SEVERAL BENEFITS OF TRANSLANGUAGING IN EFL AND ESP COMMUNICATION
SEVERAL BENEFITS OF TRANSLANGUAGING IN EFL AND ESP COMMUNICATION

Summary/Abstract: “Translanguaging” is usually tackled in relation to code-switching, bilingualism and multilingualism. This paper aims at providing definitions of translanguaging and a research overview in connection with this concept; the emphasis will be on its benefits and drawbacks, as well as on several proposals of translanguaging strategies and activities that can be implemented in the English classroom. Leaving aside the matters of contention, both scholars and teachers are aware of the challenges triggered by the employment of learners’ mother tongue in the foreign language classroom. Nevertheless, the benefits entailed by this approach should not be left aside; in addition, it is characterized by a large applicability scope. Taking into account the English-only policy pursued and enforced by many teachers and schools, with its benefits and drawbacks, we recommend that teachers and educators reconsider it by bringing L1 (the native language/ first language/ mother tongue) into the classroom, especially as a form of contrastive analysis. Thus, being a meta-analysis, this paper will discuss the importance of pedagogical translanguaging also through examples of instructional strategies and activities.

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