Leveraging Home Languages

The project has two objectives. Through the lectorate, we support language and vocational teachers in developing expertise in multilingualism and in collaboratively designing, implementing, and refining educational interventions. In addition, a team of researchers led by the Kohnstamm Institute is investigating the impact of these interventions on the reading and writing skills of VET students. See the link about using home languages in Dutch vocational education (VET) to enhance reading and writing skills; Benutten van thuistalen in het mbo om lees- en schrijfvaardigheid te bevorderen | Kohnstamm Instituut

The project will contribute to teachers' professional development, generate transferable interventions, and provide insights into the implementation and impact of multilingual pedagogies on students’ language development. 

Teachers collaborate in sector-specific Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), supported by the research group. Together, they design impactful multilingual interventions tailored to their own educational contexts. These interventions will be immediately implemented, evaluated, and further refined based on experiences and outcomes. 

Through this project, we strengthen language-aware education in which multilingualism has a natural and valued place. In doing so, we support students’ language development, participation, and academic success. By actively sharing knowledge, interventions, and practical examples, we aim to contribute knowledge development and quality improvement across the wider vocational education and training (VET) community.