Language, Individual & Society, Volume 9, 2015

Abstract: Reflecting the new geopolitical situation of the globalized world, a new type of identity has emerged in recent years among many first and second generation heritage language speakers. Rather than detaching themselves from the country of origin, these speakers take on a “transnational” identity, bridging the host and home countries with strong interpersonal, societal and economic ties. These transnational links are supported by technological advances that enhance opportunities for the maintenance of heritage languages. In addition, scholarly interest in heritage languages has increased substantially over the past twenty years, enhancing the academic community’s understanding of heritage language speakers’ backgrounds and needs. This paper addresses support ethnic and transnational identity in the realm of foreign language (L2) instruction at the university level, applying research on heritage speaker identities and recent developments in foreign language methodology.