Faculty Attitudes Towards Heritage Language and Heritage Language Teaching Policy in Washington State Community College Spanish Departments

Abstract

Felix (2009) and Potowski (2002) have shown that negative attitudes about Heritage language can impact Heritage speakers in the classroom. This paper describes research carried out to assess the attitudes toward Heritage Spanish held by instructors in a higher education setting. Spanish faculty members in Washington State community colleges were surveyed using a verbal guise (e.g. Lambert, Gardner, Hodgson & Fillenbaum 1960; Zahn & Hopper 1985) to assess their reactions to what they were told were two different varieties of Spanish. Respondents were also asked questions about Heritage language teaching policy. The results suggest that the Heritage guises are viewed as less correct with respect to grammar and pronunciation; however the responses varied with regard to social attributes. Respondents agreed that Heritage Language Teaching Policy is important but their responses varied on implementation of such policies.