Although much progress has been made in expanding equitable access to institutions of higher education, there is still a paucity of evidence of successful persistence strategies among first-generation, 18-32-year-old Black male college students. The problem is persistence rates of first-generation, 18-32-year-old Black male college students in the…

While pedagogical translanguaging has been shown to have substantive positive impact on student learning outcomes internationally, adult education has not yet widely embraced the concept. This paper introduces the idea of translanguaging, the concept of encouraging students to rely on their existing linguistic knowledge when learning a new…

Within the context of postsecondary education, this study explores translation as a model activity for developing a translanguaging approach to remedial writing instruction for linguistically minoritized (LM) learners. Using qualitative methods grounded in discourse analysis and translation studies, bi/multilingual participants (N=5) enrolled in…

This article argues that writing teachers should allow, and even encourage, students to code-mesh in community college classrooms. By looking at and analyzing code-meshed writing produced by three students in an English 101 class, the author argues that code-meshing provides students with both a craft-wise approach to writing and a way to address…

This paper reports on a writing programme I started at Bronx Community College to improve academic success among recently immigrated Spanish-speaking students by linking ESL courses to Spanish academic literacy courses within the framework of a learning community. My reflection begins by articulating the pedagogical rationale for looking beyond…

This collaborative writing intervention in one CUNY community college examined the effectiveness of mixing English language learners (ELLs) and native English speakers (NES) in advanced-level developmental writing courses. We describe the translingual approach to curriculum and intervention along with promising developmental education practices.…

This article argues the importance of designing writing placement procedures that support linguistic diversity at community colleges. Using data on community college writing programs and student demographics at an urban community college, it examines prevailing structures of ESL and developmental writing programs at two-year schools and identifies…

This study employed a qualitative approach to examining the rhetorical value of multimodal composing practices among first-year college students with diverse academic, sociocultural, and linguistic backgrounds. With a shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study sought instructional methods that would support the development…

English language learners represent one of the fastest growing, and diverse, group of students in California community colleges. The successful adoption of translanguaging to English as a second language (ESL) classrooms may provide an equitable way for teachers to ensure students reach their academic goals and foster bilingual identity…

Claremont Graduate University and San Diego State University: 2020 English language learners represent one of the fastest growing, and diverse, group of students in California community colleges. The successful adoption of translanguaging to English as a second language (ESL) classrooms may provide an equitable way for teachers to ensure students…

Many students in US community colleges often speak a language other than English (LOTE) at home. They find it difficult to complete college requirements, and many drop out. Struggling with the acquisition of academic English and the content of their courses, they exhibit low academic confidence and are easily frustrated. In an attempt to raise…

This article reports on my attempt to use storytelling as an entry point into academic discourse in a learning community designed to meet the learning needs of ESL students who recently emigrated from the Dominican Republic. Based on research suggesting a correlation between academic success in a second language and first language literacy skills,…

This article examines the challenges of teaching basic writing today as students come to the classroom with the basic fluency of digital natives but have the same need for learning writing and critical thinking skills that has traditionally marked basic writers. While most basic writers are adept at accessing information digitally, they are not as…