The Alliance for the Advancement of Heritage Languages

1. The Alliance for the Advancement of Heritage Languages

2. What is the Alliance? Individuals and organizations committed to working together to • promote the conservation and development of the heritage languages in the United States • promote the education of a citizenry that can function professionally in English and other languages

3. Heritage language speakers • Heritage language speakers include immigrant, refugee, and indigenous groups and their offspring. • Their oral proficiency and literacy in the language may range from zero to native level. • They may have uneven skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

4. Guiding Principles of the Alliance • The United States is rich in diverse languages and cultures. • These languages and cultures must be preserved and developed for enhancing our world language capacity and cultural diversity.

5. Guiding Principles of the Alliance • The United States must ensure that all citizens are equipped linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic society at home and abroad. • All students must develop oral proficiency and literacy in English and at least one other language.

6. Guiding Principles of the Alliance • Americans who have a language other than English as their heritage language should maintain and develop that language as they acquire English • English-speaking Americans should study another language.

7. To promote the maintenance and development of heritage languages, we need policies, strategies, and resources. • We need to develop structures through which we can collaborate to accomplish this vision. 

9. Current Alliance Efforts Infrastructure Building and Information Exchange Awareness and Public Relations

10. Infrastructure Building and Information Exchange • Profiles of heritage language programs (e.g., heritage language schools and other language programs, curricula and materials, resources) Project in progress • Information about language policy, teaching, and research • Updates on innovation, experimentation, and linkages among different education sectors

11. Public Relations and Promotion General public Heritage language communities District and state boards of education Language and other educators National education organizations Government agencies

12. Future Directions

13. Policy Development and Advice Development of and influence on national, state, and local policy related to language maintenance and development Advice to groups seeking to engage in heritage language development projects

14. Research First language literacy Transmission and maintenance of heritage languages Heritage language learning andattrition Heritage language communities and speakers Bilingualism in heritage language speakers Heritage languages in mainstream education Instruction of heritage language learners (curricula, instructional strategies, materials, assessments) Policy developments International comparisons

15. Professional Development Pre- and in-service training and professional development for heritage language program teachers and administrators Interpreters and translators (e.g., medical, judicial, military) Educators and others working with heritage language communities and learners

16. Coordination Language offerings Language-specific curricula and materials Learner assessment and program evaluation Policy activity

18. Community Settings Heritage communities and schools Related social, cultural, and business activities and organizations PreK-12 Education Teachers School and district administrators Local boards of education State departments of education Parents

19. Higher Education (universities and community colleges) Settings for language study, research, training and professional development of language educators Non-government Organizations Research and policy institutes Professional associations Labor organizations Advocacy organizations Private foundations

20. Federal Government Agencies Legislatures Courts Private Sector Business and industry Private corporations Language services industry Media

21. Contribute to the work of the Heritage Languages Alliance • Submit a profile of your heritage language program (www.cal.org/heritage/programs/profiles/) • Propose and conduct a project under the umbrella of the Alliance • Let others know about the Alliance • Serve as regional or local coordinator to promote the Alliance Interested? Visit www.cal/org/hertiage or contact Joy Kreeft Peyton, joy@cal.org