EXAMINING ENGLISH-AS-A-FOREIGN-LANGUAGE TEACHERS’ AND STUDENTS’ LANGUAGE PRACTICES AND LANGUAGE ATTITUDES THROUGH THE LENS OF TRANSLANGUAGING AND HUMANIZING PEDAGOGY – A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON AN INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN CHINA

Abstract

Research on translanguaging and humanizing pedagogy has primarily focused on English-as-a-second-language (ESL) contexts, while little attention has been given to the examination and these practices in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) settings. This qualitative case study aims to address this gap by employing empirical evidence from various sources, including classroom observations, student surveys, student and teacher interviews, and quantitative data analysis of student surveys. The study examines teachers’ understanding of and practices with translanguaging and humanizing pedagogy, as well as students’ perceptions and experiences with these pedagogical movements. In light of humanizing pedagogy studies involving pedagogical codeswitching and translanguaging practices, this research is informed and guided by the combined theoretical framework of translanguaging and humanizing pedagogy, derived from the literature review. The research design consists of four main phases: pilot studies and purposeful sampling, QUALITATIVE data collection and analysis, quantitative data collection and analysis, and qualitative data analysis and triangulation. Through thematic analysis, this study reveals three major findings: (1) teachers’ and students’ strong needs and teachers’ self-debate of translanguaging practices, (2) the enactment of humanizing pedagogy through translanguaging practices by teachers, and (3) the enhancement of multilingual and multicultural awareness through translanguaging and humanizing pedagogy practices. Also, the study identifies two additional findings of importance, including the lack of a healthy professional development community for teachers and the entrenched privileges associated with native speakerism and the native speaker fallacy. These findings demonstrate the importance of language teachers being cognizant of the benefits of using students’ first language while acknowledging the criticality of balance in its use. Furthermore, the adherence to an English-only policy may lead to ineffective English language educational experiences, as demonstrated in one of the cases in this study. In addition, the incorporation of students’ first language by educators promotes the implementation of humanizing pedagogy practices, such as drawing on students’ background knowledge, making class content accessible to all students, and enhancing critical consciousness towards different languages and cultures. Moreover, engaging in translanguaging practices fosters a safe and dynamic space for both multilingual students and their teachers to co-construct their understanding of language and its role in conceptual development. By using multiple languages as mediational instruments, these practices enhance metalinguistic awareness and encourage critical reflection on linguistic and cultural differences. Finally, the study offers potential implications and recommendations relevant to teacher preparation programs and language educators.