Eric

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a language learner?

I:  Well, so what do you feel that your strengths are as a learner?

E:  U:::m (4)  I’m not quite sure.  I’m pretty good at memorizing the vocab, but then it seems like I forget it easier than the grammar.  The grammar takes a little bit more time but then it sticks with you longer, I guess because maybe just the repetition of it I suppose, ‘cause like, uh, you don’t have to reuse a, like a word the same way that you do for grammar.

I:  What about some weaknesses as a language learner?

E:  U:::h, listening comprehension would probably be mine, I know, it’s probably different for most of the students, but um, I think maybe it’s because you don’t really hear it that often.  Like, you could be walking down the street and possibly hear like Spanish or French, like around campus, I mean around campus there are Asian, a lot of Asian students so you do hear like, uh, some Chinese or Korean and stuff here and there and like, I can sort of pick up stuff, but u:::h, I guess you just don’t, it’s not the same.

I:  Mm-hm.

E:  Like there’s not like a Korean channel to watch.

I:  There isn’t on television?

E:  U::h…

I:  Or on the radio?

E:  I don’t, maybe there is on the radio.  I mean on TV, if you’ve, I, I have cable and I haven’t come across one.  Maybe you could special order one, but.

I:  Yeah, I don’t know if there’s one either, I just.  Hm.

E:  Yeah, and it’s not like they do it on movies either.  Like most American movies, they have the French or Spanish like subtitles or switching the language but.

I:  Hm.

E:  Not for like Russian or anything exotic in comparison.


Reflections – Are there certain strengths or weaknesses that you have observed as being characteristic of heritage or domestic language learners? If so, what were they and how did you adjust your teaching to meet their unique linguistic and or educational needs? What techniques do you use to evaluate your students strengths and weaknesses prior to formal assessments? What strategies do you use to capitalize on your students strengths? What strategies do you use to develop areas of weakness?

Several of the domestic learners in this section say they struggle with pronunciation and listening skills as a result of lack of input. On the other hand, not surprisingly, the heritage language learners identify these skills as strengths due to the authentic input of friends and family. To what extent do you incorporate authentic input into the course either in or outside of the classroom?

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