Creating a Multilingual ESL Classroom

About this Video

• Video Title: Creating a Multilingual ESL Classroom
• Channel: Saddleback Educational Publishing
• Speakers: Liz Mangus, Dr. Mandy Stewart
• Duration: 01:14:55

Introduction

This webinar focuses on creating a multilingual ESL classroom, emphasizing a strength-based approach that leverages students' existing languages to enhance English acquisition, critical thinking, and creativity. The presenter, Dr. Mandy Stewart, shares practical strategies and resources for educators.

Key Takeaways

• Asset-Oriented Instruction: The webinar advocates for viewing students' multilingual abilities as assets rather than deficits. It emphasizes leveraging all their languages to support English language learning.
• Purposeful Language Use: The approach isn't about haphazard language use but a purposeful integration of home languages alongside English instruction to achieve specific learning goals.
• Multilingual Resources: The presentation highlights the importance of providing access to literature and learning materials in students' home languages, in addition to English resources, to enhance engagement and comprehension.
• Translanguaging: The concept of translanguaging is explained, showing how students can draw on their full linguistic repertoire to support learning across different domains (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
• Practical Strategies: Specific strategies for incorporating multilingual approaches into reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities are provided, along with examples from classrooms. Resources for finding multilingual materials are also shared.