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Plurilingual bottom-up approaches: how to promote the linguistic integration of migrant children in educational settings

Project description

Linguistic integration of migrant children in Italian schools

PLURIBO is a research project focused on the linguistic integration of migrant children in Italian schools. While national and European policies promote plurilingualism, they often lack clear guidelines and resources for effective implementation. PLURIBO addresses this gap through four key objectives: reviewing existing policies and identifying unimplemented European policies; investigating the use of interpreting services in schools, which remain under-researched; exploring bottom-up plurilingual practices, such as peer translation, child language brokering and code-switching, which support communication but lack formal recognition; finally, co-developing practical recommendations with educators. Using a mixed-methods and participatory approach, PLURIBO seeks to inform policy, promote inclusive education and enhance learning outcomes by valuing students’ linguistic resources.

Objective

The PLURIBO research project aims to address the pressing issue of the linguistic integration of migrant children in Italian schools. Although national and European policies promote integration and plurilingualism, their practical application often lacks clear guidelines and resources, especially in linguistically diverse classrooms. In response, two main scenarios emerge. Firstly, interpreting services in schools can facilitate communication between children, teachers and parents who speak different languages. Second, in the absence of formal support, plurilingual bottom-up practices such as child language brokering and the use of lingua francas naturally emerge to fill policy gaps. Yet, scant research has been devoted to understanding interpreting services in educational settings and plurilingual bottom-up practices, which remain invisible at the policy level despite their covert diffusion. PLURIBO aims to fill these gaps through four main objectives: 1) reviewing current policies on plurilingualism and the integration of migrant pupils and identifying European policies that have not yet been implemented in Italy; 2) investigating the use of interpreting services in schools, which are crucial but under-researched resources for migrant students; 3) exploring plurilingual bottom-up practices, such as peer translation, child language brokering and code-switching, which help to bridge communication gaps but lack formal recognition and support; and 4) co-developing practical recommendations with educators. The project uses a mixed-methods approach, including sociolinguistics, multimodal ethnomethodology and conversation analysis, and participatory action research. PLURIBO aims to deepen understanding of interpreting services and plurilingual bottom-up practices in educational contexts, influence policy, and improve educational outcomes for migrant children by promoting inclusivity and valuing linguistic diversity.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
Net EU contribution
€ 412 700,52
Address
VIA ZAMBONI 33
40126 Bologna
Italy
Region
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Partners (2)