View in EDS

Structural Constraints and Agentive Responses: Comparing Two Systems of Greek Heritage Language Education in Sweden

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Structural Constraints and Agentive Responses: Comparing Two Systems of Greek Heritage Language Education in Sweden
Language: English
Authors: Natalia Ganuza (ORCID 0000-0002-0444-2207), Zoe Nikolaidou, Maria Rydell
Source: International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. 2025 28(7):883-900.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Greek, Native Language Instruction, National Curriculum, Weekend Programs, Public Schools, Educational Development, Administrative Organization, Professional Autonomy, Language Teachers, Modern Language Curriculum, Cultural Education
Geographic Terms: Sweden
DOI: 10.1080/13670050.2025.2527800
ISSN: 1367-0050
1747-7522
Abstract: This study investigates two distinct ways of organising heritage language education within one national context. More specifically, we investigate the teaching of Greek in Sweden through: (a) mother tongue instruction provided by the national education system and (b) a complementary school run by a parental organisation. Drawing on Archer's morphogenetic approach (1995), where structure, culture and agency are seen as separate but interrelated analytical layers, we investigate key actors' agentive responses to structural and cultural enablements and constraints. The study includes a historical overview and a linguistic ethnography conducted in both contexts. The data encompass policy documents, classroom observations and interviews with teachers, board members, parents and students. The findings show that the educational contexts have different legal statuses and are governed at different policy levels (national vs. transnational), while sharing many structural constraints at the level of praxis, such as being based on voluntary participation, limited instruction time and inconvenient scheduling. However, the key actors navigate the constraints of each setting in different ways, thus pointing to distinctive differences between them. Ultimately, the study shows how both educational systems complement each other and serve important roles in supporting the maintenance and development of heritage language and culture in Sweden.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1492776
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1492776
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Structural Constraints and Agentive Responses: Comparing Two Systems of Greek Heritage Language Education in Sweden
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Natalia+Ganuza%22">Natalia Ganuza</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0444-2207">0000-0002-0444-2207</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zoe+Nikolaidou%22">Zoe Nikolaidou</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maria+Rydell%22">Maria Rydell</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Bilingual+Education+and+Bilingualism%22"><i>International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism</i></searchLink>. 2025 28(7):883-900.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 18
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Greek%22">Greek</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language+Instruction%22">Native Language Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22National+Curriculum%22">National Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Weekend+Programs%22">Weekend Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Development%22">Educational Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrative+Organization%22">Administrative Organization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Autonomy%22">Professional Autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Teachers%22">Language Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Modern+Language+Curriculum%22">Modern Language Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Education%22">Cultural Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sweden%22">Sweden</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1080/13670050.2025.2527800
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1367-0050<br />1747-7522
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates two distinct ways of organising heritage language education within one national context. More specifically, we investigate the teaching of Greek in Sweden through: (a) mother tongue instruction provided by the national education system and (b) a complementary school run by a parental organisation. Drawing on Archer's morphogenetic approach (1995), where structure, culture and agency are seen as separate but interrelated analytical layers, we investigate key actors' agentive responses to structural and cultural enablements and constraints. The study includes a historical overview and a linguistic ethnography conducted in both contexts. The data encompass policy documents, classroom observations and interviews with teachers, board members, parents and students. The findings show that the educational contexts have different legal statuses and are governed at different policy levels (national vs. transnational), while sharing many structural constraints at the level of praxis, such as being based on voluntary participation, limited instruction time and inconvenient scheduling. However, the key actors navigate the constraints of each setting in different ways, thus pointing to distinctive differences between them. Ultimately, the study shows how both educational systems complement each other and serve important roles in supporting the maintenance and development of heritage language and culture in Sweden.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1492776
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1492776
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/13670050.2025.2527800
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 883
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Greek
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Native Language Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: National Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Weekend Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrative Organization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional Autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Modern Language Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sweden
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Structural Constraints and Agentive Responses: Comparing Two Systems of Greek Heritage Language Education in Sweden
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Natalia Ganuza
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zoe Nikolaidou
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Maria Rydell
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1367-0050
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1747-7522
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 28
            – Type: issue
              Value: 7
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
              Type: main
ResultId 1