4 Tips for Supporting Multilingual Students’ Transition to College Writing

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Draw on Your Own Experience

What has helped you learn how to write or study in a second language? What would have helped you?

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Be Aware of the Range of Possible Challenges

Confidence, previous training in alternative modes of writing, multiple linguistic identities, grammar, vocabulary.

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Name Writing Concepts

Explain the conventions of your discipline. Talk about structure, style, argument, transitions, audience, etc.

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Work From Strengths

Make use of the different kinds of training and linguistic modes of thought your students bring to your classroom


4 Tips for Supporting Multilingual Students Through Assignment Design

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Consider Cultural Literacy

Explain cultural knowledge when necessary. Make room whenever possible for global and diverse perspectives.

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Allow for Learning Curves

Students may have had little experience with certain kinds of assignments, but they can make rapid progress.

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Be Explicit

Explain conventions and how to relate to sources. Clarify what good work looks like (offer models; use rubrics).

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Provide Time

Give assignments and deadlines well in advance to allow students time to prepare and to seek support.


4 Tips for Supporting Multilingual Student Reading

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Teach Reading Strategies

Recognizing that you are an expert on understanding the texts you assign, explain how you interact with them.

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Identify Key Vocabulary

Point out essential terms in assigned readings, especially contested ones or ones that translate in interesting ways.

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Discuss Translation

Have conversations about how the language that texts are written in or translated into shapes their meanings.

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Support Active Reading

Offer pre-reading context, questions to answer while reading, and sufficient reading time.


4 Tips for Responding to Multilingual Student Writing

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Read to Understand

Look for the big picture even when there are unexpected textual features or grammatical problems.

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Identify Structure

When writing is not structured like an American essay, e.g. thesis at the end, note that this is a difference of convention.

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Point Out Strengths

Help students see where their arguments are strong and clear, so they can build from success.

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Guide Grammar (A Little)

If you see a pattern of error, note it. Do not try to correct or copy-edit more than one or two sample areas.