Language of Identity, Language of Access
Liberatory Learning for Multilingual Classrooms
Grow students’ linguistic capital AND value their home language
In Language of Identity, Language of Access, authors Michelle Benegas and Natalia Benjamin highlight the urgent need for a revolution in language education that validates home languages and dialects while equipping students with the linguistic tools for social mobility. Their original LILA framework rejects the socially constructed hierarchy of languages and provides students with a broader linguistic repertoire.
This accessible and teacher-friendly guide presents an overview of this liberatory approach to language and literacy, an exploration of linguistically sustaining and expanding instruction, and practical guidance on designing lessons that attend to the language of identity and the language of access. Additional recurring features include:
- Voces provide real-life teacher experiences from the classroom
- Reflecciónes encourage educators to consider how principles and ideas relate to current practice and promote translanguaging
- Practical applications of theories (PATs) provide conceptual frameworks and lesson plans on various topics and activities.
- End of Chapter Conversaciónes encourage dialogue and enable educators to implement concepts in their classrooms.
Offering a fresh perspective on academic language as a means to access power and social capital, Language of Identity, Language of Access is a guide for ALL educators committed to linguistically sustaining pedagogies and empowering students with linguistic capital for social mobility.
"There is an emerging trend to challenge current language learning settings and to dismantle linguistic supremacy, but there is a lack of clear, accessible translation of these ideas into meaningful, teacher-friendly resources. This book accomplishes just that!"
"It is refreshing that Benegas and Benjamin build on the construct of academic language as an entrée to the power and social capital of English rather than dismiss these tenets of language education outright. The newer ideologies posed here that are associated with language as a window to access and language as a portal to identity allow us to envision firsthand the evolution of our thinking on what constitutes linguistic and cultural sustainability and its expansion for multilingual learners in schools today."
“This is a must read for anyone who is committed to empowering multilingual students, validating their native language, and learning how to take an Anti-Oppressive Approach to Language in the classroom. Our students’ native language must be as advantage!”
"As an educator, I have seen the disconnect between teachers and students in regards to language barriers. From how students either struggle transitioning from their home language to language that is more acceptable in the formal school setting. LILA sheds light on what language of identity, language of access practices that exist in our world today with our EL and ML populations."
"This book will provide teachers and school administrators with a current understanding of how language may provide a barrier for student learning and growth, and how it can be used for positive outcomes, and inclusivity. LILA moves the needle to help teachers understand language use and acceptance of home languages of their students. It is about time!"
"This is a timely book with wonderful connection of literacy development and equity. The practical examples and templates bridge theory into professional practice and provide a much needed start for teachers."
"The politics of language and identity are becoming more topical, and it is reaffirming the realization that language and cultural identity are one intertwined package. This book drives forward two, topical, social justice issues- the language of identity, and the language of access, and the message is supported by decades of proven teaching resources. This book is a teacher’s delight, and it demonstrates the Practical Application of Theory (PAT) for teachers who want to make a difference in their students’ lives. And, importantly, it has international application."
"The book is a necessary work to support ML teachers and students. It provides a clear, reasoned guidance that supports not only bilingual teachers, but general education teachers as well."
