Linguistic Correlates of Proficiency: A Comparison of Heritage and Foreign Language Learners at the Intermediate to Advanced Levels

This project will compare data from heritage speakers of Russian with L2 learners that closely match them in proficiency in order to highlight similarities and differences between these populations.

Project Director: Kira Gor (University of Maryland, College Park)

This project will collect data from heritage speakers of Russian closely matched in proficiency with L2 learners. Previous research during the pilot phase of the project has identified areas of differences between these two groups of learners, and a rigorous follow-up study is planned to demystify the similarities and differences between heritage and non-heritage learner profiles and developmental curves. Professor Gor will focus on determining linguistic barriers to proficiency at the Intermediate to Advanced Levels (ILR 1, 1+, and 2) for non-heritage learners. The results will be vital for curriculum planning, in particular for teaching mixed (heritage/non-heritage) classes.

Published: Friday, October 22, 2010