Heritage Languages and Speakers 3223-AMMS-HLS
This course aims to take a closer look at heritage languages and their speakers. Heritage languages as non-dominant languages are often assigned lower prestige and their speakers also speak the society's dominant language. In this course, we will reframe heritage languages as assets, bringing social and individual benefits, and will investigate how they can be maintained and fostered. The course will take an ecological perspective by exploring the dynamics of heritage language development, maintenance and loss across various levels:
micro (individual and family), meso (community and school settings) and macro (societal).
This approach allows scrutinising the nuances of each context and identifying synergies
among them.
The course begins with defining the concepts of heritage languages and heritage language speakers, taking a close look at the context of migration and its specificity across the globe. Its structure reflects the ecological approach taken. First, we will take a look at the family context and identify how different language ideologies and practices affect heritage language maintenance and loss. Special heed will be paid both to parents/caregivers and children’s agencies in this respect, as well as the role of emotions. Then, we will analyse different approaches to linguistic diversity in educational settings and ways of promoting it through home-school partnerships. After that, we will explore how state policies affect heritage languages and how they can be translated into educational initiatives with a special recourse to learning and teaching Polish as a heritage language at Polish Saturday Schools.
The course will also offer an overview of the state-of-the-art research in the field of heritage language studies and methods of collecting heritage language data. Thus, it will equip students with theory, methods and terminology to critically analyse, discuss, and research various phenomena and problems related to multilingualism and multiculturalism.
Topics
Heritage Languages and Speakers: An introduction
Social aspects of Heritage Languages
2. Migration and Heritage Languages in Europe
4. Migration and Heritage Languages in non-European contexts
5. Language and Cultural Capital of Heritage Language Speakers
6. Family Language Policy and Heritage Language Maintenance
7. Child Agency in Heritage Language Maintenance
8. Emotional Aspects of Heritage Language Maintenance and Loss
9. Fostering Heritage Language Maintenace in Educational Settings
10. Promoting Linguistic and Cultural Diversity through Home-School Partnerships
11. Social aspects of State and Community Support for Heritage Language Maintenace
12. Polish as a Heritage Language
13. Methods of Collecting Heritage Language Data
14. Research on Heritage Language Studies: An Overview and a Way Forward
15. Growing up in Multilingual Families: Heritage Language Speakers Case Study
Reports
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: the graduate knows and understands:
-at an advanced level conceptual and terminological apparatus in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism
-at an advanced level main directions of development and the most important achievements in the area of multilingualism and multiculturalism
-at an advanced level contemporary research trends in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism
-the latest research methodology used in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism
-relations between language and culture and religion sciences as well as sociology
Skills: the graduate is able to:
-prepare written works in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism in English (including works bearing the features of a scientific text)
-search, analyse and utilise information using available sources
-recognize different genres of texts and conduct their in-depth analysis and interpretation using various methods
-argue substantively using the views of other authors and formulate conclusions
-integrate knowledge relevant to multilingualism and multiculturalism
-independently develop and give an oral presentation on a selected topic in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism using source literature
-formulate, analyse and synthesise research problems in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism and select adequate methods and tools to solve these problems, present the developed issues using various forms and methods
-work independently and in a group to acquire knowledge and develop research skills in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism
-use the English language in speech and writing compliant with the requirements set out for the B2+ level according to CEFR
Social competences: the graduate is ready to:
-recognise the importance of knowledge and seek expert advice when problems arise
-critically assess knowledge and skills in the field of multilingualism and multiculturalism
Assessment criteria
Assessment
Active participation (discussions and tasks): 40%
Final assignment (project/ paper): 60%
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: