Engaging Multilingual Students

As Canada is considered a multicultural country, it is incredibly important that we as educators understand how to best engage students who are multilingual.  There are a few different ways that we can approach this, such as inviting those students to use their first language in the classroom.  This can be done by inviting a family member in to teach the class a few words or phrases in said language, or by playing recommended songs or literature from that student in their language.  This shows that their voice is valued and heard, despite potential language barriers, and that diversity is welcomed.  

Teachers may also participate in activities and discussions with multilingual students for extended periods of time.  Rather than briefly stopping by to check in on those students throughout the class, more time together allows for the teacher and student to get a more in depth insight of where the student is at in their learning and understanding of class subjects.  Time also allows for the building of trust, which is important in student/teacher relationships, and could lead to the student being more open about their concerns and questions in class subject areas.  Similarly, smaller groups during class activities could open up more lines of communication between students, creating potential friendships.  In the end, whatever approaches educators take in engaging multilingual students in the classroom, the most important thing to remember is to make them feel safe and supported.