For placement purposes, Wichita State distinguishes as follows between heritage and native speakers of a language:

  • Heritage speakers: If you grew up bilingual in the U.S., speaking a language other than English at home, but have all or most of your formal education in English, you are probably a heritage speaker of your home language. If that language was Spanish, you should enroll in SPAN 221, Spanish for Heritage Speakers. This class is oriented toward people who have fluency but little formal study in the language.
  • Native speakers: If you grew up in a non-English-speaking country and have most or all of your formal education in a language other than English, you are probably a native speaker of that language. Native speakers do not enroll in 100- and 200-level language courses.

There is some fluidity between these two categories, so if you have questions about your situation please contact the MCLL advisor, Julie Henderson, at julie.henderson@wichita.edu

 

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