November 2nd, 2023 (3:00pm – 4:30pm Boston | 20:00 Madrid) | Via Zoom
RSVP: https://bit.ly/RSVP-Observatorio or info-observatory@fas.harvard.edu
This presentation will offer an overview of Spanish as a heritage language, addressing it as an object of study, as a pedagogical approach, and as a life experience for many young people who see how their linguistic and cultural realities are often questioned inside and outside the language classroom. Frequently, these types of experiences generate feelings of linguistic insecurity (and therefore identity), which in turn can provoke emotions of anxiety, disinterest, and rejection. With the aim of providing a solid theoretical base and a common frame of reference that will support us in promoting more responsible and committed teaching, we will try to answer questions such as: what is a heritage language? What are these speakers' linguistic characteristics? And their motivations, interests, and expectations? What emotional and socio-affective factors intervene in their linguistic dynamics? What, why, and how different circumstances (social, historical, political) and experiences (educational, racial, etc.) influence both the development of their linguistic and cultural identity and their general academic performance? In the final section of the talk, reflection and self-criticism will be encouraged to rethink and evaluate our own teaching practices.
This event is organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain Education Office.
Diego Pascual y Cabo is a professor of Linguistics and Spanish at the University of Florida, where he also directs the Spanish as a Heritage Language program. His current research revolves around the study of three areas: the acquisition, learning and teaching of Spanish as a heritage language; (racio)linguistic attitudes and ideologies; and the relationship between language, power, and identity. His publications have appeared in numerous scientific media of international reference, highlighting Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Applied Linguistics, Heritage Language Journal and Foreign Language Annals. In 2014, he founded the annual symposium of Spanish as a heritage language, and since 2018 he is the editor of the international academic journal Spanish Heritage Language Journal.
Language: Spanish