Language Program Vitality in Higher Education

Abstract

Current trends have seen a decline in student enrollment, as well as a shortage in foreign language instructors, creating the need to rethink language programs. Therefore, this article advocates for the creation and development of heritage language (HL) programs focused on meeting the linguistic and cultural needs of Latinx (and Hispanic) local communities to contribute to language maintenance, and the emergence of courses for specific purposes that may attract students with a clear professional goal. Language programs should reflect the mission of the program and the university to recruit students, as well as on the clear benefits on a professional and personal level of learning a second language (L2) or a HL, while providing opportunities for continuous professional development for instructors.