Journal Article

Using Translation to Drive Conceptual Development for Students Becoming Literate in English as an Additional Language

Pacheco, Mark, Pray, Lisa, Fagan, Keenan, Risko, Victoria J., Gonzales, Mark, Jiménez, Robert T., David, Sam

2015

Overview

Literacy research has not yet revealed how bilingual learners develop coherent and robust theories of language. Translation, however, provides emergent bilinguals (EL students) with opportunities to develop metalinguistic awareness, which can lead to a more complete conceptual framework for thinking about language and literacy. This preliminary research study sought to formulate an instructional approach (TRANSLATE: Teaching Reading and New Strategic Language Approaches to English learners) focused on using translation to ultimately improve ELL students' reading comprehension. Using design research methods and qualitative analytical techniques, researchers asked middle school students described as struggling readers to work collaboratively and use various strategies to translate key excerpts from their required English literature curriculum into Spanish. Analysis of students' statements, decision making, and interaction indicated that students' conceptual understandings about language played an important role in their learning. Students reflected on the nature of vocabulary, syntax, and the ways that different languages communicate ideas. These findings extend conversations in literacy studies concerning the unique affordances of bilingualism to increase metacognitive and metalinguistic awareness, known contributors to higher levels of reading comprehension.

• Publisher: National Council of Teachers of English
• Subject: Bilingual Students / Bilingualism / Children & youth / Elementary school students / English as a Second Language Instruction / English as a Second Language Teaching Methods / Immigrant students / Junior High School Education / Language / Language teaching methods / Learning / Linguistics / Literacy / Literary translation / Metacognition / Middle school students / Reading / Reading comprehension / Reading Skills / Research design / Research Methodology / Science education / Science teachers / Tacit knowledge / Teaching / Teaching Methods / Theory / Translation / Translation methods and strategies