Publication:
Assessing student perspectives on pedagogical translanguaging: A case study of a Puerto Rican university classroom
Assessing student perspectives on pedagogical translanguaging: A case study of a Puerto Rican university classroom
Authors
Rivera, Adrian J.
Embargoed Until
Advisor
Mazak, Catherine M.
College
College of Arts and Sciences - Arts
Department
Department of English
Degree Level
M.A.E.E.
Publisher
Date
2015
Abstract
This thesis details the results of a study into the translanguaging habits of students in an
upper-level psychology classroom at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. It seeks to add
to a relatively limited knowledge base regarding how student language ideologies can impact
their use of translanguaging. Each of the 29 student participants are bilinguals who are under the
instruction of a native English speaking bilingual professor, who utilizes a flexible bilingual
pedagogical approach to teaching. As such, students are permitted to use Spanish and English
interchangeably as they feel the need or desire to do so. For the purposes of the study, two
surveys were issued: one which dealt with the student’s linguistic backgrounds and one
regarding their feelings on the instructor’s teaching strategies. The survey results showed
students tended to hold neutral to positive feelings on translanguaging and code-switching in the
classroom. Through the surveys, six students were selected for in-depth case study analysis
which compared their beliefs about translanguaging to their translanguaging practices shown
through one academic semester. The results of the data analysis of the survey responses and
individual cases seemed to counteract the belief of bilinguals cutting corners in their work when
it comes to language mixing. Most students would go out of their way to try and work within one
language on their homework, whether they selected to work with English or Spanish.
Key words: translanguaging, flexible bilingual pedagogy, language ideologies.
Keywords
Multilingualism,
Language ideologies,
Bilingual pedagogy
Language ideologies,
Bilingual pedagogy
Usage Rights
Persistent URL
Cite
Rivera, A. J. (2015). Assessing student perspectives on pedagogical translanguaging: A case study of a Puerto Rican university classroom [Thesis]. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11801/205