World Language Classroom
Celebrating Identity and Dialects in Heritage Classes with Courtney Nygaard
Published: 2 June 2025 at 07:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
#199
How can celebrating identity and dialects transform the experience of language learners? In this episode I'm joined by Courtney Nygaard, a teacher of heritage Spanish speakers in Minnesota. Courtney shares how she honors and values her students' identities as a way to build confidence, connection, and community in the classroom. We talk about practical strategies for embracing dialectal differences, navigating varied proficiency levels, and fostering a space where all students feel seen and valued. Whether you teach a heritage class or not, this conversation will inspire you to make your classroom a place where every student and experience is valued.
Topics in this Episode:
- importance of celebrating identity and dialects in language classes
- strategies or activities you can use to acknowledge and honor the diverse identities and dialects of your students
- challenges that might arise when students speak different dialects or have varying levels of proficiency in the heritage language
- Courtney's success stories and examples where celebrating identity and dialects positively impacted her students' learning and engagement?
- for teachers who don’t have heritage classes, how you can create an inclusive and supportive environment that respects and celebrates the linguistic diversity of your students
Connect with Courtney Nygaard:
- Instagram: @profenygaard
- Website: www.heritagespanish.com, www.profenygaard.com
Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:
- wlclassrom.com
- X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
- Threads: @wlclassroom
- Instagram: @wlclassroom
- Facebook: /wlclassroom
- WLClassroom Facebook Group
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