"Nobody Told Me They Didn't Speak English!": Teacher Language Views and Student Linguistic Repertoires in Hutterite Colony Schools in Canada. Issue 6 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sterzuk, Andrea; Nelson, Cynthia A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of language, identity, and education. Volume 15:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 376
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Hutterites -- intercultural understanding -- language and ideology -- linguistic repertoires -- multilingualism -- pedagogy -- teacher language beliefs; Language and education -- Periodicals; Multicultural education -- Periodicals; 306.44
• DOI: 10.1080/15348458.2016.1233066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1534-8458

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article presents a qualitative study of five monolingual teachers' understandings of the linguistic repertoires of their multilingual students. These teachers deliver the Saskatchewan provincial curricula in English to Hutterite colony students who are users of three languages: (a) spoken Hutterisch as a home and community language, (b) written High German as a language for religious worship, and (c) spoken and written English for school and for communication outside the colony. Findings from this study demonstrate that the teachers report having had limited or inaccurate understandings of their students' linguistic repertoires prior to beginning their teaching positions. Secondly, the teacher participants' awareness of the students' language resources was, and is, an ongoing process. Finally, the willingness and ability to cultivate hybrid language use of Hutterisch and English varies from teacher to teacher. The article concludes with discussion of considerations for teacher education and in-service teachers working in Hutterite communities.