Translanguaging in the Japanese EFL Classroom: Presentation, Workshop & Discussion

Speaker 1: Blake Turnbull 

Translanguaging as a Theory of Language for Japanese EFL Education

Throughout the past two decades, translanguaging has emerged as a buzzword in applied linguistic research, but to this day it remains one of the most misunderstood and misused terms in the field. This presentation will examine translanguaging as a theory of language from its conceptual origins to its theoretical application in the (Japanese) EFL classroom. A particular focus will be placed on the importance of differentiating between translanguaging and code switching and the effect this distinction has on students’ learning, identity, and social justice in the classroom. I will also discuss the psycholinguistic reality of language and its conceptualization in the brain, and how this theory applies to the development of students’ linguistic competence as emergent bilinguals, not merely as perpetual language learners.

Blake Turnbull has a Ph.D in Foreign Language Acquisition and Education from Kyoto University, Japan. His main research focuses on bilingualism in foreign language education, particularly on the translanguaging practices of teachers and learners. Other published works and conference presentations include those investigating language learner and teacher beliefs about bilingualism, identity, and new advancles in English education in a Japanese EFL context.

Speaker 2: Kevin Bartlett

Incorporating Translanguaging in Japanese EFL Classrooms: A Workshop and Discussion

This workshop will introduce participants to translanguaging theory and praxis. Anoverview of translanguaging and how it can assist in developing L2 language competence will be provided, with an overview of how I incorporated translanguaging and CLIL approaches in university classes to promote communicative competence, critical thinking, and research skills. Participants will work in groups to explore how to incorporate translanguaging within their own classrooms and work environments (at various educational levels) and explore what benefits and hindrances may be perceived by doing so.

Kevin Bartlett (Ed.D) is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and

Global Studies, and the Graduate School of Letters at Mukogawa Women’s University.