ABSTRACT

This chapter explores the complexity of language pluralism as a colonial reality and decolonial possibility, and how educators seeking to decolonize their classrooms, pedagogy, and curriculum can leverage, sustain, and nurture the full linguistic resources of their students. It begins with a vignette that demonstrates the importance of understanding students’ actual language practices. Further, the chapter demonstrates the role linguistic hegemony plays in coloniality. The chapter then provides instructional approaches designed to leverage students’ languages. It introduces an approach to reading instruction that uses the Four Resources Model to assist students in mastering language use. Next, the chapter demonstrates how to teach students code-meshing through writing instruction. Then, the importance of educators in supporting multilingualism to combat colonialism is further explored. The chapter ends with a vignette to encourage discussion around English-only approaches, questions to consider when planning for leveraging multiple languages, and resources to continue to learn about language and praxis. It also offers tips on using formative feedback, and technologies that support translation and language learning.