Heritage Learners on a High School Summer Abroad [Video]

Being a heritage student or learner means growing up immersed in your family’s language and traditions while also growing up with the dominant culture around you. 

For many in the U.S., this means speaking one language or following unique cultural practices at home while engaging with English and American culture in daily life.

What happens when a heritage student gets the chance to do a high school study abroad program in their heritage country?

In our latest episode of the Out of Your Comfort Zone podcast, we talk about the experience of three CIEE high school summer abroad students: Abigail A., Miranda R., and Olivia L. These heritage learners grew up with a connection to their family’s culture and, last summer, they embraced the opportunity to explore it firsthand in Dublin, Berlin, and Seoul.

Hear their stories of discovering familiar traditions as well as cultural and linguistic differences. They also talk about how stepping out …