1. Riddle texts
The students receive an assignment to individually describe an event from the history, culture or geography of their country of origin, without, however, referencing the event, person or place by name. The topic should be …
Read more2. Reports, posters, presentations
This larger project may extend over several lessons. The students are tasked to create a report, a poster or presentation about an event or a significant person from their country of origin. The different methods …
Read more3. Worksheets, non-fiction texts and quizzes
In lieu of the instructors’ preparing all the worksheets, non-fiction texts, pictures, computer presentations, etc. for the heritage language classes, the students can occasionally do this just as well. In doing so, they can learn …
Read more4. Real or fictitious interviews
The students are tasked to conduct interviews concerning a previously discussed topic, to document it in writing and to present it to the class. Possible topics include the memories of parents and grandparents of their …
Read more5. Petitions, appeals
Following a discussion of unsatisfactory conditions or situations in the country of origin or the host country (country of residence), students brainstorm ideas about possible suggestions to ameliorate the situation and to whose attention concrete …
Read more6. Letters, mails and sms: class correspondence, blogs and chats
Many of the exciting possibilities for authentic written communication with other speakers of the same language were already referenced in #12: “writing for the target audience”. Aside from the classic letter writing, modern media has …
Read more7. Problem-oriented texts
Growing up in, with and between two cultures not only has positive sides, but also difficult aspects. Heritage language students have the advantage of double the resources, but may possibly also be confronted with prejudices …
Read more8. Fantasy texts, wishes and visions
Possible outlines and topics: If I were the President of my country of origin (or the one in which I now live)/ How I imagine my life in 20 years/ My vision of a world in …
Read more9. Language comparison
Comparing the students‘ first language with the language spoken in school (e. g. German), as well as comparisons between the standard (written) language and dialect versions of the heritage language is possible on various levels of …
Read moreTable of Contents
- Preface to the series “Materials for heritage language teaching”
- Introduction
- I. Introduction: low-threshold level writing examples and activities to promote motivation
- 1. Preliminary exercise: shared story telling by turns, sequels or chain stories
- 2. Writing collectively: alternating, continued, chain or folded stories
- 3. Texts with a colon: picking words, and who, where, what stories
- 4. Skeleton stories, emotive word stories, scaffolding stories
- 5. Imaginative writing in different social forms
- 6. Short artistic and creative tasks with language (see also # 22)
- 7. Language riddles
- II. Techniques and strategies for the various phases of the writing process
- 8. Finding ideas, pre-structuring the text
- 9. Planning the structure of the text (see also #16, Suggestions for text building)
- 10. Using titles, subtitles and paragraphs to structure and design a text
- 11. Techniques for revision and self-correction
- 12. Writing for the target audience; designing and presenting attractive texts
- 13. Guidelines for the students: worksheets WS 1 + 2
- III. Ideas to further partial aspects of writing
- 14. Suggestions for vocabulary building I: working with word fields and expanded language tools
- 15. Suggestions for vocabulary building II: working with gap-fill exercises and alternative word tests, etc.
- 16. Suggestions for text building and structuring (see also # 9)
- 17. Suggestions for improving writing style I: practice with acting and discovering style
- 18. Suggestions for improving style II: writing and summarizing in a precise, clear and exciting manner
- 19. Hints for improving syntax and morphology
- IV. Ideas for specific writing contexts
- 20. Writing occasions that are particularly suitable for heritage language education
- 21. Suitable projects for cooperation with mainstream education classes
- 1. Multilingual poetry collection (eleven poems, etc.)
- 2. Multilingual picture books or adventure books
- 3. Multilingual student papers or wall boards
- 4. Contributions to project weeks or exhibitions, like “our cultures”, “where we come from”, “great vacation destinations”, “our languages” etc.
- 5. Multilingual recipe collections
- 22. Artistic-creative design projects with language
- Bibliography