Translanguaging is becoming one of the most talked-about strategies in ESL education—but for many secondary teachers, it also raises concerns. Does allowing students to use their home language slow down English acquisition? Will it create confusion or classroom management issues?
In this post, I break down what translanguaging actually looks like in a secondary ESL classroom and how to use it intentionally—without chaos, without abandoning English, and without sacrificing academic rigor. If you teach ESL teens and want practical, classroom-tested strategies, this guide will help you use translanguaging with confidence.
