Co-learning in the High School English Class through Translanguaging: Emergent Bilingual Newcomers and Monolingual Teachers

ABSTRACT

There is a growing chasm between the instruction of secondary emergent bilinguals (EBs) and research illustrating the benefits of adolescent EBs using translanguaging practices for academic engagement and gains. Specifically, this qualitative study purposes to understand how monolingual teachers enact a translanguaging pedagogy in a high school classroom where English language acquisition is the focus. Findings indicate the primary resource the teachers used in their translanguaging pedagogy were the students themselves, and suggest that teachers’ willingness to participate as co-learners with adolescent EBs is crucial. Co-learning has been found to be an appropriate pedagogical tool with teachers of multilinguals due to the rich experiences it can foster and this study supports such literature. Additional study findings revealed tensions students and teachers felt through these practices, specifically in regards to translating, technology use, and students’ desire to learn the L2.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-learning
• emergent bilinguals
• high school
• monolingual teachers
• translanguaging

Acknowledgments

This material is based on work supported by the Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition under Award No. T365Z160017. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of English Language Acquisition.

Notes

1. Although the census and school districts use the term “Hispanic” we have chosen to use the term “Latinx” as we feel it is more inclusive and less hegemonic and gender biased.

2. “We” refers the research team consisting of the teachers and university faculty members who directed the research.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of English Language Acquisition though a National Professional Development Grant [T365Z160017].