‘Do you know a few words?’ – developing an evidence-based model to analyse multilingual classroom interaction

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the field of applied linguistics, the use of multiple languages in educational settings has often been studied from a pedagogical perspective, focusing on teacher practices. In order for multilingual teaching pedagogies, such as translanguaging to reach their full potential, pupils should participate actively in classroom interaction and be stimulated to discuss different ideas, as in dialogic interaction (Alexander. 2008. Towards Dialogic Teaching: Rethinking Classroom Talk. Dialogos). The current study aims to explore multilingual pedagogical practices in primary education from an interactionist perspective and further develop a model of multilingual classroom interaction (Gajo and Berthoud. 2018. “Multilingual Interaction and Construction of Knowledge in Higher Education.” International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 21 (7): 853–866) based on empirical analyses. Whole class conversations taking place in three Dutch primary schools participating in an Educational Design Research programme were analysed using a mixed methods approach. The analyses demonstrate discourse practices largely in line with monologic interaction and a rather limited and only symbolic use of other languages than Dutch. We discuss the use of the model of multilingual classroom interaction in primary education on a micro-level and the possible relationship between the use of multilingualism and pupils' participation in classroom interaction.