10 Practical Tips for Bilingual Heritage Language Speakers

By Jorge Navarro

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November 06, 2025

Contents

Introduction

1. Set Clear Language Goals

2. Create a Balanced Language Environment

3. Enroll in a Heritage Spanish Course

4. Practice Code‑Switching

5. Use Technology to Your Advantage

6. Read and Write Regularly in Both Languages

7. Engage with the Community

8. Focus on Cultural Context

9. Overcome Language Anxiety

10. Stay Motivated and Consistent

Why These Tips Matter

Conclusion

Introduction

Being a bilingual heritage speaker someone raised speaking both English and Spanish can be rewarding and challenging. You may feel fluent in everyday Spanish, but maintaining that fluency requires effort.

If one language becomes dominant, the other can weaken. These bilingual life challenges are common. Here are language balance tips to help keep both languages strong.

1. Set Clear Language Goals

First, decide what you want to achieve in both English and Spanish. For example:

Read a Spanish novel every month
Write a formal letter in Spanish for school
Deliver a presentation in English at work
These heritage speaker bilingual life goals help you build both academic and informal fluency, giving direction to your practice.
Having clear goals makes it easier to measure your progress and stay motivated.

2. Create a Balanced Language Environment

To maintain fluency, create daily exposure to both languages:

Listen to Spanish podcasts and English news
Watch TV shows in Spanish and English
Chat with family in Spanish and friends in English
This language balance helps prevent either language from becoming passive.
The more you surround yourself with both languages, the more naturally they become part of your daily life.

3. Enroll in a Heritage Spanish Course

Taking a heritage Spanish course helps you strengthen formal grammar and academic writing in Spanish. These classes focus on areas many heritage speakers need help with, such as:

Correct grammar and vocabulary
Writing essays or emails
Academic and professional communication
Courses tailored for heritage learners can deepen your bilingual abilities.
They also give you a chance to connect with others who share your background and language goals.

4. Practice Code‑Switching

Code-switching management helps train your brain to think flexibly. Practice switching between English and Spanish in conversation:

Tell a story in Spanish, then summarize it in English
Alternate languages during a discussion
This builds cognitive control and makes it easier to switch between languages naturally.
It also helps you notice where your strengths lie in each language and what you might need to improve.

5. Use Technology to Your Advantage

Digital tools are great for maintaining fluency:

Apps like Duolingo or Babbel offer practice in vocabulary and grammar
Join online forums or language exchanges
Tech tools support dual language maintenance and help you manage bilingual learning on your schedule.
They make learning fun, flexible, and easier to fit into a busy lifestyle.

6. Read and Write Regularly in Both Languages

Strong reading and writing habits build heritage speaker bilingual life:

Read books, articles, or news in English and Spanish
Keep a bilingual journal (write in one language one day, the other next)
This develops your formal writing skills and deepens understanding of both languages.
Regular writing also helps you express yourself better and remember new vocabulary.

7. Engage with the Community

Join local or online groups where Spanish and English are both spoken:

Attend cultural events where both languages are used
Practice conversation in a bilingual community
Being part of this community keeps you motivated. You can learn from others and use your languages in real-life situations.
Connecting with other bilinguals helps you grow and keeps the learning experience fun and social.

8. Focus on Cultural Context

Language goes hand-in-hand with culture. To improve communication:

Learn idioms and expressions in both languages
Watch films and listen to music in each language’s culture
Cultural context helps you understand tone, humor, and meaning more deeply.
Knowing cultural references makes your communication feel more natural and relatable.

You can also explore strategies for improving your Spanish listening skills to better understand different accents and conversational speeds.

9. Overcome Language Anxiety

Many heritage speakers feel nervous using their non-dominant language. For example, you might feel unsure about your grammar or pronunciation, leading to hesitation. These anxieties often stem from a fear of making mistakes. Learning about common Spanish mistakes and how to fix them can help build your confidence and make you feel more comfortable speaking.

Practice with supportive friends or family
Celebrate small victories (like writing a Spanish email without help)
Reducing language anxiety builds confidence and helps you communicate more comfortably.
With every step forward, you’ll feel more at ease using both languages.

10. Stay Motivated and Consistent

Consistency is key:

Set milestone rewards (a treat after your fourth journal entry)
Adjust your goals as you grow
A positive, stable approach to balancing both languages helps your Spanish and English proficiency stay strong.
Small, steady steps lead to long-term success in your bilingual journey.

Why These Tips Matter

These tips address the big issues many heritage speakers face:

Language dominance: Avoid letting one language fade while the other grows stronger.
Code-switching: This natural way bilinguals speak can be managed to improve fluency.
Dual language maintenance: Keeping both languages active helps both remain useful in real life.
Heritage speaker bilingual life: Strategies that reflect real-world use of two languages in family, school, and career.

Real-Life Example

Meet Ana, a heritage speaker who grew up speaking Spanish at home and English at school. Over time, she felt her English was getting stronger while her Spanish felt rusty.

She set a goal to write one essay in Spanish every month.
She joined a heritage Spanish course and some bilingual meetups.
She started journaling in Spanish three times a week.
She was intentional about code-switching when chatting with bilingual friends.

In six months, her Spanish grammar improved. Her writing became smoother. She could switch between English and Spanish more easily and confidently.

Conclusion

Balancing English and Spanish as a heritage speaker isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely possible. The key is intentional practice, consistent learning, and using tools designed for bilingual heritage speakers.

Use these bilingual tips:

Set clear goals
Create equal exposure to both languages
Take a heritage Spanish course
Practice code-switching
Use apps and online tools
Read and write regularly in both languages
Join bilingual community events
Learn cultural meanings
Build confidence to reduce anxiety
Stay motivated and be consistent

These steps help you build a solid bilingual lifestyle, maintain both languages, and feel confident academically and socially. For more help, check out Comligo’s resources for heritage speakers. Ready to take your bilingual skills to the next level?

Jorge Navarro

Academic Team

Jorge Navarro is a Spanish teacher and Portuguese–Spanish translator with over a decade of experience working with learners of all ages. Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, he brings the warmth of the Caribbean to every class. Jorge is passionate about language, culture, music, and creating joyful, communicative learning experiences.