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Best Practices in Multilingual Education to Empower All Voices

By Wendy Beltran, National Curriculum Specialist for World Languages and Multilingual Learners

As I reflect about the world we live in, I am overwhelmed at how interconnected we really are. As a longtime educator, the world’s ability to communicate with each other is radically different from how I grew up! With the power of social media, I can enjoy the diversity of all the world offers, from food to culture and especially spoken language.

As a multilingual teacher, I have learned so much in my journey to becoming a more skilled educator who believes strongly in designing culturally inclusive, language-affirming, and language-building classrooms, where all students experience success.

Multilingual learners, or students who come to school with proficiency in a language other than the primary language of instruction, bring valuable cultural and linguistic resources to the classroom. However, teaching multilingual learners (MLs) requires unique approaches and strategies that consider both their linguistic needs and their academic development. Armed with the belief that all students bring assets and value to our classroom and that every teacher is a teacher of language, I offer you a few techniques and ideas to support multilingual learners.

Understanding the Needs of Multilingual Learners

Multilingual learners come from a variety of linguistic, cultural, and educational backgrounds. While some may have a strong foundation in their first language and high literacy levels, others may be learning to read and write for the first time in their new language environment. Understanding these diverse starting points is critical in providing the appropriate support.

Key considerations for supporting multilingual learners include:

1. Language Proficiency: Assessing their current proficiency levels in both their primary language and the language of instruction helps educators tailor instruction appropriately.
2. Cultural Background: Being aware of students’ cultural norms and educational experiences can shape the way they interact with learning and school environments.
3. Academic Background: Some may be new to academic settings, while others may have robust academic backgrounds in their native language.

The Role of Language in Learning

Language is the primary vehicle through which students learn, communicate, and express ideas. For multilingual learners, navigating a new language while trying to master content poses both challenges and opportunities. Many multilingual learners are in the process of developing basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) while also being expected to grasp cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) across subjects. This dual-language demand necessitates teaching strategies that are both language-sensitive and content-rich.

Strategies for Supporting Multilingual Learners

Foster a Language-Rich Environment

Creating a language-rich environment helps multilingual learners feel immersed in language development at every turn. This includes integrating visual aids, word walls, and graphic organizers that provide contextual support and allow students to make connections between language and content.

• Use Visuals and Multimedia: Diagrams, images, videos, and infographics aid comprehension and make content more accessible. For instance, in science lessons, using labeled diagrams and videos can help explain complex processes without relying entirely on text.
• Encourage Language Production: Provide opportunities for students to speak, listen, read, and write in the language of instruction. Group discussions, peer-to-peer interactions, and presentations help students practice language in a meaningful context.

Build on Students’ Home Language

Instead of viewing multilingualism as a barrier, treat students’ home language as an asset in their learning process. Research shows that building on a student’s first language can accelerate their acquisition of a new one. Encourage students to make connections between their first language and the language of instruction, reinforcing both linguistic and cognitive growth.

• Use Bilingual Resources: Provide bilingual glossaries, dictionaries, and even dual-language books if available. This helps multilingual learners feel included and supported while they build proficiency in a new language.
• Incorporate Translanguaging: Translanguaging is the practice of allowing students to use their entire linguistic repertoire. For instance, students may take notes in their home language but discuss concepts in English, which can enhance both understanding and expression.

Scaffold Instruction for Comprehension and Retention

Scaffolding is crucial for multilingual learners, as it allows them to tackle challenging content without overwhelming them. Effective scaffolding involves breaking down lessons into manageable chunks and gradually building up students’ knowledge and skills.

• Use Sentence Frames and Starters: Sentence frames provide structured ways for students to express complex ideas. For example, if discussing cause and effect in history, a frame might be, “The main cause of this event was ____, which led to ____.” This structure provides the linguistic framework needed to articulate thoughts.
• Chunk Information: Present information in smaller, digestible segments, and check for understanding frequently. Techniques like “think-pair-share” or “stop and jot” allow students to process information in stages.

Differentiate Assessment Practices

Assessing multilingual learners calls for creativity and flexibility. Traditional assessments may not accurately reflect multilingual learners’ knowledge due to language barriers. By offering differentiated assessment options, educators can gain a more accurate understanding of students’ content knowledge.

• Alternative Assessments: Offer options like oral presentations, concept maps, and portfolios to demonstrate understanding. These alternatives allow multilingual learners to express their knowledge in formats that are less reliant on written language skills.
• Focus on Content Mastery: Instead of penalizing multilingual learners for language-related errors in assessments, focus on their understanding of the core content. For example, if a science test includes short-answer questions, prioritize the concepts they demonstrate over minor language inaccuracies.

Cultivate a Culturally Inclusive Classroom

An inclusive classroom environment fosters a sense of belonging and community. For multilingual learners, feeling valued and represented within the classroom is fundamental to their motivation and engagement.

• Celebrate Cultural Diversity: Make cultural inclusion a regular part of your teaching by celebrating different cultural holidays, inviting students to share their traditions, or incorporating global perspectives into lessons. For instance, in a history lesson, exploring historical events from multiple cultural viewpoints can enhance engagement and understanding.
• Set Up Peer Support: Pair multilingual learners with native-speaking peers or with classmates who speak the same home language. This peer support system can ease social integration and provide informal language practice.

Engaging Families and Communities

Families of multilingual learners can be powerful partners in their education. Engaging with families helps educators understand students’ backgrounds better, and it shows families that their input is valued. Even if there are language barriers, schools can take steps to connect with these families through interpreters, translated materials, and community events.

Communicate Regularly and Multilingually

Provide regular updates in families’ home languages when possible. Even simple notices, translated newsletters, or translated classroom instructions demonstrate commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Involve Families in Classroom Activities

Encouraging families to share their cultural practices with the class, such as festivals or customs, creates a more welcoming and integrated environment. Family involvement enriches the classroom experience for all students and celebrates diversity.

Embracing Multilingualism as an Asset

The growing diversity of languages in classrooms is an opportunity to enrich the learning environment and develop global citizens. As educators, fostering linguistic and cultural inclusion not only enhances students’ academic performance but also prepares them for a multicultural world.

Embracing multilingualism as an asset redefines our approach to education, recognizing that the ability to navigate multiple languages and cultures is a skill worth cultivating.

Teaching multilingual learners requires a thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic approach. By fostering an inclusive environment, building on students’ existing language skills, scaffolding learning, differentiating assessments, and engaging with families, educators can create a classroom where multilingual learners thrive. Each student’s language journey may look different, but with the right support, they all have the potential to achieve success and bring new perspectives that benefit the entire classroom community.

Wendy Beltran holds a 4–8 Science Texas teaching certificate with a Bilingual Supplemental Certification and was a classroom teacher for 6 years before advancing to the position of Science Curriculum Specialist for El Paso ISD for an additional 6 years. During her tenure at El Paso ISD, Wendy served as the Science Instructional Coach/Curriculum Leader and provided professional development for the 10th largest district in Texas and oversaw the curriculum writing team for middle school Science, GT, and Pre-AP Science. She currently works at McGraw Hill as a consultant/curriculum specialist, conducting presentations and training teachers across the Southwest states, with a regional specialization in Texas.