Translanguaging in Action: A Case Study on Two Korean Students’ Engagement in Translanguaging in Radio-Based English Education

Abstract

This case study investigates the engagement of two Korean college students majoring in English education with translanguaging. In a course that integrates the teaching of translanguaging and encourages active student participation in exploring translingual practices in everyday literacy, the study examined two students’ analysis reports on translanguaging in an EBS radio English education program, their reflection notes on translanguaging, interviews, and in-class discussions on the pedagogical potential of translanguaging. Two research questions were asked: How do Korean students majoring in English education apply translanguaging knowledge in analyzing an EBS radio English show, and what are their attitudes towards translanguaging? Utilizing a qualitative research approach, the study analyzed written and spoken data of the participants. The findings illustrated that the participants comprehended the crux of translanguaging and effectively applied it in analyzing the EBS radio program. They also employed their linguistic knowledge gained from other language education and linguistics courses to make sense of the translingual nature evident in the EBS teachers’ teaching practices. Moreover, they displayed a positive attitude toward translanguaging for English education in Korea, despite encountering challenges and ineffective translanguaging moments. This study calls for further research to advance the promotion of translanguaging in Korean ELT.