Amanda Kha on Teaching Early Literacy from a Multilingual Perspective
If you're a K-5 teacher, you already know that constantly adapting to meet the needs of a diverse group of students is part and parcel of the job. We believe that a critical part of that process is gaining the skills to support and empower multilingual students during early literacy instruction. We designed the professional development course Teaching Early Literacy From a Multilingual Perspective to help K-5 teachers master practical strategies and resources for multilingual literacy instruction.
Recently, we heard from a former student, Amanda Kha, who completed the course in 2024. As a language specialist, she was motivated to take the early literacy course so she could better support her multilingual students. To learn more about her experience with the course and how she puts what she learned into practice, keep reading!
Learn more about the Teaching Early Literacy from a Multilingual Perspective course on the program page
What were the most valuable aspects of learning more about teaching early literacy from a multilingual perspective? What was challenging?
Learning to use strategies that honor and support multilingual learners, such as culturally responsive teaching, language scaffolding, and leveraging students' home languages, is incredibly valuable. These strategies are essential for promoting literacy and inclusion in diverse classrooms.
One challenge in multilingual classrooms is dealing with varying levels of proficiency in each language. Navigating students who may have strong oral skills but weak literacy skills, or vice versa, can be complex and require a significant amount of tailored support. Teaching literacy in a multilingual context requires an understanding of the cultural backgrounds of the students. It was challenging to incorporate diverse perspectives and ensure that the materials and teaching methods that I used are culturally relevant and respectful.
"Multilingualism isn’t a barrier—it’s a strength. Students bring cognitive, social, and cultural assets that enhance literacy."
Amanda Kha, Language Specialist
How have you used the strategies from this course in your career?
This course helps me to scaffold literacy instruction in a way that acknowledges the students’ varied language proficiencies. For example, when teaching reading or writing, I use visual aids, simplified language, and interactive activities, such as peer discussions, which help my multilingual students bridge the gaps in their language and literacy skills. I’d adjust lesson plans by including tasks that allow for language flexibility, encouraging students to express their understanding in both their dominant and emerging languages.
Also, based on what I’ve learned about the importance of language transfer, I used bilingual resources, such as books, charts, or worksheets, in students' first and second languages to foster both content knowledge and literacy development. By doing this it helps my multilingual learners feel their home languages are valued in the learning environment.
In addition, to promote cross-language connections, I used what I learned about the cognitive advantages of multilingualism to help my students make connections between their languages. For example, during vocabulary lessons, I asked my students to share the translation of key terms in their home languages. This not only builds literacy but also boosts confidence as my students recognize the similarities and differences between languages.
Furthermore, I encouraged my students to use code-switching to help with comprehension and expression. I wanted to create a safe space for students to experiment with using both languages in academic discussions, especially when they struggle to express an idea in one language. By doing this it will boost engagement and make learning feel more inclusive.
Anything else you would like to share?
This class was invaluable for me and my teaching partner, especially since we work in a dual-school setting with a diverse student population. It’s helped us better support our multilingual learners. To future teachers taking this class: Multilingual classrooms may seem complex, but that’s part of their beauty. Multilingualism isn’t a barrier—it’s a strength. Students bring cognitive, social, and cultural assets that enhance literacy. Embrace these! Don’t view home languages as something to fix; they’re tools for building literacy. Encourage students to draw connections between languages and use their home language to support learning.
Multilingual students are often more flexible thinkers and can transfer knowledge creatively across languages. Lastly, it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers at first. Experiment with different strategies and adjust when needed.