Translanguaging in the writing practices of bilingual balti/english university students
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Date
2021
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Publisher
UMT Lahore
Abstract
This study explores the structural similarities and differences between Balti and English grammar focusing on translanguaging writing practices of bilingual Balti university students. In order to seek solutions to the challenges faced by bilingual Balti university students, the study posits translanguaging for pedagogical implications in order to utilize the students’ first language as a strength and linguistic repertoire for teaching and learning English language. The data were collected through Balti and English paragraphs written by 30 Balti speakers studying at the University of Baltistan, Skardu. The data reveal that Balti speakers produce text in Balti language with clarity of expression while they have difficulties in producing English structures which differ from that of Balti while there is no difficulty in producing English structures similar to Balti. The study also reveals that how teachers teach English at the University of Baltistan. For this purpose, data have been collected from ten Balti university teachers through structured interviews. The data reveal that teachers teaching at the University use number of language
teaching approaches and they do not employ the first language in the classroom teaching context. Furthermore, the teachers do not have clear idea about translanguaging. The study implies that translanguaging practice should be employed in the classroom context for teaching English as a second language.