What are multilingual education theories?(5)

17. Multiliteracies Framework

• Key Idea: Literacy extends beyond traditional reading and writing to include digital, visual, and cultural literacies across languages.
• Implications:
  • Teach literacy in multiple forms and languages (e.g., digital storytelling in different languages).
  • Encourage students to navigate and integrate multimodal texts.

18. Language-as-Resource Orientation

• Key Idea: All languages a student knows should be seen as valuable resources for learning and identity development.
• Implications:
  • Use students’ full linguistic repertoires to scaffold learning.
  • Avoid penalizing students for using their home languages in academic settings.

19. Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT)

• Key Idea: Learning occurs through meaningful activities that are culturally and historically situated.
• Implications:
  • Multilingual education should draw from the cultural and historical context of students’ languages.
  • Incorporate culturally relevant materials and activities into the curriculum.

20. Intercultural Competence Development

• Key Idea: Multilingual education fosters the ability to navigate and mediate between different cultural and linguistic communities.
• Implications:
  • Teach students to appreciate and respect cultural diversity.
  • Use language education to build cross-cultural communication skills.

These theories provide a comprehensive framework for designing and implementing effective multilingual education programs that support linguistic diversity, cognitive development, and cultural integration.