Heritage Language Programs are designed to support learners who have a personal, familial, community, or cultural connection to a language other than English. Heritage language learners often possess varying levels of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and bring valuable linguistic and cultural assets to the classroom. These programs build upon learners’ existing knowledge and experiences while further developing language proficiency, literacy, and intercultural competence.

Heritage Language Programs recognize and affirm students’ multilingual identities while supporting academic achievement and biliteracy. Through purposeful instruction, learners strengthen their ability to use the language in a variety of personal, academic, professional, and community contexts, helping preserve linguistic and cultural resources across generations.

Characteristics of Heritage Language Programs

While program structures vary according to community needs and educational settings, effective heritage language programs often include the following characteristics:

• Asset-Based Approach: Instruction builds on learners’ existing linguistic and cultural knowledge rather than treating learners as beginners.

• Differentiated Instruction: Learning experiences address the diverse proficiency levels and backgrounds of heritage language learners.

• Literacy Development: Programs often emphasize strengthening reading, writing, and academic language skills in the heritage language.

• Cultural Connections: Instruction explores cultural perspectives, practices, histories, and contemporary experiences connected to the language community.

• Identity Development: Learning experiences support positive cultural identity and a sense of belonging.

Key Goals of Heritage Language Programs

High-quality heritage language programs are designed to achieve the following goals:

• Language Maintenance and Development: Strengthen and expand learners’ proficiency in the heritage language.

• Biliteracy: Develop advanced reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing skills in the heritage language.

• Intercultural Competence: Deepen understanding of cultural perspectives, practices, and products associated with the language community.

• Identity and Belonging: Foster positive cultural identity and connections to family, community, and heritage.

• Academic and Career Readiness: Prepare learners to apply multilingual skills in higher education, careers, and civic life.

Benefits of Heritage Language Programs

Research and practice demonstrate numerous educational, linguistic, cultural, and social benefits associated with heritage language learning and maintenance.

• Strengthens bilingualism, biliteracy, and multilingualism by building upon learners’ existing language assets.

• Supports communication within families, communities, and cultural networks across generations.

• Promotes positive cultural identity, self-confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.

• Enhances intercultural competence and the ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts.

• Develops advanced literacy skills and academic language proficiency in the heritage language.

• Expands opportunities for college, career, and community engagement in multilingual settings.

• Helps preserve linguistic and cultural heritage while fostering appreciation for cultural diversity.

• Recognizes and validates the linguistic knowledge students bring to the classroom as valuable assets.

• Supports civic participation and community connections through meaningful engagement with heritage language communities.

• Contributes to a multilingual workforce capable of meeting local, national, and global needs.

Implementation Considerations

Successful heritage language programs require thoughtful planning and collaboration among schools, families, and communities.

• Conducting needs assessments to understand learner backgrounds and proficiency levels.

• Using instructional strategies tailored to heritage language learners.

• Providing culturally relevant and authentic learning materials.

• Engaging families and community members as valuable partners in language development.

• Supporting literacy development alongside oral language proficiency.

• Creating welcoming and affirming learning environments that value multilingualism.

• Establishing pathways for learners to earn recognition for their language proficiency, such as the Seal of Biliteracy.

• Collaborating with community organizations and heritage language communities to support authentic learning experiences.

Resources

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

• Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

• National Heritage Language Resource Center (NHLRC)

• NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements

• Seal of Biliteracy Resources

• State and Local World Language Standards and Heritage Language Resources