“Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL

This article uses a classroom experience to exemplify ways in which students as social beings learn English as a foreign language in Colombia and how the teacher uses trans[cultura]linguación. This is a process of making meaning during English-learning tasks while comparing specific linguistic varia...

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Main Author: Yecid Ortega
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2019-07-01
Series:Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/74091
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author Yecid Ortega
author_facet Yecid Ortega
author_sort Yecid Ortega
collection DOAJ
description This article uses a classroom experience to exemplify ways in which students as social beings learn English as a foreign language in Colombia and how the teacher uses trans[cultura]linguación. This is a process of making meaning during English-learning tasks while comparing specific linguistic variations as students learn about both their own culture and other people’s cultures. Borrowing from plurilingualism and translanguaging, I describe how a teacher attempts to use a social-justice approach to teaching English by valuing her students’ linguistic and cultural repertoires. I conclude by outlining the implications this has for proposing a paradigm shift from monolithic frameworks of learning language(s) to more dynamic ones in which students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds are deployed as a platform for addressing issues that are relevant to their communities.
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series Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development
spelling doaj-art-c29afb7561ba427cb9fc8d41a2f511a72025-08-20T02:19:04ZengUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaProfile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development1657-07902019-07-0121215517010.15446/profile.v21n2.74091“Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFLYecid Ortega0University of TorontoThis article uses a classroom experience to exemplify ways in which students as social beings learn English as a foreign language in Colombia and how the teacher uses trans[cultura]linguación. This is a process of making meaning during English-learning tasks while comparing specific linguistic variations as students learn about both their own culture and other people’s cultures. Borrowing from plurilingualism and translanguaging, I describe how a teacher attempts to use a social-justice approach to teaching English by valuing her students’ linguistic and cultural repertoires. I conclude by outlining the implications this has for proposing a paradigm shift from monolithic frameworks of learning language(s) to more dynamic ones in which students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds are deployed as a platform for addressing issues that are relevant to their communities.https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/74091ColombiaEnglish as a foreign languageplurilingualismsocial justicetranslanguaging
spellingShingle Yecid Ortega
“Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL
Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development
Colombia
English as a foreign language
plurilingualism
social justice
translanguaging
title “Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL
title_full “Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL
title_fullStr “Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL
title_full_unstemmed “Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL
title_short “Teacher, ¿Puedo Hablar en Español?” A Reflection on Plurilingualism and Translanguaging Practices in EFL
title_sort teacher puedo hablar en espanol a reflection on plurilingualism and translanguaging practices in efl
topic Colombia
English as a foreign language
plurilingualism
social justice
translanguaging
url https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/profile/article/view/74091
work_keys_str_mv AT yecidortega teacherpuedohablarenespanolareflectiononplurilingualismandtranslanguagingpracticesinefl