Higher Education Students’ Translanguaging Practices in North Sumatra: Case Study of Lecturer and Student Perceptions

Description

This research explores the multifaceted concept of translanguaging in the context of teaching English as a foreign language in three universities in North Sumatra Province – Indonesia. The study investigates translanguaging practices among lecturers and aims to address three key research questions: the types of translanguaging practices, perceptions of lecturers and students, and the motivations behind incorporating translanguaging in teaching and learning activities. Through a combination of surveys and interviews with lecturers, the study identifies eight motivations for the intentional use of translanguaging practices. These motivations include adjusting to students’ proficiency levels, clarification, and emphasis, translanguaging as an academic strategy, providing challenges for student growth, considering diverse student demographics, expressing firmness and solidarity, addressing real lexical needs in communication, and expressing group identity. The findings reveal positive responses to translanguaging from both lecturers and students, highlighting its versatility in meeting educational objectives and fostering effective communication in diverse learning environments.