In recent years, the term ‘translanguaging’ has been used to describe the language practices of bilingual or multilingual individuals. In an academic context, “translanguaging” refers to the use of more than one language in the classroom, in addition to the students’ home languages. Cen William was the first to employ trans-language instruction in order to teach both Welsh and English.
The use of translanguaging in education has many benefits, such as reducing the achievement gap between English language learners and their monolingual peers, fostering a positive attitude towards language learning, and providing a more contextualized and culturally relevant education for bilingual or multilingual students. However, there are also challenges to consider when using translanguaging in education, such as ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to be successful, educators being aware of the potential for students to use translanguaging to avoid learning the target language, and creating a balance between the use of the target language and students’ home languages.
Overall, translanguaging is a promising approach to education for bilingual or multilingual students. When used effectively, it has the potential to reduce achievement gaps, foster positive attitudes towards language learning, and provide a more contextualized and culturally relevant education.
Recently, trans-language has become a popular approach to education, and proponents argue that it can help students better understand and connect with their language and culture of origin. However, there are also criticisms of translanguage, with some educators arguing that it can leave students feeling isolated and confused.
Trans-language can help students feel more connected to their native language and culture and can help them better understand and appreciate the complexities of their native language and culture. However, it can also be difficult for students who are unsure of their native language and feel they are unable to fully participate in class. Additionally, translanguaging can lead to a gap between native language speakers and non-native language speakers, as the former are often seen as having an advantage. Despite these disadvantages, I believe that the potential benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and that translingualism can be a valuable tool for educators to use in the classroom.