Age and context of acquisition: When and how a language is acquired shapes all aspects of the language and has an impact on language proficiency. A typical Heritage Learner… Acquires the heritage language from birth in a naturalistic setting (from family members, caregivers, etc.). Educational experiences: Educational experiences Schooling introduces learners to literacy practices, to contexts and content beyond the familiar, and to a variety of speakers and discourses. Some linguistic developmental milestones happen during school age. A typical Heritage Learner… Has limited literacy experiences with the heritage language. They might have attended a few years of grade school in a country were the heritage language is the majority language. As a result, they might have no or limited explicit/metalinguistic knowledge. Intercultural competence and cultural connections: Intercultural competence “is the ability to develop targeted knowledge, skills, and attitudes that lead to visible behavior and communication that are both effective and appropriate in intercultural interactions” (Deardorff, 2006). A typical Heritage Learner… Participates in complex multilingual and multicultural practices that may include:
The majority language/culture (English/USA) The HL language and culture, a minority language as realized in a particular US community: i.e., L.A. Spanish, Miami Haitian Creole, New York Chinese, etc. A language and culture as spoken and practiced outside the US, usually mediated by parents, grandparents, or other family members, e.g., Spanish spoken in Nicaragua, Haitian spoken in Haiti, Chinese spoken in Taiwan. The extent of this participation varies. Language dominance: Most bilinguals are dominant in one of the languages they speak. A typical Heritage Learner… Experiences a shift in language dominance at some point in childhood or adolescence, from the heritage language to English. Quantity and type of input: Input: the language a person is exposed to in a communicative context. Input is a main component of acquisition, and the one without which acquisition does not take place. A typical Heritage Learner… Is exposed to a large quantity of input from a variety of sources, mostly in familiar