Teaching Spanish to Heritage vs Second-Language Learners

By Milagros de la Horra

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November 14, 2025

Contents

Introduction

Who Are Heritage Speakers?

Who Are Second-Language Learners?

Why Teaching Strategies Must Be Different

Challenges Each Group Faces

Best Practices for Teaching Heritage Spanish

Best Practices for Teaching Second-Language Learners

Choosing the Right Path

Conclusion

Introduction

Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Using it well at home, school, or work is a great advantage. However, learning or improving Spanish is different for everyone.

Teaching heritage speakers is not the same as teaching second-language learners. To be effective, educators need the right methods for each group.

This blog will explain the differences between teaching Spanish to heritage speakers and second-language learners. It will also explore the best instructional strategies, classroom approaches, and curriculum adaptations to help each student needs. Whether you're a teacher or a student, understanding these differences can lead to better learning experiences and outcomes.

Who Are Heritage Speakers?

Heritage Spanish speakers are people who grew up hearing and speaking Spanish at home. They usually have strong listening and speaking skills. However, they may not have learned how to read or write in Spanish formally. They often understand the culture and language well but may lack skills in formal writing, grammar, or academic vocabulary.

Teaching Spanish to heritage speakers builds on what they already know. It helps them move from casual conversation to academic work, professional writing, and public speaking. This approach respects their background and fills in any gaps through bilingual education.

Who Are Second-Language Learners?

Second-language learners, also called L2 learners, usually start learning Spanish in school. They don’t hear Spanish at home. Instead, they begin with basic grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structures.

They learn through books, lessons, and repetition. These students may have good grammar but often struggle with natural speaking, listening, and cultural understanding.

When teaching Spanish to second-language learners, the goal is to build a strong foundation from the ground up. This includes helping them speak with confidence and understand everyday conversations in Spanish-speaking communities.

Why Teaching Strategies Must Be Different

There is no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to teaching Spanish. Teaching heritage speakers vs second-language learners requires different goals, teaching styles, and learning materials.

1. Learning Goals

For heritage Spanish speakers, the goal is to turn everyday speaking skills into strong literacy development. This includes reading more difficult texts, writing formal essays, and expanding their vocabulary to include academic and workplace language.

For second-language learners, the goal is to understand and use basic Spanish in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They are building their skills from the beginning, step by step.

2. Curriculum Adaptation

When teaching Spanish to heritage speakers, connect lessons to their culture, background, and interests. Curriculum adaptation might include:

Reading stories from Latin America or Spain
Writing about family traditions
Practicing grammar that heritage speakers often skip in casual speech

In contrast, second-language learners benefit from a more traditional curriculum:

Step-by-step grammar lessons
Regular vocabulary quizzes
Speaking practice through dialogue exercises

These differences show why a heritage Spanish program must be flexible and personalized. A solid heritage Spanish class isn’t just about rules. It also respects students' backgrounds and helps them become confident, bilingual people.

3. Classroom Approach

An effective classroom approach for heritage speakers often includes:

Group discussions on cultural topics
Personal storytelling
Reflective writing
Correcting informal habits in grammar and spelling

This approach helps heritage students improve their Spanish skills while embracing their cultural identity.

For second-language learners, the classroom approach might include:

Sentence-building activities
Grammar drills
Role-playing to practice conversations
Listening to native speakers through videos or audio lessons

Knowing these differences is crucial for teaching heritage Spanish students and second-language learners effectively.

Challenges Each Group Faces

Every student has different struggles. Recognizing these challenges allows teachers to offer better support and curriculum adaptation.

Heritage Spanish Speakers Often Struggle With:

Formal writing: They might speak fluently but struggle with punctuation, verb tenses, and sentence structure.
Academic vocabulary: Words used in school or work settings might be unfamiliar.
Confidence: They may feel embarrassed about their writing or grammar, even if they speak well.

Second-Language Learners Often Struggle With:

Speaking naturally: It takes time to sound fluent or understand fast conversations.
Cultural understanding: They may not fully grasp the context of some words or traditions.
Motivation: Learning a new language from scratch can feel overwhelming.

Both groups need different teaching strategies. For heritage speakers, it helps to focus on grammar, vocabulary, and writing practice. For L2 learners, speaking and listening exercises help build fluency.

Best Practices for Teaching Heritage Spanish

To teach heritage Spanish well, instructors should respect students' backgrounds. They should also challenge them to grow.

Recommended Strategies:

Use contextual learning: Teach grammar or writing through stories, songs, or real-life situations.
Include bilingual education principles: Let students use both English and Spanish when needed to support learning.
Provide writing tasks related to their own life: Ask students to write about their family, community, or traditions.
Include discussions about language and identity to help students feel proud of their heritage.
Offer language learning strategies tailored for heritage speakers like peer editing, language journals, and vocabulary notebooks.

This helps students grow their language skills while building pride in their roots.

Best Practices for Teaching Second-Language Learners

For second-language learners, structured lessons work best. Teachers should give clear, step-by-step instruction with lots of examples and practice.

Recommended Strategies:

Use visual aids like flashcards, posters, and videos to support vocabulary learning
Practice basic grammar rules early and often
Give time for students to speak in pairs or small groups
Focus on listening with slow, clear audio recordings
Encourage reading short texts to grow vocabulary and comprehension

These methods help build confidence and create a strong language foundation.

Choosing the Right Path

It’s important to choose the right Spanish course based on the student’s background and goals.

If you speak Spanish at home, you can improve your skills. Focus on reading, writing, and speaking. Look for a heritage Spanish program that suits your needs.
If you’re a second-language learner starting from the beginning, choose a course that builds your skills step by step.

Whether you're focused on bilingual education, college prep, or personal growth, understanding how you learn best helps you succeed.

Final Thoughts for Educators

Educators must understand that heritage Spanish learners and those learning Spanish as a second language have different needs.

Use tailored instructional strategies
Adjust the curriculum for each group
Support students with classroom approaches that match their level
Address both emotional and academic needs
Celebrate cultural identity and language growth

Teaching Spanish this way ensures all students feel supported and inspired to reach their full potential.

Conclusion

Teaching Spanish to heritage speakers vs second-language learners is not about choosing one method over another. It's about understanding that each student comes from a different starting point. Heritage speakers often need help with literacy development, while L2 learners need strong foundations in grammar and vocabulary.

By using the right teaching strategies, curriculum adaptation, and classroom approach, educators can help both groups succeed. This is also one of the reasons why heritage Spanish programs are gaining popularity in U.S. schools. Whether the student is learning for school, work, or personal pride, well-designed Spanish classes can make all the difference. Whether the student is learning for school, work, or personal pride, well-designed Spanish classes can make all the difference.

Ready to learn more? Comligo has tailored Spanish programs for both heritage and second-language learners. Start your journey today! Take the next step in your Spanish learning path today!

Milagros de la Horra

Academic Team

Milagros De La Horra is a Spanish teacher from Rosario, Argentina, with experience teaching learners of all ages. She brings her background in creative writing, editing, and literature into the classroom. Passionate about culture and language, Milagros uses games, videos, and poetry to create engaging, meaningful learning experiences.