Engaging multilingual students is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being. Language and cultural diversity bring a unique set of challenges to the classroom, and teachers need to recognize and address these challenges to create a learning environment that supports all students. When multilingual students feel engaged and connected to their learning, they are more likely to participate actively, take risks, and develop their language proficiency. This engagement can lead to increased self-confidence, motivation, and a sense of belonging in the classroom. Conversely, when multilingual students feel excluded or disengaged, they may experience feelings of isolation, frustration, and lower self-esteem. Thus, it is essential for teachers to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that values multilingualism, celebrates diversity, and encourages all students to participate fully in their education.
Some effective ways to integrate multilingual strategies into the classroom may include:
- Teachers should acknowledge and value the linguistic diversity of their students and encourage them to use their home languages in class. This can help students build their self-esteem and create a more inclusive learning environment.
- Teachers can make use of bilingual resources, such as books, audio recordings, and online materials, to support each student’s language learning. This can help students connect with the content being presented and better understand new concepts.
- Teachers can use language learning games and activities, such as language scavenger hunts and word games, to make learning fun and engaging for students.
- Teachers might pair students who speak different languages together as language buddies. This can encourage students to practice speaking and listening skills in a supportive environment. As well, students’ language profiles can become more diverse through practicing new languages.
- Teachers can create a language-rich environment by labelling items in the classroom with the corresponding words in different languages, displaying posters with important vocabulary, and encouraging students to speak in their home languages.
References
Cummins, J. (2019). How Can Teachers Maximize Engagement Among Multilingual Students? EdCan Network.
One Comment
Emma Metz
Amazing blog post Anna! I love your point on confidence and how our approaches as educators can either build confidence in students or lower it. I absolutely agree with your point that “it is essential for teachers to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that values multilingualism, celebrates diversity, and encourages all students to participate fully in their education,”. Ultimately, as educators we must see multilingualism as an asset, not a liability. Thank you so much for sharing! Great work.