Translanguaging and Literacy: Helping Multilingual Learners Thrive

In today’s episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, host Beth Vaucher is joined by bilingual literacy expert and consultant Sara Knigge for an eye-opening discussion on the importance of native language use in classrooms. As a former ESL teacher turned bilingual education advocate, Sara brings deep insight into what truly supports multilingual learners—and what unintentionally holds them back.

Sara’s journey started with a passion born from her own experience as a second language learner. Her time in Mexico City and years of bilingual classroom instruction have given her a powerful lens on how to elevate Spanish-speaking students. One core message resonates throughout the conversation: honoring and utilizing students’ native languages is not just effective—it’s essential.

Educators are increasingly hearing terms like “translanguaging” and “native language support,” but often lack the clarity and training to implement them effectively. Sara helps cut through the confusion, sharing real classroom strategies that bridge the gap between Spanish and English literacy instruction. She explains the dangers of concurrent translation, a well-intentioned practice that can slow second language acquisition and hinder student confidence.

Instead, Sara offers a framework of intentional language integration. From using cognates and building metalinguistic awareness to promoting structured writing with sentence patterns and contrastive analysis, her approach is both research-based and deeply practical. She encourages teachers to create opportunities for native language use before, during, and after lessons—such as group discussions in Spanish to activate background knowledge or bridging vocabulary post-lesson for deeper comprehension.

The conversation also touches on key differences in literacy development between English and Spanish. While Spanish’s predictable phoneme system lends itself to syllabic decoding, English presents more complexity with its wide range of vowel sounds. Sarah stresses that understanding these differences allows teachers to be more effective in guiding students through literacy transfer.

In a time where dual-language programs and newcomer support are expanding, the need for nuanced training has never been more critical. Sara shares candid stories from her early career and how her lack of training in Spanish literacy led her to co-author a curriculum that follows Spanish’s phonological order—starting with vowels and syllables, not just letters.

Beyond the classroom, Sara urges educators to bring families into the literacy journey.

Encouraging parents to read in Spanish, watch content in Spanish, and engage in academic conversations at home can significantly support students’ growth in both languages. As she puts it, “Reading strategies, text structures, and conceptual knowledge all transfer—when we let them.”

This episode is a must-listen for educators committed to equity, literacy, and the success of multilingual learners. With practical takeaways and inspiration from a leader in bilingual education, listeners will walk away equipped and empowered to make meaningful changes in their classrooms.

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More about Equipping ELLs:

We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.

Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.