Translanguaging in Primary Level ESL Classroom in India: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In this paper, a series of ESL classroom observations of a teacher in an Indian primary level government run school are presented to show concrete uses of translanguaging. Translanguaging practices were based on the inputs the teacher received from a training programme on using multilingual strategies to teach language and content. It is observed that the teacher applies translanguaging to clarify concepts using contrastive elaboration, instruct students, practice discourse based management, prepare students for classroom activities, and help them communicate. She also reflects upon her experience of translanguaging which shows her plans to use students’ L1 more systematically like by drawing lexical and form based comparisons between Telugu, Hindi (L1s) and English. Instances of use of translanguaging or fluid ways of communicating using two or three languages by this teacher and her experiences in using this approach help in validating the concept for advancing school skills in students from low SES groups who would have not otherwise been able to understand the lessons if taught in the strict monolingual mode.