My "world" has been transitioning away from the label of "English Language Learners" (ELL) to "Multi Lingual Learners" (MLL) over the past couple of years. I have been nodding along so far, but not really feeling the difference. Until school started again in September of 2021 and I started using the new label and having to explain it. It really is true that if you want to demonstrate that you understand something you should teach it!
The first time I began feeling the difference was when I was explaining "MLL" to one of my kindergarten teachers. I explained that we don't just want to develop the English skills of our students. If we just think of ourselves as "English" teachers, we eventually end up with students who can no longer communicate with their grandparents. Grandparents communicate with the heritage language and grandchildren communicate with the new language. That breaks my heart.
This doesn't mean that we are supposed to be fluent in all of the languages of our students... lol. It does mean that we can look for connections between languages- like cognates (words that are very similar in the new language and in the heritage language). We can also look for patterns in languages... like root words or grammatical rules.
This train of thought really stuck with me all week. I began to wonder if "ELL" was somehow putting English at the top of a hierarchy of languages. Like, "you are here to learn English now". Canada prides itself on its multiculturalism... but I am not really convinced. I have also heard the label, "English as an Additional Language", but it still seems a bit hierarchical... am I over thinking this?
Eventually I have come to see how the term "MLL" is more asset-based. It demonstrates and validates that a student is learning in multiple languages. It shows that a student has multiple access points through various languages to connect with concepts. It shows that ANY language is something foundational to be built upon.
Please share your thoughts it the comments...
Eloquently written, Sherry! Thank you! I love that as educators, we are always looking for "MULTI" ways to do better.
This is such an important shift! MLL assumes we ALL benefit from exploring & learning languages & removes English from the center. Thanks for boiling this down so nicely!
Sherry,
I love this. I too have transitioned to using the term "multilingual learners" and yet I remember using the term "ELLs" for years and never realized that it was deficit language. Now, I still use the term "ELLs" and "ELs" in my books, articles and presentations, but the first thing I mention is to use an asset-based term.
We need many stories. Your story is inspiring and real.
Thanks for sharing and thanks for all you do for students and other teachers.
With gratitude.
Jim
Hi, Sherry!
Your transition is JUST like mine. Because of ELL, I used to have "English only" signs around my round. Now that I know better, I do better. If we transition students into English without nurturing their first language, we really do participate in a system of oppression and colonizing our students away from their cultures.
KEEP ON WRITING!