Developing a Spanish for Heritage Speakers Program for universities in Texas.
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2013-09-16Author
Woodard, Andrea Ruth.
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In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 37.6% of the persons in Texas were
of Hispanic or Latino origin, up from 32.0% in 2000. As demographic trends across
Texas show growing Hispanic populations, universities face increasingly Hispanic
classrooms. For university-level Spanish programs, this increase demands a response to
the fundamental learning differences between Spanish heritage speakers and foreign
language learners. While some universities have implemented Spanish for Heritage
Speakers (SHS) Programs, there exists a continuing need for state-wide expansion. This
thesis argues for the development of SHS Programs in Texas by presenting various
approaches to the teaching of SHS and by investigating the success of those already
existing programs. This study provides a basis for the development of such a program,
using the ACTFL Position Statement on Language Learning for Heritage and Native
Speakers. Finally, the thesis proposes the development of these programs on a state-wide
level.