Let's make the most of multilingualism

Summary

This video discusses the growing importance of multilingualism in education, particularly at the University of the Basque Country. It contrasts traditional, monolingual approaches with new, more inclusive methods that embrace students' multilingual abilities. The video highlights how leveraging students' full linguistic repertoire can enhance language learning, improve intercultural communication, and foster awareness of language power dynamics. By using tools like the linguistic landscape and cognates, the video emphasizes the benefits of integrating multiple languages in the classroom, making learning more effective and engaging for students in a globalized world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Multilingualism is becoming increasingly important in schools worldwide, with students now speaking a variety of home languages.
• 😀 Traditional language teaching methods isolate languages, but new approaches focus on multilingualism to encourage learning in multiple languages.
• 😀 The University of the Basque Country is exploring how to develop multilingual skills effectively at school.
• 😀 The concept of multilingualism is approached with three dimensions: learners as multilingual speakers, consideration of the whole linguistic repertoire, and understanding of the social context.
• 😀 In multilingual classrooms, students are seen as emergent multilinguals, not deficient speakers of a target language.
• 😀 Teachers are encouraged to consider both the languages spoken at home and the languages learned in school when developing language skills.
• 😀 Language awareness is key for students, teaching them how languages are used in different contexts and helping them understand language hierarchies, cultural identities, and intercultural communication.
• 😀 Using real-world examples, like the linguistic landscape of public signs, can help children learn about language representation and develop sensitivity to language preservation.
• 😀 Cognates (words that are similar across languages) can be used to enhance reading skills and language awareness, making learning more efficient.
• 😀 Content-based instruction, where both language and subject matter are taught together, promotes multilingual learning by utilizing students' existing linguistic resources.
• 😀 Encouraging the use of all languages, not just the target language, in the classroom can help students make connections to prior knowledge and improve their overall learning experience.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the multilingualism approach at the University of the Basque Country?

The approach focuses on developing multilingual skills in the most efficient way at school and highlighting how multilingualism can be an asset for intercultural communication.

How does the University of the Basque Country view students who speak multiple languages?

The university views these students as multilingual speakers, not as deficient speakers of a target language, but as emergent multilinguals who can communicate in different languages.

What are the three main dimensions of the multilingualism approach described in the transcript?

The three dimensions are: (1) considering learners as multilingual speakers, (2) looking at the whole linguistic repertoire (all languages learned and used), and (3) considering the social context of the classroom, school, and society.

What is the significance of the linguistic landscape in teaching multilingualism?

The linguistic landscape, which includes the signs and texts in public spaces, is used to raise awareness about how languages are represented and valued, helping students become more conscious of language diversity and the need to protect minority languages.

What role do cognates play in developing multilingualism in the classroom?

Cognates, words that are similar across languages, are used to help students identify similarities and differences between languages. This can improve their reading skills and make learning more efficient.

How does content-based instruction work in multilingual classrooms?

Content-based instruction combines teaching both content and language, often through English, while also encouraging the use of multiple languages to activate students' prior knowledge and resources, thus enhancing the learning process.

What misconception do some parents and teachers have about using multiple languages in the classroom?

Some parents and teachers believe that using languages other than English will make students lazy, forgetting that languages can complement each other and help in learning more effectively.

Why is it important to use students' multilingual resources in the learning process?

Using students' multilingual resources helps connect their prior knowledge to new information, making learning more effective by leveraging the languages they already know.

How does multilingualism impact intercultural communication according to the transcript?

Multilingualism enhances intercultural communication by providing students with the ability to understand and communicate across diverse cultures and languages, which is increasingly important in a globalized world.

What is the overall message about languages in the educational context, as presented in the transcript?

The overall message is that languages should not be viewed as competitors but as allies that can work together to support learning, improve communication, and foster intercultural understanding.