Spanish Heritage Language Program

Overview

The Spanish Heritage Language (SHL) Program offers courses for individuals who grew up in Spanish-speaking environments and are able to communicate, to some extent, in more than one language. Some students are immigrants who have recently arrived in the US and have had extensive schooling in their native countries. Others are first, second, or third generation bilinguals whose abilities in the heritage language vary widely. While some are highly proficient in Spanish, others only possess basic speaking and listening skills, or merely understand the language.

To serve these different individuals’ needs, the Spanish Heritage Language Program was developed as an independent track at the University of Houston. SHL courses are specifically designed to use the student’s preexisting contact with Spanish.

The MAIN GOAL of this Program is to develop academic language skills through materials and activities specifically designed for Spanish heritage students. These classroom activities focus on developing oral and written abilities in a variety of formal and informal contexts. In addition, each course incorporates specific materials and projects to develop greater familiarity with U.S. Hispanic cultures.

These courses cover all levels of abilities: Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced. Students who have successfully completed the intermediate level in this program will fulfill the foreign language requirement and are encouraged to enroll in more advanced classes. The Hispanic Department offers a variety of undergraduate-level classes that includes linguistics, literature and cultural topics. For more information on Spanish Minor and Major visit the Spanish Undergraduate Program.

In order to enroll in any of the classes offered students must take the Heritage Placement Exam.

Director of the Heritage Language Program
Marta Fairclough Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Office: 440 AH
Email: mfairclough@uh.edu

Course Offering:

The following courses are taught on Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. (Before registration please check the semester course listing.) Enrollment is subject to Placement

Level	Course	Description
Elementary	SPAN1505	It is a basic language class designed for students who enter with some knowledge of Spanish but are not prepared to work at the intermediate level. Emphasis on basic grammar structures, conversation on familiar topics, and reading and writing activities. Prerequisites:
Intermediate	SPAN 2307	This course is designed for Hispanic students and other students from a Spanish-speaking background. Main goals of this class are developing basic skills in reading and writing in Spanish, advancing knowledge of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, improving orthography with emphasis on the use of written accent and developing a greater familiarity with U.S. Hispanic culture. Prerequisites:
Intermediate	SPAN 2308	This course is a continuation of SPAN 2307. Main goals of this class are developing skills in reading and writing advanced texts in Spanish, advancing knowledge of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, improving orthography with emphasis on the use of written accent and developing a greater familiarity with U.S. Hispanic culture. Prerequisites:
Advanced	SPAN 3307	This course is designed to continue developing and expanding writing skills in Spanish. Special emphasis is given to active grammar, textual production, and critical thinking for writing in academic and professional settings. Students work involves research, reading, composing, writing and proof reading different type of essays. Prerequisites:
Advanced	SPAN 3308	This course is designed to continue expanding oral skills in Spanish. Special emphasis is given to pronunciation, diction, and elocution as well as discourse presentation. Students work involves research and reading on specific topics which will be the basis to compose and deliver academic and professional presentations. Prerequisites:

Placement

Student in the Language Acquisition Center

UH Spanish Language Heritage Learners Placement and Credit Exam – OVERVIEW

The Department of Hispanic Studies administers the Spanish for Heritage Speakers Placement and Credit Exam. Based on performance, students may be placed in Spanish 1507, 2307, 2308, 3308, or higher, and may earn up to 12 credit hours in Spanish.

The exam takes up to two hours and consists of several sections on vocabulary, dictation, grammar, reading comprehension and writing an essay

Who should take the test?

If you answer YES to one or more of the following statements, you need to take the Placement-Credit Exam for Spanish Heritage Learners:

When I was a child, Spanish was spoken in my home
I lived in a Spanish-speaking country for two years or longer
My first language was Spanish
I speak Spanish, or both Spanish and English with family and friends
My parents and/or grandparents often speak to me in Spanish

Important Note: Students cannot enroll in any Language Program (Second Language or Heritage Language) if they have not taken the Placement Exam required in each track. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in being dropped from the class.

Test-takers information

Students must present I.D. at test time
Register online. Students only need to register once, no confirmation will be given.
A $15.00 payment is required for administering test. We ONLY accept checks or Money Orders.
No cash or credit cards are accepted
There will be an additional charge for returned checks

Place and dates

The exam is offered several times during each semester. It is highly recommended to take the exam before the semester planning on taking classes. (See current exam dates and times) All exams take place in the ETC, AH 101.

Results

The results will be posted outside the Department Main Office (AH 416) seven days after the exam was taken.
The results will expire after two years from the day that the exam was taken.
The exam can only be re-taken after 6 months from the day that the exam was taken for the first time.
Students need to pick up the placement form in the Department Main Office (AH 416)

I am not a Heritage Learner….

The Department of Hispanic Studies offers the Spanish as a Second Language Program for non-native and non-heritage Spanish speakers. Students who have taken Spanish in high school need to take the Spanish Placement Exam at the UH Testing Center. (For more information please call 713-743-5444 or visit University Testing Services)

Resources and Materials

Course textbooks
COURSE	TEXTBOOK	PUBLISHER
SPAN 1507	Vistas Spanish Program for Higher Education: Cuaderno para hispanohablantes (4th edition.)	Vista Higher Learning

SPAN 2307	Spanish for Heritage Learners (Custom edition available at the bookstore.)	Cengage
SPAN 2308	Spanish for Heritage Learners (Custom edition available at the bookstore.)	Cengage

SPAN 3308	Composición, proceso y síntesis (5th edition.)	McGraw-Hill

Recommended	Manual de Gramática ( 4th edition.)	Heinle