Six Ways to Empower Multilingual Learners in the Classroom
Language is an integral part of our daily lives and identity, and it is more important than ever that educators recognize, celebrate, and support multilingual learners in Early Childhood. As someone who was born and raised in the Phillippines, with English as my second language, I deeply understand wanting to be fluent in English while celebrating – not losing – my home language. Growing up, I realized that learning English was essential for connecting with groups, forming friendships, and engaging in conversations that were necessary to attain my goals and interests. As a teacher, empowering my students to embrace their multilingualism helps unlock their potential.
As the world population becomes more diverse, the number of families who speak two or more languages at home continues to increase. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, the number of people in the United States who spoke a language other than English at home nearly tripled from 23.1 million (about 1 in 10) in 1980 to 67.8 million (almost 1 in 5) in 2019. In the 2020 census, more than 33 million Americans identified as being of two or more races, up nearly 25 million people from the previous decade. According to the Migration Policy Institute, one in three Early Childhood learners (ages 0-5), or 7.4 million, are bilingual.
We see this diversity in Early Childhood classrooms at Dawson. In my last three years teaching in Nevada – where mixed-race identities have tripled in the past decade (to 430,000 people, up from 126,000) – the number of households in which families speak languages other than English is 29.9 percent. Twenty-six percent of the students in my classroom come from multilingual families, and many of whom did not speak English when they started the school year.
We see this diversity in Early Childhood classrooms at Dawson. In my last three years teaching in Nevada – where mixed-race identities have tripled in the past decade (to 430,000 people, up from 126,000) – the number of households in which families speak languages other than English is 29.9 percent. Twenty-six percent of the students in my classroom come from multilingual families, and many of whom did not speak English when they started the school year.
Language is an integral part of our daily lives and identity, and it is more important than ever that educators recognize, celebrate, and support multilingual learners in Early Childhood. As someone who was born and raised in the Phillippines, with English as my second language, I deeply understand wanting to be fluent in English while celebrating – not losing – my home language. Growing up, I realized that learning English was essential for connecting with groups, forming friendships, and engaging in conversations that were necessary to attain my goals and interests. As a teacher, empowering my students to embrace their multilingualism helps unlock their potential. This enables me to meet them where they are, helping them feel comfortable expressing themselves and receiving instruction. Honoring the vernacular of our students and their families in the early years is vital for promoting connections that foster a sense of belonging and, ultimately, their success in the classroom.
Here are six ways educators can support and empower multilingual learners in early childhood - from my classroom to yours!
Set the Stage (or the Classroom)
To set multilingual learners up for success, tap into Erik Erikson’s second stage of psychological development, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. In this particular stage, children need to gain a sense of control and independence to feel safe and secure in their school environment. Five ways educators can set this stage include:
- Using graphics and charts of diverse people to allow all children to see themselves in the classroom
- Displaying (and reading) books with diverse illustrations, pictures, and languages. If you know your class list and family information ahead of time, pick out literature that reflects your class community
- In your home living area, provide diverse dolls and an array of items representative of multiple cultures. One example is food toys such as burgers, fries, tacos, noodle soups, dumplings, rice, salad, etc.
- Labeling items in learning spaces using the home languages represented in your class. Place the flag of the country or a child’s picture next to the words
- If possible, work with the school kitchen to provide diverse meal or snack options
Once children see that their classroom environment has some semblance of home or of something they feel comfortable with, they will show confidence in their ability to make decisions, process emotions, communicate, and interact with their peers and teachers.
Sing It!
When in doubt, belt it out! Music continues to be a great avenue to teach, capture attention, and celebrate. Many children’s songs, rhymes, and melodies are used across cultures and adapted to multiple languages. Song is a great way to help students recognize similarities among other children in their class and encourage appreciation for other languages and ethnicities. Hand movements help children learn the songs quickly. Examples of songs that have been adapted in various languages include “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, “Happy Birthday”, and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”.
Celebrate It!
Leaning into monthly cultural celebrations such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is another way to support multilingual learners and encourage appreciation for the cultural traditions celebrated within the class. This can include reading diverse literature, learning to count in different languages, learning simple phrases, and labeling common words in the language of the month or a language that is a part of your classroom community.
In our classroom, for example, we use our Morning Meetings to greet each other in the languages that are a part of our classroom community. We sing a “Hello” song and translate “Hello” into different languages each morning.
Involve the Family and the School Community
The partnership between school and home is another aspect that teachers can capitalize on when it comes to supporting multilingual learners. According to studies, parent and caregiver involvement in learning is linked to increased student engagement and motivation. Inviting family members as special guests to talk about family traditions and practices provides children with an authentic learning experience within that culture.
For example, if a student celebrates Diwali, their family will visit with students to explain the significance of the Rangoli and teach a song that describes some aspects of this tradition.
To further build community and belonging, the adults in your school community who speak a different language can be an excellent resource. Exposing children to diverse people around them encourages them to embrace their uniqueness in their language and feel confident in themselves.
Translate It, Repeat It!
For children who come to school with little to no understanding of the English language, repeating words is a great way to add to their vocabulary. For example, if a child is pointing at a stuffed dog, you would first say the word in their language and then follow it in English. This allows multilingual learners to feel a sense of familiarity with their home language while learning English words.
Take the Extra Step: Learn Some Phrases
Learning simple, common phrases from a student’s home language for use within the classroom will set them up for success and help them feel more settled, promoting independence. This also builds trust between you and the student. Simple phrases to learn may include “Thank you”, “Do you need to use the potty?”, “Good job”, “Do you need help?”, and “Line up”. Taking this extra step may seem like such a big task at first, but it surely goes a long way once your student starts to feel more secure and can independently function and interact. When children feel their teacher is invested in them and their culture, their sense of security increases.
As Early Childhood educators, the well-being of the whole child is our priority. As multilingual learners in our nation continue to increase, creating a safe environment where students are celebrated, encouraged, and supported is vital to ensuring holistic growth. When a child feels safe, they are ready to learn and will thrive.
References:
The Alexander Dawson School
The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school located on 33-acres in the community of Summerlin, is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school for students in early childhood through grade eight. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework, Dawson uses research-based strategies and programs that emphasize student academics, wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, motivated, and resilient learners and leaders. At Dawson, students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.