Most Spanish classes in the U.S. and Canada include a mix of students. Some are learning Spanish for the first time. Others are heritage speakers who grew up hearing Spanish at home. When a class travels abroad, these two groups often have very different experiences of the same trip.
This guide is for teachers planning a Spanish class trip with Spanish heritage learners in the group. We explain who heritage speakers are, what they may gain and find difficult during a trip, and how to set goals that challenge every student. We also share ideas for roles, reflection and family communication. The aim is a trip where heritage speakers feel valued, keep growing, and avoid becoming the group’s full-time translators.
Who are heritage speakers?
The Center for Applied Linguistics shares a widely used definition from scholar Guadalupe Valdés. A heritage learner is a student raised in a home where a language other than English is spoken. The student speaks or at least understands that language and is to some degree bilingual. You can read more in the CAL heritage language brief.
That definition covers a wide range of students. Some heritage speakers are fluent in conversation but have had little formal study of reading and writing. Others understand everything at home but feel shy speaking. Some have family roots in Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean and have never heard Peruvian or Castilian Spanish. Each student arrives with a different starting point.
Why the label matters for trip planning
Teachers often assume heritage speakers will find the trip easy. In practice, many face their own challenges. They may hear unfamiliar vocabulary and accents. They may feel pressure to perform. They may also have strong feelings about identity, especially if their family comes from a different country than the destination.
What heritage speakers gain from Spanish language immersion
A well-designed trip offers heritage speakers specific benefits.
New varieties of Spanish
Lima, Cusco, Barcelona and Madrid each sound different. In Spain, students hear the vosotros form. In much of the country, they also hear a “th” sound for some letters. In Cusco, they hear Quechua words in place names and daily life. Heritage speakers often notice these differences first. Our article on Castilian vs. Latin American Spanish is a useful pre-trip reading for the whole class.
Academic and formal registers
Spanish lessons, guided visits and conversations with local partners often call for a more formal Spanish. Heritage speakers who mainly use Spanish at home can practice this register in context.
Confidence and identity
Being understood in a new Spanish-speaking country can feel affirming. Some students start to see their home language as a skill with value outside the family. Others ask new questions about their own background. Both are worth discussing in reflection sessions.
How to plan a trip that works for heritage speakers
Set individual goals before departure
Meet briefly with each heritage speaker before the trip. Ask what they want to practice. Examples include reading menus and signs fluently, asking a guide follow-up questions, or learning ten new regional words a day. Written goals give the student a clear focus.
Give roles with limits
It is tempting to use heritage speakers as interpreters. A little of this can build leadership. Too much can be tiring and can keep classmates from trying. Set clear limits. For example, a heritage speaker might lead the group on one market challenge. Other days, every student orders and asks questions on their own.
Pair students thoughtfully
Mixed pairs can help both students. The heritage speaker models natural speech. The second-language learner may know more grammar terminology. Rotate pairs so no student carries the group.
Use reflection to process identity
Short daily reflections help students make sense of the trip. Offer optional prompts such as “What did you hear today that sounds different from Spanish at home?” Let students choose whether to share aloud. Our post on cross-cultural learning for teens has more ideas on this.
Talk with families
Some families of heritage speakers have strong ties to the language or region. Others may have concerns about travel. Share the itinerary, the supervision plan and the purpose of the trip. Invite families to share words or traditions their student could compare abroad.
Engaged Education programs for mixed Spanish classes
Our Peru programs include structured Spanish lessons, so heritage speakers and new learners both have clear tasks.
In the Language Immersion in Lima program, students take Spanish lessons focused on food and art vocabulary, complete a market challenge, and visit MEDLIFE partner communities to learn about global health while practicing Spanish. Read about Peru’s linguistic diversity in bilingual education in Peru.
In the Language Immersion in Cusco program, students combine Spanish lessons with visits to Sacsayhuaman, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. They hear Quechua-influenced Spanish across the region.
The Spain Global Impact Fellowship 2027 spends 10 days in Barcelona and Madrid. Students hear Castilian Spanish and see Catalan alongside Spanish in Barcelona. Activities include a tapas cooking class with Mescladis and a street art workshop in Lavapiés.
FAQ
What is a heritage speaker of Spanish?
A heritage speaker is a student raised in a home where Spanish is spoken, who speaks or understands it and is to some degree bilingual. Proficiency varies widely from student to student.
Should heritage speakers act as interpreters on a class trip?
Occasional leadership roles can be positive, but set limits. Every student should practice speaking for themselves, and heritage speakers need time to pursue their own learning goals.
Which destination is best for heritage speakers?
Any Spanish-speaking destination can work. Peru offers Latin American Spanish with Quechua influence. Spain offers Castilian Spanish and the vosotros form. Choose based on your class goals.
Bring every Spanish speaker on the trip
A trip planned with heritage speakers in mind gives every student clear goals and room to grow. Our Language Immersion programs in Lima and Cusco and our Spain Global Impact Fellowship 2027 welcome mixed-level high school groups. Fill out our form to learn more.
Start your journey by downloading the Engaged Education Brochure and learn more about our immersive programs in Peru, Spain, and beyond. Interested in creating lasting impact around the world? You can directly assist communities in need by becoming a monthly donor through MEDLIFE’s Moving Mountains initiative.
