One Classroom, Many Linguistic Profiles: Heritage Speakers in Multilingual Contexts

The Applied Linguistics/TESOL-GSA and the English Department are proud to present:
The Annual CCSU 2026 Spring Linguistics Colloquium

One Classroom, Many Linguistic Profiles:
Heritage Speakers in Multilingual Contexts

By Fatih Bayram, Ph.D
Lancaster University

Tuesday April 28, 2026 from 5:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. ET

Fatih Bayram is currently a Senior Research Associate at the Department of Linguistics and English Language, Lancaster University (UK). Dr. Bayram will share his research on heritage language speakers in the classroom in a virtual presentation at CCSU. The following is how Dr. Bayram describes his presentation:

"Heritage speakers are early bilinguals whose linguistic profiles reflect diverse and often uneven patterns of exposure, use and development. This talk examines who heritage speakers are, what makes their language experience distinctive and how they fit into broader multilingual classroom contexts. Drawing on insights from research on bilingualism and heritage language acquisition, it highlights the systematic variability found in heritage grammars and challenges simplified or deficit-oriented views of these speakers. The talk then considers the opportunities and challenges that arise when learners with different linguistic backgrounds share the same classroom. It argues for a more nuanced understanding of linguistic diversity and reflects on how teaching practices can better respond to a range of learner profiles, treating this diversity as a resource rather than a problem."

Virtual Presentation on Zoom

This lecture is open to everyone. ASL-English interpreters and/or remote captions provided.

For more details contact the event coordinator, Dr. Leyla Zidani-Eroglu at zidanil@ccsu.edu

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