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Heritage learners studying abroad
Edited by Angela George
[Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education 8:2] 2023
► pp. 177–196

The changing landscape of heritage language learners abroad

Current research and future directions

ORCID logo | University of Calgary
This special issue highlights current research on topics related to linguistic and identity development of heritage language learners (HLLs) who participate in study abroad programs. With the steady increase of study abroad, it is becoming more common for HLLs to study in the country of their heritage or in one where the heritage language is spoken. The issues and challenges faced by HLLs often differ from their second language counterparts. While research on the linguistic development of HLLs abroad is increasing, much work remains. This introduction will highlight the importance of researching HLLs abroad, the growing amount of research conducted on HLLs, and identity work on HLLs abroad. In addition to these topics, several ideas are provided for future research on HLLs abroad. Following this, the articles in the special issue are presented, emphasizing how they contribute to the topics presented in this introductory section.
Keywords: heritage learners, study abroad, identity
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.HLLs of languages other than Spanish
  • 3.Identity and linguistic development of HLLs abroad
  • 4.Future research directions
    • 4.1Pedagogical training
    • 4.2Methodological considerations
    • 4.3Program structure
    • 4.4Future research fields
  • 5.Contributions to this issue
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 5 October 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sar.23005.geo
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