Imagine you’re an immigrant in the U.S. who wants your children to assimilate and be accepted. They speak a heritage language at home and the majority language at school.
Should you stop speaking Spanish at home, for example, to help them learn English more easily?
Dr. Luciane Maimone, assistant professor of modern and classical languages, says no.
“Being an immigrant myself, I can relate to the powerful connection between language, culture and one’s sense of self,” Maimone said. “Maintaining children’s home languages is key to their identities and for their social and academic development.”