Arts in the English Language Classroom: Exploring Multilingual Learners' Engagement Through Indigenous Arts

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 3:35 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Centering Multilingual Literacies and Practices (Table 6)

Abstract

This paper explores the integration of creative arts—griot storytelling, forum theatre, and slam poetry—into the English curriculum for multilingual learners in Burkina Faso. The study included 33 students and 7 teachers who participated in workshops integrating these arts into the English as an Additional Language (EAL) curriculum. Pre- and post-workshop interviews and thematic analysis using MAXQDA24 revealed significant improvements in student engagement, oral proficiency, and cultural connectivity. Teachers reported enhanced classroom dynamics and participation. This research highlights the importance of arts and culturally sustaining pedagogies in language learning, offering valuable insights for educators to embrace social justice, diversity, and inclusion in multilingual educational settings.

Keywords: Arts-based learning, Forum theatre, Griot storytelling, Multilingual learners, Slam poetry

Author

• Inoussa Malgoubri, University of Nebraska - Lincoln