Resource Overview: 

Translanguaging refers to the flexible use of language that enables a bilingual person to take full advantage of their linguistic repertoire to learn content, make meaning, and communicate effectively. In other words, students are given the power to decide which of their languages they will use for different purposes. A teacher who embraces translanguaging views multilingualism as a resource, not a deficit. Even if the students eventually need to hand in a written product in English (the expectation in classrooms where English is the target language), the process they follow for reaching that goal may involve leveraging their home language, either through discussion with peers or the use of textual and/or audio/visual resources. The key factor is that students are empowered to decide which language to use in various contexts instead of a teacher prescribing which language students can use at which times. Translanguaging does not refer to teachers communicating with students in their home languages, translating assignments for them, or assessing work completed in the home language.