. An introductory chapter describes the guide's organization, gives background information on its approach to reading instruction, links…