2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium (Feb. 20-21)

The 2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium is sponsored by the Department of Languages, Cultures and Translation, the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, the Chinese Undergraduate Student Association, the Arabic Culture Club, the Office of International Programs, and Vista Higher Learning.

The event will be held on February 20-21, 2025 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm US Eastern Standard Time.

Zoom links for hybrid and online events will be sent in February 2025.

Description

The symposium offers participants expert presentations on current research in heritage language learning and practical tools to teach heritage speakers. This year’s symposium will feature seven prominent scholars engaged in the field of Heritage Language Education. The presenters will share their research and practical experience with UNC Charlotte faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, K-12 educators, and attendees from other institutions. The 2025 Heritage Language Learning Symposium will focus on promoting a broad understanding of literacy practices and training for heritage speakers by bringing together experts in the fields of bilingual education in Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish.

The symposium will offer research presentations throughout the day and workshops in the afternoon where attendees will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from the invited experts.

Organizers

Symposium Goals

This symposium has five primary goals:

increase understanding of and knowledge about heritage speakers in the American educational context,
reflect on how innovative approaches to language teaching can benefit heritage speakers and L2 learners in the Carolinas and beyond,
provide language instructors with pedagogical tools to better teach to U.S. heritage speakers and L2 learners in mixed classrooms,
strengthen bilingual/heritage language education practices by connecting scholars, language instructors, and students at Charlotte and abroad, and
reflect on how teaching strategies have a different socio-affective impact on heritage language learners and L2 learners.

Featured Speakers

Dr. Diego Pascual y Cabo — University of Florida

Diego Pascual y Cabo is Colonel Allen R. and Margaret G. Crow Term Professor at the University of Florida. The focus of his teaching and research is Spanish heritage speaker bilingualism, which he examines from both theoretical and applied perspectives. Over the past few years, he published over 60 research papers in leading international academic journals such as Applied Linguistics, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, and Foreign Language Annals (among others). As a teacher, he is passionate about the pursuit of a more equitable, less oppressive, and more critically conscious education.

Dr. Jane Flatau Ross — Center for the Advancement of Languages, Education and Communities

Jane Flatau Ross, PhD, an experienced educator and scholar, has a significant background in international education, including impactful work at the Lycée Français de New York. She has devoted her career to advancing bilingual and dual-language initiatives, advocating for French Heritage Language programs. Her work has profoundly impacted immigrant communities, highlighting the importance of heritage languages in fostering cultural understanding and academic success. Her first book, Two Centuries of French Education in New York: The Role of Schools in Cultural Diplomacy (2020), explores the legacy and influence of French educational institutions in New York and their role in cultural diplomacy. Her upcoming book, Bridging Worlds: Heritage Languages and Social Cohesion, set for release in 2025, is a co-edited volume that examines how heritage languages contribute to social cohesion, inclusivity, and cultural connections. Alongside her books, she has co-authored numerous scholarly articles and book chapters that continue to inform educators and policymakers in multilingual and heritage language education worldwide.

Dr. Fabrice Jaumont — Center for the Advancement of Languages, Education and Communities

Fabrice Jaumont, PhD, a scholar-practitioner, award-winning author, and passionate advocate for multilingualism and bilingual education, is known for his extensive work promoting language access and education initiatives across communities. His significant contributions to bilingual education, philanthropy, and international cooperation have left a lasting impact. His focus on helping communities preserve their languages and cultures has been instrumental in developing dual-language programs in U.S. public schools and creating resources that empower families and educators to foster multilingual environments. He has authored or edited nine books, including The Bilingual Revolution: The Future of Education is in Two Languages (2017) and Conversations on Bilingualism (2022). Both have guided educators and policymakers worldwide by offering blueprints for bilingual programs that embrace cultural diversity and academic excellence. Through his writing and advocacy, Fabrice continues to drive a movement toward a more inclusive, multilingual society, making impactful contributions to communities worldwide

Dr. Ching-Hsuan Wu – Case Western Reserve University

Dr. Ching-Hsuan Wu is the Eirik Børve Endowed Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Case Western Reserve University. Dr.Wu holds a doctoral degree in second language education from The Ohio State University, and her research interests include teacher education, advanced language learning, pedagogical technology, and program administration. At Case Western Reserve, Dr. Wu teaches courses in second language acquisition and teaching methods and focuses on research related to educational technology in language and culture learning. She is also committed to promoting language learning through departmental innovative projects. Over the past decade, Dr. Wu has led multiple summer study-abroad programs (language, culture, and service learning) to Taiwan, China, and Korea and has experience directing federally-funded day and residential summer language learning camps for K-12 learners. She is also involved in the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth and has served on committees to evaluate national scholarship applications, such as the Boren Fellowship and Fulbright Scholarship. In addition, Dr. Wu has received multiple external and internal grants to support her research and teaching activities, such as a National Security Education Program grant, a Mellon Foundation grant, the Thomas E. Wenzlau Presidential Discretionary grant, and Institutional Humanities Pedagogy Innovation grants.

Dr. María Carreira – American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

Maria Carreira currently serves as the Executive Director of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (aatsp.org). She is Emerita Professor of Spanish linguistics at California State University, Long Beach and a co-founder and Emerita co-director of The National Heritage Language Resource Center at UCLA. Most recently, she has served on the ACTFL Board and co-created The Heritage Language Exchange (HLXchange.com), a site for and by teachers of heritage languages.

Dr. Mike Turner – University of North Carolina Wilmington

Dr. Mike Turner is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he teaches courses in Arabic and International Studies. His research focuses on the history of the Arabic language and grammatical descriptions of modern Arabic dialects. As a dialectologist, he is interested in pedagogical approaches to variation within the language, and has created and piloted materials for teaching Moroccan Arabic in tandem with Modern Standard Arabic in a single classroom.

Dr. Jocelly G. Meiners – University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Jocelly G. Meiners is Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Texas at Austin. She specializes in teaching and developing courses and materials for Spanish heritage learners, Spanish for healthcare professionals, and courses implementing open pedagogy and experiential learning. Dr. Meiners currently serves as co-director for the Texas Coalition for Heritage Spanish (TeCHS), where she collaborates with other Texas universities and works on promoting Open Pedagogies and the use of Open Educational Resources to advance the field of heritage Spanish instruction.

Schedule

Thursday February 20, 2025

10:00 am – 10:10 am US EST

Opening Remarks: Dr. Chris Boyer, Dean, College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences
Delivery Mode: Zoom (link: TBA)

10:10 am – 12:00pm US EST

Research Presentation: Rethinking Spanish Language Instruction in Mixed Classrooms
Featured Speaker: Dr. Diego Pascual y Cabo
Delivery Mode: Zoom (link: TBA)

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm US EST

Research Presentation: Building Bridges through Heritage Language: Insights from the French Heritage Language Program and Beyond
Featured Speaker: Dr. Jane Ross and Dr. Fabrice Jaumont
Delivery Mode: Zoom (link: TBA)

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm US EST

Workshop: Teaching Heritage Learners: Project-Based Language Learning
Featured Speaker: Dr. Ching-Hsuan Wu
Location: Language Resource Center (Mebane Hall 434, 4th Floor)
Delivery Mode: Hybrid (Zoom link: TBA)

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm US EST

Workshop: Learning with a Real-Life Purpose: Project-based learning in heritage and mixed classes
Featured Speaker: Dr. María Carreira
Delivery Mode: In person. Language Resource Center (Mebane Hall 434, 4th Floor)

Friday February 21, 2025

10:00 am – 10:10 am US EST

Opening Remarks – Dr. Anabel Aliaga-Buchenau, Chair, Department of Languages, Cultures and Translation
Location: Language Resource Center (Mebane Hall 434, 4th Floor)
Delivery Mode: Hybrid (Zoom link: TBA)

10:10 am – 12:00 pm US EST

Research Presentation: Heritage Languages Beyond the Confines of Academia
Featured Speaker: Dr. Maria Carreira
Delivery Mode: Hybrid (Zoom link: TBA)

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm US EST

Research Presentation: Navigating Mixed Dialects, Backgrounds, and Motivations: Lessons from the Arabic Classroom
Featured Speaker: Dr. Mike Turner
Location: Language Resource Center (Mebane Hall 434, 4th Floor)
Delivery Mode: Hybrid (Zoom link: TBA)

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm US EST

Workshop: Going Open in the Heritage Language Classroom: An Introduction to Open Educational Resources and Open Pedagogy
Featured Speaker: Dr. Jocelly G. Meiners
Delivery Mode: In person. Language Resource Center (Mebane Hall 434, 4th Floor)

REGISTRATION

There is no cost to attend the symposium, but attendees must register in advance. The deadline for registration is February 1st, 2025. Click the following link to register:

Symposium Registration