Becoming Multilingual: Empowering College Students to Learn and Maintain Languages for Life
FAIN: HB-294814-24
Peter Ecke
Arizona Board of Regents (Tucson, AZ 85721-0073)
Research and analysis that will be used to revise an undergraduate course on multilingualism.
In this research, I will (1) analyze 650 pre- and 650 post-course questionnaire responses from students in the general education course “Becoming Multilingual: Learning and Maintaining Two or More Languages” to learn about their language backgrounds, needs, and changing understandings of bi/multilingualism. I will (2) curate humanities resources for students that match their backgrounds and that depict important aspects of bilingualism (e.g., factors affecting accent, language choice, code-switching, identities, acculturation, and family language strategies). The research findings will be used to (a) redesign this course to become better at addressing student needs and incorporating more humanities resources in lectures, discussions, assignments, and assessments and (b) produce an article, conference presentation, and online workshop to share information about the course as a resource for colleagues and their students—especially those at Hispanic serving institutions.
Media Coverage
Dr. Peter Ecke Receives NEH Grant for Course on Multilingualism (Media Coverage)
Publication: Department of German Studies News
Date: 2/2/2024
Abstract: Dr. Peter Ecke has received a $15,000 Award for Faculty from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct research and revise an undergraduate course on multilingualism! GER 150A1, "Becoming Multilingual: Learning and Maintaining Two or More Languages", was developed by Prof. Ecke in 2015 to introduce undergraduate students to research on bilingual and multilingual people. It is still being offered regularly through the Department of German Studies.
URL: https://german.arizona.edu/news/dr-peter-ecke-receives-neh-grant-course-multilingualism
Prof. Ecke Receives NEH Grant for Course on Multilingualism (Media Coverage)
Date: 2/1/2024
Abstract: Peter Ecke, Professor in the Department of German Studies, has received a $15,000 Award for Faculty from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct research and revise an undergraduate course on multilingualism.
Ecke developed “Becoming Multilingual: Learning and Maintaining Two or More Languages” in 2015 to introduce undergraduate students to research on bilingual and multilingual people. The course included information to show students how myths about bilingualism and language learning persist, as well as the realities.
Ecke systematically studies his undergraduate students’ language backgrounds and needs, as well as their attitudes toward and perceptions of bilingualism through pre- and post-course questionnaires. That research, combined with student autobiographical narratives and language histories, as well depictions of bilingualism in music, literature and film, will contribute to the course redesign.
URL: https://humanities.arizona.edu/news/prof-ecke-receives-neh-grant-course-multilingualism
Associated Products
Becoming Multilingual: Empowering College Students to Learn and Maintain Languages for Life (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Becoming Multilingual: Empowering College Students to Learn and Maintain Languages for Life
Author: Ecke, Peter
Abstract: This NEH-funded research in progress presents insights from a questionnaire study about the language and cultural backgrounds, challenges, interests, and needs, as well as perceptions about bilingualism and language learning of undergraduate students at a Public University in the southwestern United States. Students’ comments in (institutionally administered) anonymous course evaluations provided additional data on students’ concerns about their current language skills and uses as well as their perceptions about learning outcomes and the usefulness of the general education course for their current and future lives. It is hoped that the presented findings and discussion will spark interest among colleagues in offering similar courses as a resource for college students, including those from migrant, indigenous, multilingual, and multicultural communities to contribute to a more harmonious bilingualism and well-being of college students who are or inspire to become bi-or multilingual.
Date: 04/12/2024
Primary URL:
https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/kYwxTjoGpzq1fPrimary URL Description: Conference webpage.
Conference Name: Bilingual Initiatives Symposium, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Empowering college students to learn and maintain languages for life through a general education course (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Empowering college students to learn and maintain languages for life through a general education course
Author: Ecke, Peter
Abstract: This research presents insights from a questionnaire study and autobiographic narrative analyses about the language and cultural backgrounds, challenges, interests, and needs, as well as perceptions about bilingualism and language learning of undergraduate students at a Public University in the southwestern U.S. Participants were 650 students, enrolled in college-level general education courses, entitled “Becoming multilingual: Learning and maintaining two or more languages” 2020-2024. Students’ reflections in the autobiographical narratives and anonymous course evaluations provided additional data on students’ concerns about their current language skills and uses as well as their perceptions about learning outcomes and the usefulness of the general education course for their current and future lives. It is hoped that this presentation will spark interest among colleagues in offering similar courses as a resource for college students, including those from migrant, indigenous, multilingual, and multicultural communities to contribute to a more harmonious bilingualism and well-being of college students who are or inspire to become multilingual.
Date: 01/11/2025
Primary URL:
https://mla.confex.com/mla/2025/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/29129Primary URL Description: Presentation announcement on the MLA Convention webpage.
Conference Name: Modern Language Association (MLA) Annual Convention
Empowering high school and college students to learn and maintain languages for life through courses on multilingualism (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Empowering high school and college students to learn and maintain languages for life through courses on multilingualism
Author: Ecke, Peter
Abstract: In this webinar/workshop, we will explore how courses on multilingualism and language learning can serve as a welcome resource for students in high school and college. We will first analyze and discuss a college-level general education course that has been taught successfully for ten years at the University of Arizona. Its title is Becoming multilingual: Learning and maintaining two or more languages. In this class, “course participants analyze how multiple languages can be learned, processed, and used in child- and adulthood, and in family and school settings. They appraise the benefits and costs of becoming multilingual and gain insights that will help them make informed decisions with respect to their own language learning and use in college, their professions, and their (future) families” (excerpt from course description). We will analyze the course’s objectives, learning outcomes, and data about course participants (their language backgrounds, interests, and needs as well as feedback about the course). We will then discuss the course content and main text and explore together supplemental materials (broadcasts, music videos and film clips) that can be used to illustrate phenomena related to bi- and multilingualism (such as child-language learning, bilingual/bicultural identities, perception of accents, code-switching etc.). We hope this webinar will inspire educators to develop similar courses in high schools and colleges. These courses can serve as valuable resources for students interested in language learning and maintenance, particularly those from migrant, indigenous, multilingual, and multicultural communities. Such programs can promote harmonious language learning experiences and support the well-being of current and aspiring multilingual students.
Dr. Ecke received funding through a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Award for Faculty to update and improve this course (Peter Ecke, University of Arizona, Arizona Board of Regents [HB-294814-24]
Date: 05/07/2025
Primary URL:
https://cercll.arizona.edu/event/eckemulti/Secondary URL:
https://cercll.arizona.edu/upcoming-events/Secondary URL Description: List of CERCLL events
Conference Name: Webinar. Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy (CERCLL) (Title VI Language Resource Center).
Becoming Multilingual’: Empowering college students to learn and maintain languages for life. (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Becoming Multilingual’: Empowering college students to learn and maintain languages for life.
Author: Ecke, Peter
Abstract: What Are the Objectives of Your Research?
Present data on college students’ language backgrounds, needs and perceptions about bilingualism, how these changed after having taken a general education course on bilingualism, and contribute to harmonious bilingualism and well-being of students.
What Methodologies Were Used in Your Research?
Pre- and post-course questionnaires completed by course participants were analyzed and compared statistically and complemented by qualitative analyses of autobiographical narratives and anonymous course evaluations produced by course participants.
What Are the Main Contributions of Your Research?
Provide evidence for the impact and usefulness of a general education course on bilingualism to help contribute to more effective language learning and a more harmonious bilingualism and well-being of college students and their families.
Date: 06/10/2025
Primary URL:
https://www.bcbl.eu/events/isb15/en/Conference Name: 15th International Symposium on Bilingualism, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain