4. Service Learning as an Ecological Resource: Providing Learning Opportunities for Mixed Second and Heritage Language Classrooms

Transforming the community’s linguistic landscape in a mixed-learner service learning capstone course in a Spanish for specific purposes program

“…Service learning is seen by some as an ecologically perfect didactic tool for HLLs within the context of Spanish for the professions (Lafford, 2009;Lear 2012Lear , 2017Fernández & Osa-Melero, 2017;King de Ramírez, 2017;Tocaimaza-Hatch & Walls, 2017;Abbott & Martínez, 2018;Sánchez-López, 2019). LSP scholars argue that service learning, in an ecological way, provides adequate learning opportunities for heritage speakers to optimize their learning process and develop professional leadership skills within contexts and adaptable interactions.…”

“…Este artículo explora un enfoque ecológico para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de idiomas, y el aprendizaje-servicio (van Lier, 1997;Tocaimaza-Hatch & Walls, 2017) para el aula avanzada mixta de aprendizaje de segunda lengua y el aprendizaje como lengua de herencia, en particular para español para fines específicos en la educación superior en los Estados Unidos (King de Ramírez, 2017). Un nuevo curso final mixto de una concentración de español profesional aplicado centrado en la transformación del paisaje lingüístico de la comunidad (Landry & Bourhis, 1997) utiliza el aprendizaje en servicio comunitario vinculado a los intereses profesionales de los estudiantes (Sánchez-López, 2013a, 2013bKing de Ramírez, 2017;Abbott & Martínez, 2018) para avanzar en su desarrollo de multialfabetismo, competencia intercultural, habilidades de liderazgo y responsabilidad social.…”

“…due to their occupational intentionality. HLLs also find SSP courses useful as they typically lack knowledge of the technical terminology and specific language functions required in a specific profession, even though they may already be equipped with much of the cultural background included in the SSP curriculum (King de Ramírez, 2017;Tocaimaza-Hatch & Walls, 2017;Abbott & Martínez, 2018).…”