Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 11. Exploring the ‘void’ of silent/ced knowledge and expertise of multilingual learners
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Chapter 11. Exploring the ‘void’ of silent/ced knowledge and expertise of multilingual learners

  • Diana J. Arya , Fátima Andrade Martínez , Valérie Meier and Andrew Maul
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Abstract

Grounded in a new sociolinguistic, literacy-centered theory — dialogic void — as a way of exploring silences in educational spaces, we explored the expressed cultural, linguistic, and experiential knowledge of 63 multilingual (Spanish/English) elementary students and the contextual factors (e.g., scaffolded questioning from discussion facilitators) that may impact how much knowledge and expertise multilingual students share. Findings show how the questions and methodological decisions literacy scholars make, and the ways findings about multilingual learners in English-dominant classroom contexts are represented can illuminate otherwise hidden knowledge and expertise. We highlight how this methodological innovation may be helpful to qualitative literacy researchers in more deeply exploring their positionality and ways that disciplinary, cultural, linguistic, and professional identities can shape (and potentially obscure) observations.

Abstract

Grounded in a new sociolinguistic, literacy-centered theory — dialogic void — as a way of exploring silences in educational spaces, we explored the expressed cultural, linguistic, and experiential knowledge of 63 multilingual (Spanish/English) elementary students and the contextual factors (e.g., scaffolded questioning from discussion facilitators) that may impact how much knowledge and expertise multilingual students share. Findings show how the questions and methodological decisions literacy scholars make, and the ways findings about multilingual learners in English-dominant classroom contexts are represented can illuminate otherwise hidden knowledge and expertise. We highlight how this methodological innovation may be helpful to qualitative literacy researchers in more deeply exploring their positionality and ways that disciplinary, cultural, linguistic, and professional identities can shape (and potentially obscure) observations.

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