ABSTRACT
Spanish heritage speakers (SHS) who participate in study abroad (SA) in their family's country of origin or in another Spanish-speaking country not only have the opportunity to take coursework in Spanish. They also interacts in Spanish on a daily basis outside of the classroom for a variety of purposes such as buying a bus ticket, inviting someone to a party, watching the nightly news, or asking for directions on the street. In order to design SA programs in Spanish-speaking countries that are inclusive of all students, an understanding of SHS' relevant experiences is critical. The chapter explores the topic of SHS in SA, beginning with a discussion of the historical context for heritage seeking in SA, followed by a review of existing research, a comparison with research on second language (L2) learners, recommendations for SA programs, and directions for future research.
