ERIC Number: EJ1446458
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2395-9908
Translanguaging: Centralizing the Learner in Multilingual Classroom Transactions
Samrat Bisai; Smriti Singh
MEXTESOL Journal, v48 n3 2024
In a multilingual classroom, students come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They bring various cultural experiences, knowledge, and linguistic resources with them, however, most of the time, these resources remain unutilized as the medium for discourse in the classroom is often the dominant language. As a result, minority languages remain ignored and the students from minority linguistic backgrounds might feel at a disadvantages if they cannot voice their views in the classroom (Mohanty, 2009). Most of the students leave their education for these linguistic reasons, and the dropout rates are quite high among minority students (MacKenzie, 2009). In this scenario, translanguaging can be an alternative strategy to provide space to minority learners in the mainstream classroom where they will be able to communicate more freely. This study was conducted in a school in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. The purpose of the study was to explore how translanguaging promotes learners' space inside the mainstream classroom and how it promotes language practice where learners can bring their creativity and imagination to the classroom. A qualitative approach to content analysis has been adopted to analyze the data. Findings show the active involvement of students in the translanguaging classroom and suggest that translanguaging encourages students' creativity and imagination in a multilingual classroom.
Descriptors: Multilingualism, Second Language Learning, Language Minorities, Classroom Communication, Foreign Countries, Cultural Background, Code Switching (Language), Student Attitudes, Creativity, Imagination, Language Usage, Native Language, Teacher Role, Class Activities, Grade 8, English (Second Language), Second Language Instruction
MEXTESOL Journal. Bernardo Couto 48, Col. Cuauhtemoc, Alcadía Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de Mexico, 06880, Mexico. Tel: +55-55-66-87-49; e-mail: mextesoljournal@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.mextesol.net/journal/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 8; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: India
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A