How do heritage learners learn language—and do they learn better than university students?
Heritage learners—those raised in homes where a language is spoken but educated primarily in another—don’t start from zero. They begin with latent fluency : sound patterns, cultural intuition, and emotional resonance. They don’t necessarily learn better than university students, but they learn more personally —reclaiming identity as much as mastering grammar. š Why heritage learners learn differently Their learning is shaped by memory, emotion, and belonging. 1. Early exposure Heritage learners often: heard the language at home, used fragments in childhood, and internalized pronunciation and rhythm. They possess implicit knowledge —the feel of the language—even if vocabulary and grammar are incomplete. 2. Emotional motivation They learn to: reconnect with family, reclaim cultural identity, and express affection authentically. This emotional drive creates deep engagement , though it can also bring anxiety about “not being fluent enough.” 3. Uneven proficiency Heritage learners m...