multilingualism

Navigating a new language in a new land

by

Salma Hassan, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  “It’s really emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed”  Arab News (2022)  Ali has arrived from Afghanistan   Ali has arrived from Afghanistan, leaving everything he has ever known behind. Embarking  on a new journey in a new land in hopes of a prosperous future. It was the devastating conflict that lead Ali’s family to flee Afghanistan. The United Kingdom … Read more

The Role of Home Languages in Education: An Asset or Barrier? 

by

Sholah Ahmadi, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  As I was wandering the streets of my neighborhood in Walthamstow, London, I decided to take a brief detour before heading home. It had been a long day of work, and so I decided to stop by a coffee shop (also known as Costa Coffee, many of your londoners might know … Read more

Breaking Barriers: Adult English Learning in Spain and Social Justice

by

    Paola Elizabeth Perez Garcia, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University “Understanding a language is not just about knowing words; it’s about understanding people” Dabbling and Language Inequality In Spain, speaking English is seen as a golden ticket opening doors to better jobs, travel, and global connections. But mastering English isn’t always simple. One major … Read more

Multilingualism in UK Schools – A Resource, not a Barrier 

by

         Maria Bahnari, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  Walk into any UK secondary school today, and you’ll likely hear more than just English. From Polish to Punjabi, Arabic to Albanian, UK classrooms reflect a rich mosaic of languages spoken by students from all over the world. This linguistic diversity is a defining feature of 21st-century British education. Yet, despite its … Read more

Language Inequality in Education – A Personal Journey Through Multilingualism and Research

by

Erona Jaha, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University “What does it mean to not be able to fully express yourself in the classroom?”  When I moved to Kosovë at the age of nine, I was faced with this very question. Although I spoke Albanian at home, I quickly realised that speaking a language and learning … Read more

From Home to Classroom: How Translanguaging Empowers Multilingual Learners

by

Nishi Ambalathveettil  BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  What happens when students are free to bring all their languages into the classroom? Magic, belonging — and deeper learning.  “Words are windows to the soul.”  A timeless idiom that reminds us how language connects to identity and emotion. And sometimes, those words open in the most unexpected … Read more

Multilingual, Not Invisible: Reimagining Education for International Students 

by

Ayesha Dar BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  Amina sat at the back of her Advanced Literary Theory class, nervously going over her thoughts. The group was deep into a discussion about One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, a book she knew well in its original Spanish. Finally, she built up the … Read more