Attitudes toward additional language learning are changing. We are moving into a post-modern view of language learning that highlights the complex linguistic profiles of the students we teach. These children move flexibly between languages, often with a fluidity in identity, and are truly multilingual. Do monolingual contexts even exist in 2014? We will explore the importance that mother tongue plays in the lives of children, being inextricably linked to identity, and providing an essential framework in which additional languages can be built upon. We will explore the links between language and culture, and how language provides a window into how we view the world. Teachers will explore the complex language profiles of the learners found in their school be provided with practical strategies for supporting multilingualism in their classrooms.
After attending your workshop, participants will...
- have a better understanding of what current research says about best practice in terms of language acquisition and learning
- understand the importance of mother tongue
- take away some practical strategies they can use in their classrooms and schools to support multilingualism
