ERIC Number: EJ1370395
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1479-0718
EISSN: EISSN-1747-7530
Available Date: N/A
Multimodal Linguistic Biographies of Prospective Foreign Language Teachers in Germany: Reconstructing Beliefs about Languages and Multilingual Language Learning in Initial Teacher Education
International Journal of Multilingualism, v19 n4 p499-522 2022
Linguistic biographies have been increasingly used in language and teacher education, even if mainly in a written form. In this study we analyse 33 visual linguistic biographies, using drawings to examine the (re)constructions of the multilingual self. The visual linguistic biographies were produced by prospective Spanish language teachers at the University of Hamburg (Winter Semester 2017). We looked at the visual composition of the linguistic biographies and the elements which student teachers combine to trace the representation and the evolution of the multilingual self. We conclude that temporal and geographic metaphors are the most commonly represented, displaying beliefs about language learning and becoming multilingual in a succession of different languages, generally in a schooling pathway. Additionally, student teachers perceive living and studying abroad as important experiences leading to linguistic proficiency. The study suggests that students developed a multilingual imagery made up of languages acquired chronologically, these being associated with specific nation-states and kept separate from each other in individuals' repertoires. We propose that these beliefs should become a starting point for discussing complexity in trajectories of multilingual becoming and heterogeneity of multilingual repertoires.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Language Teachers, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Foreign Countries, Biographies, Student Characteristics, Teacher Education Programs, Multilingualism, Self Concept, Spanish, Student Teacher Attitudes, Study Abroad, Geographic Location, Figurative Language, Code Switching (Language), Freehand Drawing, Graduate Students, Masters Programs
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A