Teaching in multilingual classrooms: strategies from a case study in Portugal

Abstract

This study examined teaching practices developed by teachers to respond to linguistic diversity in a Portuguese case study. We analysed the position that students' languages received in the classroom, and what these practices revealed about teachers' awareness of multilingual pedagogies, a step to social justice. Three main strategies emerged: promoting Portuguese without involving students' languages, using a common language (English) as lingua franca, using students' languages. These strategies appeared in a dynamic way as teachers tried to satisfy the aims of developing the language of schooling, communicating with students and valuing students' linguistic identities. Prioritising Portuguese language dominated, and the strategies were enacted through monolingual views, indicating little awareness of multilingual pedagogies. Thus, the need to support teachers in transforming practices in multilingual classrooms is emphasised.