Looking beyond English: Linguistic inquiry for English Language Learners

Abstract

Is there a role for linguistic inquiry in a class of high school English Language Learners? Based on a year-long pilot project initiated by a Greater Boston high school teacher, we present evidence: (1) that examining the spoken and written languages represented in the classroom captures students' interest and engages them in critical inquiry about the nature of linguistic knowledge and about their beliefs about language; (2) that the analysis of students' home languages validates these languages in the school context, defining them as a rich resource worthy of study, rather than as a hindrance to education.