Mary Wells, Ed.D.
Methodology Instructor
Dr. Mary Wells has spent a decade teaching Spanish at the both the middle and high school levels, bringing a deep commitment to culture and identity into her classroom. Whether working with L2 learners, where she uses culture as the entry point into language through comprehensible input approaches, or with heritage language learners, where she creates space for students to examine and affirm their own identities, she believes the classroom should be a place where every student feels seen in the language they are acquiring or reclaiming. As an experienced world traveler, she frames Spanish as both a global and local language, highlighting the richness of US Latino communities while also organizing international travel opportunities that bring the language to life for her students.
Dr. Wells earned her Ed.D in 2025 in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education from Indiana University with her dissertation entitled “Mi abuela lo dice así”: Navigating Language Ideologies with Secondary Spanish Heritage Language Learners. She has focused her advanced study and research on heritage language education, bilingual education, and Spanish language pedagogy. She also holds a M.Ed from East Stroudsburg University, and a B.A. in Spanish from Temple University. She is a seasoned conference presenter and active in the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association.
Join me in my course!
NEW COURSE for Summer 2026: July 6 - August 14
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the specialized pedagogy needed to effectively serve heritage language learners (HLLs), students who have grown up with exposure to a language through family or community and arrive in the classroom with linguistic and cultural knowledge that differs significantly from that of traditional second language learners. Participants will examine current research on HLL profiles, identity, and language development; explore instructional approaches for both mixed HLL/L2 classrooms and dedicated heritage language courses; and develop practical, classroom-ready materials including differentiated lesson plans and authentic assessments. The course uses a Language Arts framework as the model for dedicated HLL instruction and emphasizes asset-based, identity-affirming pedagogy throughout. Readings draw primarily from the Spanish heritage language context, though the frameworks and instructional approaches are applicable across heritage languages. The course culminates in a capstone unit plan with two complete lesson plans and a reflective teaching statement.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Distinguish heritage language learners from L2 learners and native speakers, and explain why that distinction matters for instruction
Apply asset-based, identity-affirming frameworks to classroom practice, materials, and assessment design
Differentiate effectively for HLL students in a mixed classroom, including at beginner levels where HLLs may already have significant language
Design instruction for a dedicated HLL class using a Language Arts model that builds on oral and cultural strengths while developing academic language and literacy
Navigate the social and emotional dynamics that arise in mixed classrooms with research-backed confidence
Critically evaluate and adapt existing assessments and materials to be appropriate and equitable for HLL students
Reframe the teacher’s role as a fellow lifelong learner by modeling curiosity about language variety rather than performing exclusive expertise (ACTFL 5th C)
Complete a capstone unit plan with two fully developed lesson plans ready for classroom use
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Course Delivery
Instructor-Facilitated
Online asynchronous (no live sessions) coursework
Weekly learning modules to complete at your own pace
Collaborative discussion boards
Instructor feedback
Optional office hours with the instructor for additional support
Students in an instructor-facilitated course must adhere to the session start and end dates listed on the website. Final coursework must be submitted within one week after the course end date. Course extensions beyond one week are subject to a $50 fee.
Course Access Information
Your Idioma Schoology course invitation will be emailed one week prior to the start of an instructor-facilitated 6-week course. You may access the Idioma Schoology login from the Login > Idioma Schoology Login dropdown menu at www.idiomaconsulting.com.
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About the Instructor
Dr. Mary Wells, Instructor. Read more about Mary here.
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