Heritage language maintenance through digital tools in young Macedonian children - an exploratory study

Bibliographic Data

ID12814922
AuthorsAgata Guskaroska (0000-0001-7742-9196, Iowa State University, corresponding author), T G Elliott (0000-0002-6531-0822, Iowa State University)
Year2021
Volume16
Issue4
Pages227-233
Publication date2021-04-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiaspora Indigenous and Minority Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1559-5692 • E-ISSN: 1559-5706
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15595692.2021.1907329
OpenAlexW3144612962
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited12

Heritage language maintenance can be very challenging for diaspora communities worldwide. The role of technology on heritage language maintenance has recently started to spark the interest of researchers as a new emerging field but it still needs a lot of exploration. This exploratory study aims to provide an insight into Macedonian diaspora parents’ experiences with digital tools and heritage language maintenance for younger children using a phenomenological approach. Data collected from 23 participants examined the parents’ experience as members of these communities through surveys and follow-up interviews. Results reveal a strong interest in language maintenance, along with challenges such as lack of time and exposure and lack of digital resources for heritage language learning. Participants show a primary interest in using educational apps, emphasizing the need for interactional and engaging resources. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations for developing technology-mediated heritage language maintenance tools

Ancient history · Exploratory research · Heritage language · Macedonian · Pedagogy · Social science · Sociology · Child Development and Digital Technology · Computer Science · Digital Communication and Language · History · Literacy, Media, and Education · Psychology

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