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Article published In:
Positive synergies: Translanguaging and critical theories in education
Edited by Zhongfeng Tian and Holly Link
[Translation and Translanguaging in Multilingual Contexts 5:1] 2019
► pp. 49–66

To language differently

Drawing on feminist poststructuralism and translanguaging to prepare language teachers

| Suffolk University
This article explores the synergies between translanguaging and feminist poststructuralism to deepen understandings of how educators can teach for justice. I highlight how both theories challenge dominant structures and boundaries; how they privilege process over product; and how they both illuminate non-dominant voices and experiences. I explore how both translanguaging and feminist poststructuralism have helped me challenge foundational epistemologies, ontologies, and methodologies as a teacher educator in the field of teaching English. Throughout this article I examine what taking up these theories to challenge and question the status quo means for how we might better engage language as a tool for justice.
Keywords: translanguaging, feminist poststructuralism, teacher education, theory, praxis, non-dominant students, critical pedagogy
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical synergies
    • 2.1Challenging structures and boundaries
    • 2.2Privileging process
    • 2.3Illuminating individual and non-dominant voices and experiences
  • 3.My own praxis
    • 3.1Challenging my epistemology
    • 3.2Challenging my ontology
    • 3.3Challenging my methodologies
      • 3.3.1Challenging dominant structures
      • 3.3.2Prioritizing process
      • 3.3.3Illuminating individual and non-dominant voices and experiences
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 10 January 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ttmc.00024.rob
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Cited by (2)

Cited by two other publications

Donley, Kevin
2022. Translanguaging as a theory, pedagogy, and qualitative research methodology. NABE Journal of Research and Practice 12:3-4 ► pp. 105 ff. DOI logo
Donley, Kevin
2023. Plugging in translanguaging: thinking across theory for methodological innovation in English learner and multilingual education. International Multilingual Research Journal 17:1 ► pp. 51 ff. DOI logo

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