Using Linguistically Appropriate Practice (LAP) in the language classroom

The presence of students for whom the language of the instruction is not their first language creates unique challenges and opportunities for teachers -including ESOL instructors. This presentation introduces the notion of Linguistically Appropriate Practice (LAP) as a way to teaching and learning in diverse classrooms worldwide. The presentation is grounded in the latest research on language education and takes a pragmatic approach to teaching in linguistically diverse environments. The premise is to argue that the conception of “method” and “methodologies” as traditionally understood are no longer relevant and that successful multilingual teaching is, instead, an opportunity for teachers to develop learners’ language skills and cultural awareness based on their own identity, personal differences and existinglanguage repertoires. The presentation will explain the relationship between theory and multilingual practice whilst describing the profile of LAP-oriented teachers and will discuss some of the challenges that have been identified by instructors using LAP, including some guidance for the successful implementation of this approach to transform classrooms into environments where all learners have equal opportunities to participate, learn, grow and thrive.