Inclusion in Action: Pedagogical Translanguaging Strategies to Support Emergent Multilingual Writers

Salimi, Esmaeel Ali; Mousavi, Seyed Mohammad

doi:10.22077/ali.2025.8786.1078

Inclusion in Action: Pedagogical Translanguaging Strategies to Support Emergent Multilingual Writers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Esmaeel Ali Salimi ¹

Seyed Mohammad Mousavi ²

¹ Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

² Ph.D Candidate of Applied Lingusitics, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

10.22077/ali.2025.8786.1078

Abstract

Since writing abilities in both Persian and English are still underdeveloped among emergent multilinguals, it is essential to provide a pedagogy that addresses this need. Hence, this study aimed to investigate how language teachers develop a pedagogical translanguaging space within the Iranian multilingual context of writing classrooms. Participants in this study were eight language teachers from various provinces of Iran, where at least one indigenous language is spoken. The participants were asked to participate in a narrative inquiry session, where they shared their experiences of implementing translanguaging strategies for teaching writing. Transcendental phenomenology was used as the method, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings suggested strategies, such as artefact scaffolding where teachers ask students to use Google Translate Application to complete a composition and then edit it with peers and multilingual brainstorming to activate prior knowledge and also tasks such as bilingual writing in which students need to write a local story in Persian and a foreigner story in English, designed to enhance students' writing abilities in both Persian and English. This study offered a pedagogy leveraging students' linguistic repertoire through translanguaging strategies to enhance writing ability across multiple languages, fostering an inclusive educational environment that values diverse linguistic backgrounds. Teachers and teacher trainers can implement the recommended strategies and tasks in their classes and workshops.

Keywords

Emergent multilingual

Multilingualism

Pedagogical translanguaging

Writing

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