Abstract
This presentation describes a humanistic approach to materials development for Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs), drawing on the principles of humanistic language teaching and the framework for humanizing language learning materials outlined by Tomlinson (2003, 2023). By emphasizing personalization, cultural relevance, and emotional engagement, humanistic materials address the unique needs of LCTL learners, particularly heritage language learners, who often navigate complex linguistic and identity challenges.
The presentation will showcase an award-winning set of materials designed for heritage learners of Vietnamese, illustrating how humanistic principles can be applied in practice. Through the Vietnamese Newsletter Project, a task-based, project-driven unit, learners engage in meaningful language use through culturally relevant and collaborative tasks. By integrating Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL), the materials foster learner agency, creativity, and community connection.
In addition to demonstrating these materials, the presentation also provides practical guidelines for educators and materials developers seeking to design or adapt their own resources to be more humanistic. Attendees can gain conceptual insights and hands-on strategies to create materials that prioritize student engagement, emotional connection, and real-world application, making language learning a more meaningful and transformative experience for diverse learners.
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Key words: Humanistic Language Teaching; Materials Development; Heritage Language Learners; Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs); Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT); Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL); Cultural Relevance; Emotional Engagement
