S3 E6: Using multiple languages in the classroom

As a language learner in the classroom, you may feel like you’re starting from no language skills and a lot of confusion. However, as Dr Kaitlyn Zavaleta and Dr Tracey Costley discuss, even a new learner is bringing in language skills from other languages. When a language teacher encourages the use of other, non-target languages, they allow for “translanguaging”. In these scenarios, translanguaging allows speakers to use other languages to communicate more effectively. 

To find out more behind-the-scenes information about this topic or about our podcast, please visit our webpage, languagescientists.dmu.ac.uk. This is where you can go to ask questions, leave comments, or even participate in our current research! We’d love to hear from YOU.

To read about Dr Costley’s research, please visit: https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/COSTL74608/Tracey-Costley 

Follow Dr Zavaleta and Dr Bisson on Twitter (X): @dr_klzavaleta  and  @mjbisson

Follow Dr Costley on Twitter (X): @TraceyCostley  

Or get in touch via email: language.scientists@dmu.ac.uk

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We’d love to hear your thoughts

What have you learnt from this episode? How has your attitude towards language learning been affected?

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