Empowering teachers is necessary for empowering students. Teachers must understand and transform the possibilities inside and outside the classroom as active agents, in order to lead students to do the same.
Professor Anna Mendoza, What is "postmethod" language teaching and why has it been so influential? Annamend.com
Professor Anna Mendoza, What is "postmethod" language teaching and why has it been so influential? Annamend.com
Our mission
Focused on issues of practice, The Heritage Language Exchange (HLX) is a hub of resources for HL teachers and language programs at all levels of education.
Focused on issues of practice, The Heritage Language Exchange (HLX) is a hub of resources for HL teachers and language programs at all levels of education.
Our strategic priorities
A performance-driven approach to teaching
We focus on creating and collecting practical resources with direct application to HL teaching, curriculum design, and program direction.
A bottom-up and inclusive approach to growing HL education
Practicing teachers are both our target audience as well as a key source of knowledge, ideas, and guidance for continuous improvement of HL education. We also seek out the contributions of students, parents, local community members, school administrators, and researchers.
A place-based, differentiated approach to teaching and learning
Heritage languages are taught and used in a wide range of institutional settings and local conditions, rendering a one-size-fits-all approach to instruction and program design untenable. We seek place-based solutions that instantiate the best practices of HL teaching while also responding to local challenges.
A values-based approach to HL education
Driven by the conviction that heritage languages are on the critical path to social justice, our organization seeks to expand academic and social opportunities for language minority students through initiatives that reflect their lived experiences, build on their strengths, and address obstacles to their success.
A performance-driven approach to teaching
We focus on creating and collecting practical resources with direct application to HL teaching, curriculum design, and program direction.
A bottom-up and inclusive approach to growing HL education
Practicing teachers are both our target audience as well as a key source of knowledge, ideas, and guidance for continuous improvement of HL education. We also seek out the contributions of students, parents, local community members, school administrators, and researchers.
A place-based, differentiated approach to teaching and learning
Heritage languages are taught and used in a wide range of institutional settings and local conditions, rendering a one-size-fits-all approach to instruction and program design untenable. We seek place-based solutions that instantiate the best practices of HL teaching while also responding to local challenges.
A values-based approach to HL education
Driven by the conviction that heritage languages are on the critical path to social justice, our organization seeks to expand academic and social opportunities for language minority students through initiatives that reflect their lived experiences, build on their strengths, and address obstacles to their success.
About us
Sybil Alexandrov
Senior Lector II in Spanish Department of Spanish and Portuguese Yale University I grew up and was educated on both sides of the Mexican/US border where I navigated Spanish and English with family and friends. As the parent of heritage speakers of yet another language and a long-time instructor of Spanish for heritage learners, the value of promoting and facilitating heritage language maintenance is paramount to me. |
Maria M. Carreira
Emerita Professor of Spanish California State University, Long Beach Co-Founder and Emerita Co-Director, National Heritage Language Resource Center, UCLA As a heritage speaker of Spanish I know firsthand the rewards and challenges that come from maintaining the home language. That knowledge, along with my research, informs my vision for HLX. [email protected] |
Alejandro Lee
Professor of Spanish Santa Monica College As a heritage speaker of Chinese (broad definition) and teacher of heritage Spanish, I support all heritage languages and learners at all levels. |