Effective
Multilingual
Teaching Practices
In multilingual learning environments, educators face unique
challenges and opportunities. This presentation explores
effective practices for bridging language gaps and facilitating
learning across multiple languages. We'll examine strategies that
can be applied across various domains and subjects in a Mother
Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) setting. These
approaches aim to create inclusive, engaging, and effective
learning experiences for students from diverse linguistic
by DAGSON
backgrounds. PAMELA L.
Total Physical Response: An Overview
1 Introduction
The teacher introduces new vocabulary or phrases using gestures, objects, or pictures.
2 Student Response
Learners respond by mimicking gestures or pointing to objects when the
teacher says the word.
3 Silent Practice
Students listen and respond physically, without speaking, to internalize new language.
4 Student-Led Practice
After sufficient practice, students take turns leading, saying words while
classmates respond physically.
Visual and Concrete Representations
Picture Charts
Create vibrant visual aids that pair new vocabulary with corresponding images,
enhancing comprehension and retention.
Realia
Incorporate real objects related to the lesson content, allowing students to
interact with tangible representations of new concepts.
Gesture Library
Develop a consistent set of gestures for common words or phrases, creating a
physical vocabulary that bridges language barriers.
Interactive Displays
Design classroom displays that students can manipulate, such as pocket charts
or magnetic boards, to practice matching words with visuals.
Kinesthetic Learning through TPR
Benefits Implementation Adaptations
Total Physical Response (TPR) Start with simple commands For older learners, integrate
engages multiple senses, and gradually increase more sophisticated
making language acquisition complexity. Use TPR for movements or mini-skits. In
more memorable and various parts of speech, virtual settings, use screen-
enjoyable. It reduces anxiety including verbs, adjectives, friendly gestures and
by allowing students to and prepositions. Incorporate encourage students to create
demonstrate understanding TPR into daily routines, their own physical responses
without immediate verbal storytelling, and content area to new vocabulary.
production. instruction.
Field Trips and Direct Experiences
1 Authentic Context 2 Multisensory Learning
Field trips provide real-world contexts for language Direct experiences engage multiple senses, creating
use, allowing students to encounter vocabulary and stronger neural connections and more robust
concepts in their natural settings. This authentic memories. Students can see, hear, touch, and
experience enhances comprehension and retention of sometimes smell or taste elements related to the
new language. lesson content.
3 Cultural Relevance 4 Collaborative Learning
Local field trips can highlight the cultural significance Field trips encourage peer interaction and
of certain places or practices, fostering a deeper collaborative discovery, providing natural
connection between language learning and students' opportunities for language practice in both the
cultural identities. mother tongue and target languages.
Language Experience Approach (LEA)
Shared Experience
Begin with a common experience, such as a field trip or classroom
activity, that all students participate in together.
Collaborative Composition
Work as a class to compose a text describing the shared
experience, initially in the mother tongue to ensure full
participation and comprehension.
Language Transfer
Guide students in translating the text into the target language,
identifying equivalent key words and modeling sentence
construction.
Extension Activities
Use the collaboratively created text for further language activities,
such as reading practice, vocabulary exercises, or writing prompts.
Utilizing Video and Movies
Multilingual Subtitles Pause and Predict Scene Reenactment Student-Created Content
Use videos with subtitles in Regularly pause videos to Have students reenact Encourage students to
both the mother tongue discuss content, predict scenes from videos, create their own videos
and target language to outcomes, or practice new practicing both language explaining concepts in
support comprehension vocabulary, encouraging skills and cultural multiple languages,
and language transfer. active engagement. understanding through fostering deeper
dramatization. understanding and
language practice.
Integrating Technology in
MTB-MLE
Tool Type Examples Benefits
Language Learning Apps Duolingo, Babbel Personalized
practice, immediate
feedback
Interactive Whiteboards SMART Board, Visual aids,
Promethean collaborative
activities
Virtual Reality Google Expeditions, Immersive
Nearpod VR experiences, cultural
exploration
Translation Tools Google Translate, Support for multiple
Microsoft Translator languages, real-time
translation
Culturally Responsive Teaching in MTB-MLE
Cultural Integration Community Involvement Multilingual Resources
Incorporate cultural elements Invite community members to Develop and use teaching
from students' backgrounds share language and cultural materials that reflect the
into lessons, using familiar knowledge, bridging the gap linguistic and cultural
stories, songs, and traditions between home and school diversity of the student
as learning materials. This languages. This can include population. This includes
approach validates students' storytelling sessions, craft bilingual books, posters with
identities and provides demonstrations, or multilingual labels, and
contextual hooks for new discussions about local culturally diverse imagery in
language concepts. traditions in multiple all subject areas.
languages.
Assessment Strategies in MTB-MLE
Multilingual Portfolios
Implement portfolio assessments that showcase student work in multiple
languages, allowing for a comprehensive view of language development across
the curriculum.
Performance-Based Assessment
Use tasks that allow students to demonstrate understanding through actions,
projects, or presentations, reducing reliance on written language for
assessment.
Peer and Self-Assessment
Encourage students to reflect on their own progress and provide feedback to
peers in both their mother tongue and target languages, fostering
metalinguistic awareness.
Multilingual Rubrics
Develop assessment criteria in multiple languages, ensuring that students and
families fully understand expectations and can engage in the assessment
process.
