Multilingual Education & Translanguaging

MT or L1:   Mother Tongue, also referred to as the first language learned (L1) or home language.

L2:   The second language learned, often the language of wider communication or national language.

L3:  The third language learned, which in many cases is the international language - English, French, Portuguese or Spanish.

LoI or MoI:  Language of Instruction or Medium of Instruction, the language primarily used in teaching.

MTB:  Mother Tongue-Based, when the L1 is the language of instruction in the classroom. 

MLE:  Multilingual Education, the use of more than one language of instruction in the classroom. 

MTB-MLE:  Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education, education that begins in leaner's L1 and then other languages are gradually introduced.

L1-based MLE:  First Language-based Multilingual Education or Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education, used in place of MTB-MLE. 

This book attempts to introduce some background to the concept of translanguaging and equip teachers with a better understanding of this complex field by considering, why, how and when to use translanguaging effectively. The book aims to highlight what is typical of translanguaging and to explain why this method deserves due attention.   Translanguaging in the classroom 

In this special issue, the guest editors —Angeline M. Barrett, Rachel Bowden, Anthony A. Essien, Prem Phyak, and Barbara Trudell—have curated a selection of 23 articles from 46 contributors across four continents. These articles explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of multilingual education in 21 diverse contexts, the majority of which are characterised by histories of colonial oppression that involved the marginalisation and minoritisation of autochthonous languages.  Multilingualism and Language Transition: Innovations and Possibilities

This second volume of Good Answers to Tough Questions addresses new issues and questions related to the implementation of local language-medium multilingual education programming. In this volume, we explore some of the more current multilingual education questions related to policy, school language mapping, orthographic challenges, digital tools for learning, early childhood education, education in emergencies, and more.  Good Answers to Tough Questions in L1-based Multilingual Education Volume 2

This publication of Good Answers to Tough Questions was written for education practitioners who are experienced in their field, but who have come up against some tough obstacles in implementing mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) programs in their contexts.  

Good Answers to Tough Questions in Mother Tongue–Based Multilingual Education (English) 

De bonnes réponses à des questions difficiles qui se posent en éducation multilingue fondée sur la langue maternelle (EML-LM) (français)

You can download individual chapters here in English or français.

In this paper the authors will focus on data from bi/multilingual educators and discuss aspects of translanguaging as a Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy.  Translanguaging as a Culturally Sustaining Pedagogical Approach: Bi/Multilingual Educators’ Perspectives. 

Tsokalidou, R., Skourtou, E. (2020). Translanguaging as a Culturally Sustaining Pedagogical Approach: Bi/Multilingual Educators’ Perspectives. In: Panagiotopoulou, J.A., Rosen, L., Strzykala, J. (eds) Inclusion, Education and Translanguaging. Inklusion und Bildung in Migrationsgesellschaften. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-28128-1_13 

Slides that communicate seven essential features of MTB-MLE programs.  Graphics that help to communicate MTB-MLE principles and practices

Challenges to MTB-MLE consultants, trainers, and curriculum developers, to examine our definitions of literacy and purposes for supporting MTB-MLE in non-dominant language communities.  Definitions of literacy and why they are important

Rationale for and main features of mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE).  Questions and some answers about Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education

SIL has produced multilingual education (MLE) resources, which illustrate several important issues associated with MLE: advocacy, capacity building, writing systems, resource linking and lifelong learning.  Multilingual Education