Welcome to the Spanish Heritage Language LAB at the University of Florida!!

The SHL Lab is an interdisciplinary research group dedicated to exploring questions related to Spanish as a heritage language (and its speakers) through different approaches and methods.  Some of our current research projects include:
  • Epiphenomenal effects of SHL teaching/learning
  • Heritage language anxiety
  • The relationship between SHL teaching/learning and identity development in the context of the US
  • Spanish heritage language acquisition
  • Best practices in SHL teaching

The SHL lab  is heavily invested in the academic and professional development of students of all stages. Undergraduates and graduate students alike are integral to the work that we do.

Meet the current members of the Lab:
  • Alejandro Acero Ayuda is a first-year M.A. student of Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy, M.A. in Advanced Studies in Philosophy and M.A. in Education from the University of Zaragoza, Spain. His current research interests include Second Language Acquisition, Bilingualism, Heritage Speakers, Sociolinguistics, Technology and Education, Endangered Languages and Language Revitalization.  ​
  • Crispin A. Beyogle is a second-year M.A. student of Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. He holds a B.A. in French and Spanish,  from the University of Ghana, Legon. His current research interests include Second Language Acquisition, Bilingualism, Heritage Speakers, Sociolinguistics, and Generative syntax. 
  • Marina Cuartero is a second-year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Languages and Translation from the University of Alcalá, Spanish and an M.A. in Spanish from Auburn University, Alabama. Her current research interests include heritage language acquisition, language contact, language variation, endangered languages, language revitalization and bilingualism. 
  • Leire Echevarría is a third  year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Florida. She holds a B.A. in Modern Languages from Universidad de Deusto in Spain and a M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics, from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research interests include Bilingualism, Sociolinguistics and Heritage Languages. 
  • Paola Guerrero (Lab manager) is a fourth-year doctoral student in Hispanic Linguistics. She earned her BA in Languages from Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México and her Master’s Degree in Hispanics Linguistics from Texas Tech University. Her research interests include Dialectology, Bilingualism, Cultural and Identity Studies, Sociolinguistics and Heritage Languages.
  • Máyori Matos Camacho is a first year PhD student of Hispanic Linguistics. She holds a dual B.A. in Modern Languages and Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Puerto Rico, and an MA in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Florida. Her research interests include bilingualism, Spanish heritage speakers, Spanish as a second language and acquisition of sociolinguistic variables.
  • Daniela Nuñez de Alvarez Stransky
  • Noah Verboon is a second year M.A. student of Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese studies at the University of Florida. He holds a B.A. in Foreign Language and Literature from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. His current interests include second language acquisition, heritage speakers, Spanish as a heritage language, and sociolinguistics.

The SHL Lab supports undergraduate students who would like to gain research experience (e.g., recruiting participants, collecting and analyzing data, setting up experiments, presenting our work, etc.). If you are interested in becoming a research assistant, please send a copy of your CV (i.e., resume) and a list of your available hours to our lab manager, Paola Guerrero. Our research assistants are expected to volunteer for a minimum of 5 hours a week and to make a commitment for two consecutive semesters.
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If you have additional questions, contact the SHL LAB manager, Paola Guerrero 

We are located on the first floor of Dauer Hall, in room #53.  Find SHL Lab in this map