Peggy Wheeler's Spanish class is different from most foreign language classes because the language isn't foreign to her students.
Her 14 charges at Annapolis High School speak Spanish fluently. They don't need to learn to count in Spanish or to practice rolling their R's.
Instead, they are honing their ability to read and write their native language in Wheeler's "Spanish for Heritage Speakers" class.
Although critics lament time not spent studying English, researchers say the heritage courses build confidence and help the students to stay proficient in their native language and to gear up for college-level courses. The classes also boost job prospects and enhance the students' mastery of English.
"It's my language, and you can never stop learning your language," said Candida Lemus, 17, who came to Annapolis last year from El Salvador.
Since the mid-1970s, such courses have grown popular nationwide, especially in large immigrant centers such as New York City, California and Texas.
In Maryland, Montgomery County has more than 1,600 middle and high school "heritage language learners" in native Spanish courses. Officials there are also developing a French course for students from former French-speaking colonies.
Prince George's County offers native Spanish and French courses. Howard County is piloting two levels of a Spanish heritage class and hopes to submit it as a proposal for a new course.
"What we're trying to do is be sure that students that have that language skill can use it," said Robert E. Robison, Montgomery County's program supervisor of foreign languages.
This is the fourth year that Annapolis High has offered a heritage language course.
Cathy Nelson, coordinator of Anne Arundel's English for Speakers of Other Languages program, said the idea is to make students "not only bilingual but biliterate."
Students whose native language is Spanish have vocabulary and other language skills and an innate understanding of some grammar, "yet they needed more detailed, practical refinement of their writing skills," said Deborah Espitia, Howard County's coordinator of foreign language and ESOL.
Teachers might assume that a student who speaks Spanish can read and write in the language as well, but that's not necessarily the case.
