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College Professors Chatboard

Natives & heritage in non-native classes (HS & College)

by Daniel Hanson

Aug 26, 2010

This week I have been trying to move natives and heritage speakers out of my Spanish I classes and into either the native speakers' class or my Spanish II classes (especially if they are heritage speakers). And I've been contemplating this issue a lot today.

One of our department goals is to have a clear plan of attack and involve the guid...See MoreThis week I have been trying to move natives and heritage speakers out of my Spanish I classes and into either the native speakers' class or my Spanish II classes (especially if they are heritage speakers). And I've been contemplating this issue a lot today.

One of our department goals is to have a clear plan of attack and involve the guidance counselors in it with the whole native speakers and heritage learners in non-native speakers classes. Currently, and in the past, it seems like guidance counselors don't really know what to do about this or aren't proactive about making sure these students are kept out of the lower, non-native classes, even if the kid wants to be in that class.

How supportive is your administration and counselors about not allowing these students to be in these kind of classes?

How proactive are colleges about this issue?

And how proactive are colleges about the college admissions requirement about taking so many foreign language classes? At my school, I've been told by an adminstrator and by the head guidance counselor that when a student takes a native speakers' class, it counts as if they had taken two years of a FL language class in terms of college entrance requirements. I was also told that college really don't look at 8th grade and freshmen grades/classes. So, if a native speaker took Spanish I as a freshman and then moved up to a native speakers' class the following year, that first year wouldn't be considered by college admissions. Is all of this true?

I feel kind of frustrated about the lack of prevention on this issue. I think natives should flat out not be allowed to enroll in non-native courses, no matter what. As for heritage learners, I think they should be enrolled in Spanish II and go from there.

What is done at the college level to remove and ensure that native and heritage speakers don't enroll in lower level, non-native classes?

I wish there was some consistency across the board (at all high schools and colleges) on this issue.

Do you think people outside of our profession don't see the harm or don't care about it all that much?

Thanks for your input! :)

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marjoryt As you've described the proposal, this may be considered ability grouping. K12 schools lost that battle in the courts years ago, which is why they have ESL, LD, and even SPED students mainstreamed in whole or in part. If your institution accepts federal funding for its students (PELL grants), then it may well be under similar restrictions.
...See More

Sep 1, 2010

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Betty I just noticed the date on this post but the problem is still very relevant even 5 years later.

Apart from it not being an issue outside of school I do believe that it is detrimental for students who are truly non-native students be in a class with other students that are Native speakers.

On 8/26/10, Daniel Hanson wrote: > Thi...See MoreI just noticed the date on this post but the problem is still very relevant even 5 years later.

Apart from it not being an issue outside of school I do believe that it is detrimental for students who are truly non-native students be in a class with other students that are Native speakers.

On 8/26/10, Daniel Hanson wrote: > This week I have been trying to move natives and heritage > speakers out of my Spanish I classes and into either the > native speakers' class or my Spanish II classes (especially > if they are heritage speakers). And I've been contemplating > this issue a lot today. > > One of our department goals is to have a clear plan of > attack and involve the guidance counselors in it with the > whole native speakers and heritage learners in non- native > speakers classes. Currently, and in the past, it seems like > guidance counselors don't really know what to do about this > or aren't proactive about making sure these students are > kept out of the lower, non-native classes, even if the kid > wants to be in that class. > > How supportive is your administration and counselors about > not allowing these students to be in these kind of classes? > > How proactive are colleges about this issue? > > And how proactive are colleges about the college admissions > requirement about taking so many foreign language classes? > At my school, I've been told by an adminstrator and by the > head guidance counselor that when a student takes a native > speakers' class, it counts as if they had taken two years > of a FL language class in terms of college entrance > requirements. I was also told that college really don't > look at 8th grade and freshmen grades/classes. So, if a > native speaker took Spanish I as a freshman and then moved > up to a native speakers' class the following year, that > first year wouldn't be considered by college admissions. Is > all of this true? > > I feel kind of frustrated about the lack of prevention on > this issue. I think natives should flat out not be allowed > to enroll in non-native courses, no matter what. As for > heritage learners, I think they should be enrolled in > Spanish II and go from there. > > What is done at the college level to remove and ensure that > native and heritage speakers don't enroll in lower level, > non-native classes? > > I wish there was some consistency across the board (at all > high schools and colleges) on this issue. > > Do you think people outside of our profession don't see the > harm or don't care about it all that much? > > Thanks for your input! :)

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