Cultural and Plurilingual Awareness

Plurilingual strategies

What does this look like in the classroom?

No matter what learning area you are teaching, you can support a student's English language learning by providing explicit opportunities for them to draw on their knowledge of other languages. Employ simple strategies in any classroom to encourage plurilingualism, which promotes engagement and participation, and fosters a sense of belonging.

Encourage students to:

• identify or make connections between English and their home language sounds
• use images and culturally familiar objects from their home country to connect to their learning
• mix English and their home language in a range of verbal and non-verbal forms
• use their home language with a peer or support officer to:

• clarify simple steps to complete a task
• discuss key concepts and terminology
• consider how to interact both verbally and non-verbally
• clarify subject-specific concepts, grammar or spelling rules
• compare the differences in verbal and non-verbal expression between cultures.

About

• Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
• Victoria State Government