Teaching Tips for Translanguaging – with Josianne Block

Senior Teaching Associate Josianne Block shares insights on how embracing learners’ linguistic resources can enhance communication, foster inclusivity, and create a more dynamic learning environment.

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TALKING POINTS

1. What is translanguaging? Josianne defines translanguaging as the natural blending of languages to facilitate effective communication. She shares real-world examples, such as using gestures, words from other languages we know, and cultural knowledge to convey meaning.
2. The role of translanguaging. How translanguaging reflects the interconnected nature of languages in our minds. Far from a shortcut, it’s a powerful tool for building confidence and fostering curiosity.
3. Classroom strategies. Josianne describes how she incorporates translanguaging by starting lessons by writing vocabulary words in the learners' languages, as an example.
4. Safe learning spaces. The importance of establishing clear guidelines for using learners’ first languages. She shares how this approach helps students transition from relying on their native languages to gaining confidence in English.

ABOUT

Josianne is based in Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean. She has over ten years of teaching experience in English and currently works as a senior teaching associate at the University of Malta. Josianne holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics and TESOL and is also qualified to teach Italian and Maltese as foreign languages. Having taught several integration programmes, she is particularly interested in language dynamics and linguistic diversity within multilingual contexts. She also actively participates in local and international ELT conferences and enjoys conducting research.

REFERENCES

• Garcia, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Kerr, P. (2014). Translation and Own-language Activities. Cambridge University Press.
• Translanguaging Guides. CUNY-NYSIEB. (2021). Available at https://www.cunynysieb.org/ translanguaging-re Accessed on 19/11/2024.

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CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Thanks to our inspiring guest, Josianne Block.

Production by Communicating for Impact

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