Heritage Language — First Lesson
My name is Henry Ertner, teacher and researcher for German as a heritage language — in other words, as a family language that, in many cases, was not passed down through school but at home by older generations.
You can find more about me, my work, heritage language, and the Sudetenland on my blog — but here, we’re starting with your preparation for the first lesson. And that begins with a look back:
At your language history!
In my lessons, I use the informal du form — because language needs closeness. And because we’re going on a journey together where the personal plays a role. If du makes you uncomfortable, just let me know — I’m of course happy to use Sie instead.
The Questionnaire: Your Language Biography
At the beginning of your journey with me is a small but powerful questionnaire. It helps us understand which languages were spoken in your family, who influenced you, and how consciously or unconsciously language was passed on to you.
👉 Please take a few minutes to fill it out.
The questionnaire covers three generations:
- Yourself — 3rd Generation (G3)
- Parents — 2nd Generation (G2)
- Grandparents — 1st Generation (G1)
For each person, fill in the following:
- First and last name
- Year of birth (for grandparents also year of death, if applicable)
- Place of birth — Where is this person from? This will be important later.
- What languages does he/she speak?
- How well did the person speak German? (use school grading scale: 1 = very good, 5 = poor)
- How much time did you spend with this person? (e.g. daily, occasionally, rarely)
Why is this important?
The questionnaire is based on the core sociolinguistic question posed by Joshua Fishman:
Who speaks which language, how and when, with whom — under what social circumstances, with what intentions and consequences?
Language doesn’t arise in a vacuum. It is passed on — or not — often through everyday contact: at meals, during play, in the living room, on grandma’s lap. If you regularly spent time with someone who spoke German when you were young, you may have absorbed linguistic knowledge unconsciously — even if you’re not aware of it now. These “invisible” traces are gold for our lessons, as they reveal hidden potential.
What You’ll Learn from the Questionnaire
Here are a few things to keep an eye on while filling it out:
- Language Profiles in Your Family
What languages appear in your family tree? Who could or can speak German — and how well? Did your parents or grandparents speak German? Which language was spoken when and with whom? Were you present and did you listen? - Origin — Places of Birth
Be sure to note the places of birth. Whether someone was born in Vienna, Reichenberg, or Kazakhstan makes a difference — not only for the language biography but also for our later topics on origin, migration, and identity. - Shared Time
How close was your contact with your parents or grandparents? Who was regularly present in your everyday life? Especially if someone was often around and spoke German, it might have shaped your sense of the language — even without active learning.
What Happens After You Fill It Out?
This questionnaire is not a test. It’s a tool to help you reflect:
- What was passed on to me?
- What has disappeared?
- What’s still there — maybe deep inside?
In our first lesson, we’ll talk about your insights. If you’d like, you can say in a few sentences: “This is what I discovered. This surprised me.”
And Then?
In the following lessons, we’ll build on your responses. Especially exciting is the birthplace and origin of the grandparents you spent a lot of time with. Because language is always connected to history and place. Together, we’ll explore the paths your family language has taken — and how you can reactivate it today.
Take a moment, fill out the questionnaire — and bring your language story to class. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
👉 You can book your first lesson FOR FREE here
Bibliography: Over 250 titles — from classics of language philosophy to current sociolinguistic studies and historical sources on the history of the Sudeten Germans.
Deutsch Heritage Language — Erste Stunde
English Heritage Language — First Lesson
