Toda lengua es válida aquí en esta clase: Translanguaging pedagogy and critical language awareness in sociolinguistics courses on the U.S.-Mexico border

Authors

Katherine Christoffersen, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Kimberly Regalado, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

This study examines how translanguaging pedagogy (García & Lin, 2017), or the leveraging of students’ full linguistic repertoires, is implemented in two asynchronous online sociolinguistics courses at a Hispanic Serving Institution. After describing the courses’ translanguaging design, we present a mixed methods analysis of student code-switching on Flipgrid video discussion boards and reflection papers. Out of 125 reflection papers, 36.0% include code-switching, while the analysis of Flipgrid video discussions shows that code-switching increased throughout the semester, from 3.6% in Week 1 to 38.6% in Week 2. Student reflection papers describe the significance of translanguaging in the course, while also examining aspects of critical linguistic awareness. These results demonstrate the importance of planned as well as moment-by-moment decisions for the implementation of translanguaging pedagogy. Furthermore, we suggest that in order to reach its full potential as a transformative agent of social justice, translanguaging pedagogy should be complemented with critical language awareness.

Comments

Published under the authority of Texas Association for Bilingual Education.

Recommended Citation

Christoffersen, K. & Regalado, K. (2021). “Toda lengua es válida aquí en esta clase”: Translanguaging pedagogy and critical language awareness in sociolinguistics courses on the U.S.-Mexico border. Journal of Bilingual Education Research and Instruction, 23(1). 45-71.

Publication Title

Journal of Bilingual Education Research and Instruction