ERIC Number: EJ824681
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Nov
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0790-8318
EISSN: N/A
Language Learning, Heritage, and Literacy in the USA: The Case of Arabic
Sehlaoui, Abdelilah Salim
Language, Culture and Curriculum, v21 n3 p280-291 Nov 2008
Over 3 million people speak Arabic as a first language in the USA and almost all of them are native-born Americans. Efforts in recent decades to provide support, at both local and governmental levels, for the teaching of Arabic as a heritage language are described. Reflecting on the development of his own personal literacies and his teaching experiences, the author develops a rationale for the acquisition and teaching of languages in general, whether first, second, foreign, global, indigenous, or heritage, and applies it to Arabic as a heritage language of the USA. Three general themes emerge: (1) the unique demands made by heritage languages on parents, (2) the central role of culture and literacy in the maintenance of heritage languages, and (3) the need to think of heritage language learning as a variety of language learning that must constitute a "dialogue" in a deeper-than-usual sense if it is to be successful.
Descriptors: Semitic Languages, Language Maintenance, Second Language Instruction, Bilingualism, Family Environment, Government School Relationship, Language Acquisition, Second Language Learning, Parent Child Relationship, Parents as Teachers
Multlingual Matters. Available from Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A