Heritage Language Learners' Perceptions of Taking Spanish Language Classes

This mixed-methods study investigated heritage language and foreign language learning students' skill-specific (i.e., speaking listening, reading, and writing) language learning anxieties and self-efficacies associated with Spanish language learning. Additionally, this study investigated the extent to which heritage language learners perceive Spanish as part of their ethnic identity and how their perceptions of ethnic identity impact their skill-specific anxieties and self-efficacies toward learning the Spanish language. A total of 315 participants completed the quantitative portion of this study and 11 participants volunteered to take part in a semi-structured interview session. Findings from this study revealed significant differences between heritage language learners' and foreign language learners' ratings of listening anxiety and writing anxiety and for all skill-specific language learning self-efficacies. Significant differences were also found among groups of heritage language learners in relation to their ratings of Hispanic heritage ethnic identity, skill-specific anxieties (expect for writing anxiety), and all skill-specific self-efficacies. Furthermore, heritage language learners' Spanish language learning experiences were impacted by their backgrounds (e.g., family lineage, generation of heritage language learner), formal educational experiences, levels of motivation, and their low levels of Spanish language abilities.