New directions in heritage language pedagogy

Abstract

This chapter discusses how community service-learning (CSL) meets specific pedagogical challenges in Spanish heritage language (SHL) education. The integration of community service with academic instruction enhances student academic and civic learning and simultaneously strengthens communities. This chapter presents the multiple ways student CSL experiences can contribute to heritage language (HL) and cultural development, such as fostering positive identities and relationships with local communities, raising awareness of sociolinguistic and sociopolitical issues, developing language skills, career and professional goals, among others. The chapter provides a how-to guide for instructors to successfully design a course that takes advantage of all CSL has to offer to both HL learners and communities.