Prospects for Translingual Pedagogy in MTB-MLE

• Main Authors: Evangelista-Garcia, Jessica Lace G, Estipona, Michael Ian Benedict P, Gonzales, Dan Henry F
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2023
• Subjects: English as mother tongue; Philippine languages; Translingual pedagogy; Arts and Humanities; Education; English Language and Literature; Language and Literacy Education; Literature in English, Anglophone outside British Isles and North America
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/english-faculty-pubs/222; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8589-0_2
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This chapter considers the prospects of employing translingual pedagogy as a more appropriate approach in carrying out Mother Tongue Based-Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) in the Philippines. MTB-MLE was institutionalized in 2009 and enacted into a law in 2013 with the purpose of making education more accessible and inclusive, and promoting languages. The policy draws from the multilingual and linguistically diverse context of teaching and learning in the country where everyday languaging is characterized by frequent and smooth meshing of codes, which is known as “translanguaging.” This practice approaches languages and language use as fluid and without boundaries and it allows learners to make full use of their linguistic repertoires, However, oftentimes, this everyday languaging is not recognized as a linguistic resource in Philippine classrooms. We argue that a shift in perspective in approaching language-in-education policies may be needed. A policy that softens, instead of sharpens, linguistic boundaries may be more appropriate in efforts to ensure that the goals of MTB-MLE are fully met.