It’s
Spring Quarter and, while many restless students across campus are
dreaming of the surf rolling in at Black’s Beach,
students in the Heritage Language program are planning fundraisers
to keep their classes going. Started in the fall of 2001, the Heritage
Language program now offers classes in Armenian, Tagalog, Vietnamese,
Korean and Persian for those who grew up learning those languages
at home.
Professor Maria Polinsky, who helped found the program and is one
of the top researchers of heritage languages, says that UCSD is
the first university in the country to offer a program of this
kind.
Heritage speakers find themselves at a level somewhere between
a native speaker and a typical foreign language student. They are
fluent
but often use a simplified grammar. The classes aim to upgrade
their language skills to a professional standard of competence
so that
these skills will be useful in a career. Heritage language speakers
can fill distinct niches, ranging from business opportunities in
their countries of origin to translating for the US government.
As members of two cultures, these students have an advantage over
others
who learn the language from scratch.
Student demand was so high
this year that extra sections of Persian and Korean had to be added.
However, the budget has yet to catch
up with this year’s increased numbers because funding for
classes is based on enrollment figures from the previous year.
That is where
students and the community have had to step in.
“I defy anyone to name any other
class where students will go out of their way to fundraise,”
says Dr. Robert Kluender, chair of the Linguistics Department and
director of the Heritage Language program. “I do this program
for the students. I have never seen students so excited here except
at commencement. It was infectious. Given that level of enthusiasm,
it is hard not to respond.”
Last
year, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) raised over $2,000
in one day asking for donations outside a Vietnamese grocery
store
in Los Angeles. And in June 2003, the Pilipino Students Saving
Tagalog, made up of Heritage Tagalog students, raised over $7,000
funds at
a Filipiniana Dinner benefit.
The program is set up to respond
to the changing diversity of UCSD students. New classes can be
added as the need arises and
Kluender
hopes to start Hindi and Cantonese classes in the coming year.
This will require hiring part-time instructors but without
the funds to
support the current program next year, there will be little
chance for growth. 
To lend your support to the Heritage Language
program,
please contact Pamela Murphy at pjmurphy@ling.ucsd.edu.
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