EAL &
Translanguaging
English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Translanguaging Summary
Importance of Language and EAL
Language learning: Language learning includes the development of home and family languages, languages of the school, additional languages and literacy.
Cultural Identity: Language is a means of affirming and expressing cultural identity and developing international-mindedness.
Access to Curriculum: Language proficiency enables students to access educational materials, understand instructions, and engage fully in classroom activities across subjects.
Integration and Inclusion: Proficiency in English facilitates the integration of EAL students into mainstream classrooms and fosters a sense of inclusion within the school community.
Global Communication: English is widely used as a global language in various domains such as business, science, and technology. Proficiency in English equips students with the skills needed to communicate effectively in an interconnected world.
Academic Achievement: Language proficiency correlates with academic success, as it allows students to comprehend complex concepts, participate actively in discussions, and express their ideas coherently in written form.
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Cultural Understanding: Learning English exposes students to different cultures, literature, and perspectives, promoting cross-cultural understanding and empathy.
Career Opportunities: Language proficiency enhances students' employability by expanding their career options and increasing their competitiveness in the job market, both locally and internationally.
Personal Development: Mastering a second language such as English enhances cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and promotes intellectual growth and linguistic diversity.
Definition of Translanguaging: Translanguaging encourages students to use all their languages for learning, rejecting strict language separation. It recognizes students' diverse linguistic backgrounds as valuable resources for understanding and expression. Educators create inclusive environments where students can access and produce academic content using their entire linguistic repertoire. This approach benefits multilingual learners, validating their linguistic identities and enhancing learning outcomes by leveraging their rich linguistic resources in the educational process.
Definition of EAL: English as an Additional Language (EAL) refers to the teaching and learning of English by students whose first language is not English. These students require support in developing their English language skills to succeed academically and socially in English-medium educational settings.
Teaching and Learning Strategies for Translanguaging
Multilingual Instruction: Using multiple languages in teaching materials and instruction to accommodate diverse language backgrounds.
Code-Switching: Encouraging students to switch between languages as needed for comprehension and expression.
Language Mediation: Guiding students to translate, interpret, or explain concepts across languages to deepen understanding.
Collaborative Learning: Fostering peer interactions where students can use their languages collectively to solve problems and share knowledge.
Scaffolded Support: Providing language support tailored to individual students' proficiency levels in each language.
Reflection and Metacognition: Encouraging students to reflect on their language use and strategize ways to leverage their linguistic resources effectively.
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Incorporating cultural elements from students' diverse linguistic backgrounds into instruction to create meaningful connections.
Flexible Assessment: Designing assessments that allow students to demonstrate their understanding and skills using any language they feel most comfortable with.
Teaching and Learning Strategies for EAL
Differentiated Instruction: Tailor teaching methods and materials to accommodate the diverse needs and proficiency levels of EAL students, providing additional support and scaffolding as necessary.
Language Immersion: Create an immersive language environment by incorporating English into daily classroom routines, activities, and interactions to facilitate language acquisition through exposure and practice.
Visual Aids and Multimedia: Use visual aids, multimedia resources, and real-life examples to reinforce learning, clarify concepts, and provide context, particularly for EAL students with limited English proficiency.
Collaborative Learning: Encourage collaborative learning activities such as group discussions, pair work, and cooperative projects to promote peer interaction, language development, and mutual support among EAL students and their peers.
Language Support Strategies: Implement language support strategies such as vocabulary building exercises, language games, and language-focused activities to enhance EAL students' vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and language fluency.
Cultural Sensitivity: Foster a culturally inclusive classroom environment by celebrating cultural diversity, acknowledging and respecting students' cultural backgrounds, and incorporating culturally relevant content into the curriculum.
Feedback and Assessment: Provide constructive feedback, regular assessments, and formative evaluations to monitor EAL students' progress, identify areas for improvement, and adjust teaching strategies accordingly to meet their evolving needs.
Language Buddies/Mentors: Pair EAL students with proficient English-speaking peers or mentors to provide language support, foster peer relationships, and promote language learning through peer tutoring and collaboration.
** Source: Various website with help from ChatGPT
"Translanguaging occurs when a person utilizes features from more than one language to negotiate meaning or communicate within a single context. Languages blend and combine in a dynamic way. Research shows us that new languages develop in concert with, not compartmentalized from, existing foundational language. The brain needs to be able to fluidly refer to all linguistic assets as it constructs new features of communication." (The All Access Classroom).
Also see:
What Is Translanguaging and How Is It Used in the Classroom? | Education Week| July 13, 2023
What is Translanguaging and How Can It Be Used in the Classroom? |American Montessori Society | Sep 18, 2023
Book: The Translanguaging Classroom: Leveraging Student Bilingualism for Learning | 2016| by Ofelia García Otheguy Ph.D., Susana Johnson Ph.D., Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Podcast: Supporting Language Learners
Dr. Gini Rojas specializes in English as an Additional Language development and in providing access for English-knowing bilinguals through differentiated instruction and progressive scaffolding for developing academic English. She conducts professional training on effective programs and strategies for English learners from pre-school through grade 12 for ESL (EAL) and classroom teachers and has worked with over 300 international schools on language education policies, programs, and professional development. Dr. Rojas is a faculty member and author with the American Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).
To contact Dr Rojas, you can email her at gini.rojas@gmail.com.
Language Agreements
One way to develop common understandings and agreed language practices in a multilingual school is for students and teachers to draw up language agreements, sometimes known as a “class language policy”. These agreements can be displayed for members of the learning community to see and refer to throughout the year. They might also be shared or developed with parents. The benefits are that misconceptions about language use in learning can be addressed, and discussions can develop around the ways in which language can be a means to support agency among all students and their families.
Language agreements can be developed in collaboration with all subject areas and parents so that the whole learning community is involved.