We agree, Multilinguals can think in complex ways and can produce sophisticated ideas. Therefore, we should think about language like this: as we increase our "task complexity" (our prompts, texts, directions, and projects) the language demand becomes increasingly more challenging. In order to express complex ideas, a student must have access to more vocabulary to accurately explain something. When students lack a deep and rich lexicon in a language they are learning, they should be encouraged to use other modes of communication or languages to share those ideas. Remember, language doesn't equal intelligence. Our language learners are intelligent, but they lack the vocabulary in their second language to articulate what they are thinking. This is where translanguaging can help our language learners excel!
Translanguaging happens when students use their L1 and L2 together to articulate their thinking. Here is a great article I found on the research behind Translanguaging. This way of thinking about language is a shift from the old idea of "English only." Translanguaging acknowledges the importance of multilingualism and says in a very public way that "you" matter, your language matters, and that your languages are an asset to your education.
Translanguaging shouldn't be reserved for the newcomer class. Translanguaging can happen in any class. Remember, as students take more advanced classes in English, the task complexity increases. Students will be able to think in sophisticated ways, but their vocabulary might not be sufficient. We should promote multilingualism in our classes and allow students to communicate the best way they can. First and foremost, we want to evaluate our students' thinking and knowledge. If we cannot do that accurately through English, let's allow students to express themselves the best way they know how. The language will come. English language acquisition will increase as we support our English learners. More importantly, language learners will be more willing to take linguistic risks if they know it is a safe place to practice and make mistakes. And think about all the wonderful lessons your English speakers will learn as they become immersed in language that moves in multiple directions.
How to grade translanguaging?
There isn't a lot of literature about grading translanguaging. Not yet. I like to use text to speech translators. Students speak or write their answers in the Google Translate tool on their phones or Chromebooks. I can immediately see their answers in English. As their teacher, I can translate their writing by copying and pasting their words into a tranlation tool, or I can scan their writing with the Google Translate App and I will get an English translation. Our language learners translate our writing into their home language. Why can't we tranlate their home language into English?
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