Journal Article

The Independent Self-Directed Language Learner and the Role of the Language Educator — Expanding Access and Opportunity

Stein-Smith, Kathleen

2023

Overview

There is a foreign language deficit in the US – not only do Americans tend to speak only English, but US students do not always have the opportunity to learn additional languages, including heritage or family languages. On the other hand, most Americans have a heritage language in their background, and 70M in the US speak another language in the home.  Independent learning is an important element in effectively addressing the foreign language deficit both in terms of Anglophone Americans learning additional languages and of heritage language speakers maintaining and re-acquiring their heritage language(s). This article examines how, in the classroom and beyond, language educators can play a valuable role in empowering and supporting independent self-directed learners to learn another language and in developing sustainable environments for language use in the home, community, and workplace. In addition, it is necessary to work to increase the accessibility and affordability of language learning so that those who are not in the educational system, especially adult learners, have access to learning new languages, including heritage languages. It is equally – and perhaps even more – important that parents and communities are supported in their efforts to maintain their family language and ensure that their children have an opportunity to learn and use their family language. Language educators can also work to develop materials for language learning freely accessible to all as well as opportunities for the use of different languages in their institutions and communities, as well as in the workplace.

• Publisher: Academy Publication Co., LTD,Academy Publication Co., Ltd
• Subject: Access / Adult education / Adult learning / Adult students / Affordability / Americans / Anglophones / Children / Classrooms / Community / Cultural heritage / Distance learning / Education / Education work relationship / Empowerment / English language / Families & family life / Foreign language learning / Foreign languages / Genealogy / Heritage language / Language / Language acquisition / Language instruction / Language teachers / Language usage / Languages / Learning / Linguistic minorities / Methods / Practice / Second language learning / Study abroad / Teachers / University students / Workplaces