Using Translanguaging to Support High School Beginner Emergent Bilinguals’ Critical Literacy Development

• In Event: Translanguaging Practices: Supporting Bilingual and Multilingual Students' Literacy Engagement

Abstract

Critical literacy (CL) skills are important for emergent bilingual students because they are historically marginalized and they often confront social injustice such as racism and linguicism. However, challenges remain when it comes to teaching CL to beginner emergent bilinguals (Lau, 2012; Alford, 2001, Zhang, 2015). In this qualitative research, I added to this scholarship by incorporating the practice of translanguaging in helping high school beginner emergent bilinguals develop CL. My findings indicate that CL opens up opportunities for students to share their experiences and voice their opinions. It also helps them make sense of their world and encourages them to take actions to transform their social condition.

Author

• Jiahong Wang, University of Kansas