College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms?
Arabic heritage language learners have different skills, needs, and reasons to study the language than true beginners. This study highlights these elements, justifying heritage language learners’ placement into classes specifically addressing these issues. While both types of Arabic learners strive...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages |
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| Online Access: | http://www.ncolctl.org/files/College-Level_Arabic_Heritage_Learners.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819112563016728576 |
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| author | Hana Zabarah |
| author_facet | Hana Zabarah |
| author_sort | Hana Zabarah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Arabic heritage language learners have different skills, needs, and reasons to study the language than true beginners. This study highlights these elements, justifying heritage language learners’ placement into classes specifically addressing these issues. While both types of Arabic learners strive to learn the same language, heritage learners almost certainly bring some cultural background and linguistic skills to the classroom, often giving them an advantage over second language learners. In order to appreciate and understand the unique qualities these students have, a 16-item survey was administered to incoming college-level heritage students for three consecutive academic years. It was designed to capture language background, exposure, skills and needs, and students’ reasons for studying Arabic. Addressing the needs of heritage speakers of Arabic in the classroom will allow them to reach higher proficiency levels at an accelerated rate. Ignoring these qualities will ultimately lead to high attrition rates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:15:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8be299ca04d4c79ad65e1b0bfe5a769 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1930-9031 1930-9031 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:15:29Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8be299ca04d4c79ad65e1b0bfe5a7692022-12-21T18:39:26ZengNational Council of Less Commonly Taught LanguagesJournal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages1930-90311930-90312016-03-01189312010.10119/issn.1930-9031.2016.03.08College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms?Hana Zabarah0Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service in QatarArabic heritage language learners have different skills, needs, and reasons to study the language than true beginners. This study highlights these elements, justifying heritage language learners’ placement into classes specifically addressing these issues. While both types of Arabic learners strive to learn the same language, heritage learners almost certainly bring some cultural background and linguistic skills to the classroom, often giving them an advantage over second language learners. In order to appreciate and understand the unique qualities these students have, a 16-item survey was administered to incoming college-level heritage students for three consecutive academic years. It was designed to capture language background, exposure, skills and needs, and students’ reasons for studying Arabic. Addressing the needs of heritage speakers of Arabic in the classroom will allow them to reach higher proficiency levels at an accelerated rate. Ignoring these qualities will ultimately lead to high attrition rates.http://www.ncolctl.org/files/College-Level_Arabic_Heritage_Learners.pdfArabic heritagetypes of Arabic learners16-item survey |
| spellingShingle | Hana Zabarah College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms? Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages Arabic heritage types of Arabic learners 16-item survey |
| title | College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms? |
| title_full | College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms? |
| title_fullStr | College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms? |
| title_full_unstemmed | College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms? |
| title_short | College-Level Arabic Heritage Learners: Do they belong in Separate Classrooms? |
| title_sort | college level arabic heritage learners do they belong in separate classrooms |
| topic | Arabic heritage types of Arabic learners 16-item survey |
| url | http://www.ncolctl.org/files/College-Level_Arabic_Heritage_Learners.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hanazabarah collegelevelarabicheritagelearnersdotheybelonginseparateclassrooms |