NATIVE/HERITAGE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN IN THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM

[Jane Shuffelton]

Dear Professor Polowy,
 
I have had the situation of mixed heritage/native speaker and traditional  
learners in classes for almost two decades in Brighton High School, Rochester,  
NY. I realize that of course there are differences between high school and  
post-secondary situations, but even so, the issues involved are surely  similar.
 
 One factor that should help at some point will be the forthcoming  Advanced 
Placement Examination in Russian.  This year it will be open by  invitation 
only, but we expect it to be available to all in 2006-2007.   Departments could 
then presumable make policy that top scores on that exam would  determine 
placement in upper level courses, and students could not fake their  way into 
elementary level classes.
 
As for approaches to teaching these mixed groups, you might take a look at  
the workshops that are available on the web at _www.learner.org_ 
(http://www.learner.org) .  The foreign language  part of this site includes videos of 
discussions by language professionals on a  number of issues, and one of them 
definitely focuses on mixed classes of various  sorts.  The videos of classes in 
action are also valuable.  As I  remember, there is one of a Chinese high school 
class with a mix of native  speakers and traditional learners.
 
Good luck with this!
 
Jane Shuffelton
 

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