Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Multilingualism and Translanguaging: The Impact on Elementary Learners’ Reading Skills in the ESL Classroom

Lee Rou Yan, Azlina Binti Abdul Aziz

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i10/23301

Open access

The education sector has experienced a transformation in language pedagogy in recent years, which involved the transition to translanguaging as a powerful tool to use in the ESL classroom to make learning more participatory and effective. Traditional approaches to language learning that uphold the concept of holding one codified language in isolation from other languages are giving way to more inclusive pedagogical practices that embrace translingual learners. This quasi-experimental study explored the extent to which translanguaging affected the reading skills of elementary learners in the ESL classroom. A total of one hundred and seventy-two Grade 6 students were recruited into the study and were subjected to an analysis of the effects of translanguaging on the subsequent reading skills after the interaction occurred. There were statistically significant mean differences between the control and experimental groups. The effective means of translanguaging demonstrate a positive impact of allowing first language in the ESL classroom and that utilising both first language and English, to a certain degree, is effective in enhancing the reading skill of elementary learners in the ESL classroom.

Alasmari, M., Qasem, F., Ahmed, R., & Alrayes, M. (2022). Bilingual teachers’ translanguaging practices and ideologies in online classrooms in Saudi Arabia. Heliyon, 8(9). https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10537
Alexander, A., & Fox, E. (2008). Reading in perspective. In Fresch. M. (Ed), An essential history of current reading practices, 12–32. Newark: International Reading Association Inc.
Atkinson, D. (1987). The mother tongue in the classroom: A neglected resource? ELT Journal, 44(4), 241-247. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/41.4.241
Baker, C. (2011). Foundations of bilingual education and bilingualism (5th edition). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Baskaran, L. (1985). The new Englishes. Jurnal Bahasa Moden. English as a World Language, 6,69-95. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brunfaut, T. (2008). Foreign language reading for academic purposes. Unpublished doctoral thesis.University of Antwerp, Antwerp.
Burton, J., & Rajendram, S. (2019). Translanguaging-as-Resource: University ESL instructors’ language orientations and attitudes toward translanguaging. TESL Canada Journal, 36(1), 21-47. https://doi.org/10.18806/tesl.v36i1.1301
Cenoz, J. (2017). Translanguaging in school contexts: international perspectives. J. Lang. Identity Educ. 16, 193–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2017.132781
Champlin, M., J. (2016). Translanguaging and bilingual learners: A study of how translanguaging promotes literacy skills in bilingual students. [Master’s thesis, St. John Fisher University]. St. John Fisher University Research Repository. https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_ETD_masters/323
Council of Europe (2001), The Common European Framework of Reference for language learning teaching assessment. Cambridge University Publisher, Cambridge. English Language Education Reform in Malaysia: The Roadmap 2015-2025, 2016, pp. 5-6.
Creswell, J. W. (Eds.). (2012). Educational research: planning, conducted and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
Crossman, A. (2015). Purposive Sample. https://www.thoughtco.com/purposive-sampling-3026727 Cummins, J. (1979). Linguistic interdependence and the educational development of bilingual children. Review of Educational Research, 49 (2), 22–251. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654304900222
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2011). Handbook of qualitative research. 5th ed. Sage Publications, Inc.
Dong, Y. (2018). An interactive teaching mode for the course of integrated English in the context of mobile material. Journal of Jilin Engineering Normal University, 34 (8), 71–73
Dougherty, J. (2021). Translanguaging in action: Pedagogy that elevates. ORTESOL Journal, 38, 19-32.
Duarte, J. (2018). Translanguaging in the context of mainstream multilingual education. International Journal of Multilingualism, 17(2), 232-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2018.1512607
Elashhab, S. (2020). The impact of translanguaging on the EFL competence development of Arabic speaking learners. Asian EFL Journal Research Articles, 27(3), 393-413.
Etikan, I. (2015). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Flores, N. & Schissel, J. (2014). Dynamic bilingualism as the norm: Envisioning a heteroglossic approach to standards-based reform. TESOL. Quarterly, 48(3), 454-479. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.182
García, O. (2009). Education, multilingualism and translanguaging in the 21st century. In A.K. Mohanty, M. Panda, R. Phillipson, & T. Skutnabb-Kangas (Eds.), Multilingual education for social justice: Globalising the local (pp. 128–145). Orient BlackSwan.
Garcia, O. (2020). Singularity, complexities and contradictions: A commentary about translanguaging, social justice, and education. In J. A. Panagiotopoulou, L. Rosen, & J. Strzykala (Eds.), Inclusion, education and translanguaging: How to promote social justice in (teacher) education (pp. 11-20). Springer.
García, O. & Kleyn, T. (Eds.). 2016. Translanguaging with multilingual students: Learning from classroom moments (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315695242
Grabe, W., & Stoller, F (2011) Teaching and researching, second edition. London: Routledge. Hansen-Thomas, H. (2014). English as a second language (ESL). In S. Thompson(Ed.),Encyclopedia of diversity and social justice. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. http://proxy.devry.edu/login?url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/rowmanda sj/english_as_a_second_language_esl/0?institutionId=2985
Hardesty, D., M. & Bearden, W., O. (2003). The use of expert judges in scale development: Implications for improving face validity of measures of unobservable constructs. Journal of Business Research, 57(2), 9-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-2963(01)00295-
Joshith, V., P. & Raju, N. (2019). Krashen's affective filter in learning English as a second language among primary school students. Indian Journal of Psychology and Education (IJPE), 9(1), 43-47.
Kleyn, T. & Garcia, O. (2019). Translanguaging as an act of transformation: Restructuring teaching and learning for emergent bilingual students. In Oliveira, L., C. (Ed), The Handbook of TESOL in K?12. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119421702.ch6
Klingner, J. K., Vaughn, S., & Boardman, A. (2015). Teaching Reading Comprehension to Students with Learning Difficulties. https://books.google.com/books?id=sjH2BQAAQBAJ&pgis=1
Ledwaba, M., R. (2020). Translanguaging as a pedagogical strategy to improve the reading comprehension of Grade 4 learners in a Limpopo primary school. [Master’s thesis, University of Pretoria]. University of Pretoria Research Repository. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78340
Maguire, M. & Delahunt, B. (2017). Doing a thematic analysis: A practical, step-by-step guide for learning and teaching scholars. AISHE-J, 9(3), 3351-33514.
Odlin, T. (1989). Language transfer: Cross-linguistic influence in language learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524537
Ooi, W., Z. & Aziz, A., A. (2022). Translanguaging in the discourse of Malaysian ESL lessons: A look into the practice. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 16(3), 174-197. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v10-i3/10816
Öztürk, S., A. & Çubukçu, F. (2022). Exploring student-directed translanguaging in the English-centric classroom. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 31, 159-173
Riswanto, R. (2022). Exploring translanguaging as a pedagogical strategy used by the English teacher in EFL classroom setting. JPGI (Jurnal Penelitian Guru Indonesia), 7(1), 96-103. https://doi.org/10.29210/021948jpgi000
Roopa, S. & Rani, M., S. (2012). Questionnaire designing for a survey. J Ind Orthod Soc, 46(4), 273-277. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10021-1104
Rumelthart, D.E. (1985). Towards an interactive model of reading. Center for Human Information Processing, University of California, San Diego.
Sahib, R. (2019). Translanguaging as a pedagogical strategy in EFL classroom: A case study at senior high school in Bulukumba regency. ELT-Lectura, 6(2), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.31849/elt-lectura.v6i2.3032
Shorten A., & Smith, J. (2017). Mixed methods research: Expanding the evidence base.Evidence-Based Nursing, 20(3), 74-75.https://doi.org/10.1136/eb-2017-102699
Tae K. K. 2015. T test as a parametric statistic. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 68(6), 540-546. https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.6.540
Turnbull, M., & Dailey-Ocain, J. (2009). Introduction. In M. Turnbull, & J. Dailey-Ocain (Eds.), First language use in second and foreign language learning (pp. 1-14). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781847691972-003
Williams, C. (1994). Arfarniad o ddulliau dysgu ac addysgu yng nghyd-destun addysg uwchradd ddwyieithog [Evaluation of teaching and learning methods in the context of bilingual secondary education]. Bangor, Wales: University of Wales.
Wang, Y. & Li, D. (2022). Translanguaging pedagogy in tutor’s oral corrective feedback on Chinese EFL learners’ argumentative writing. Asian Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 7(33). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-022-00170-5
Yusri, N., S., Huzaimi, N., H., A., & Sulaiman, N., A. (2022). Translanguaging in Malaysian ESL Classroom: Teachers’ perceptions. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(9), 607-619. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i9/14542

Yan, L. R., & Aziz, A. B. A. (2024). Multilingualism and Translanguaging: The Impact on Elementary Learners’ Reading Skills in the ESL Classroom. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(10), 1835–1857.