Strengthening Multilingual Expertise in the Classroom (VINI)

This project researches through Design-based implementation research (DBIR) how the two locations of primary school Optimist can contribute to inclusive education for the rapidly growing number of multilingual newcomers from internationally mobile families. The intention is to inspire the 15 primary schools of the Floreer partnership of schools in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer.

Aim

To organize the education of all pupils who follow education within Floreer in an inclusive and adaptive way, teachers of Optimist investigate how they can respond to the strongly increasing influx and flow of internationally multilingual newcomers - both from a foreign and their own international school - into/to the Dutch regular primary education. In achieving this, Floreer strives to align the professionalization of education professionals with the regional reality.

Results

  • A transferable method for providing appropriate language and arithmetic education to internationally multilingual newcomers in mainstream primary education;
  • A Dutch Enrichment Programme (DEP) that acts as a bridge between international and regular education.

Duration

01 November 2024 - 30 August 2026

Approach

Based on an iterative design-oriented research approach, teachers of Optimist – in collaboration with multilingual experts and researchers – strengthen their teaching repertoire to ensure a soft landing for the internationally multilingual newcomers. In particular in the mainstream Dutch language and arithmetic lessons.

Impact

By exploring methods such as translanguaging in literacy and numeracy lessons, the research will provide insights into which strategies support the language and numeracy development of internationally multilingual pupils. In addition, it provides knowledge into the training and support teachers need to adapt to the increasing internationalization of education and the language diversity in their classrooms.

HU researchers involved in the research

  • Linda Gijsen | Senior researcher | Research group Multilingualism and Education
    Linda Gijsen
    • Research group: Multilingualism and Education
  • Indira Wakelkamp
    • Researcher
    • Research group: Multilingualism and Education
  • Anita N. Alexander
    • Researcher
    • Research group: Mathematical and analytical competence of professionals
  • Hugo Mulder
    • Researcher
    • Research group: Mathematical and analytical competence of professionals
  • Karen Heinsman
    • Lecturer-researcher
    • Research group: Mathematical and analytical competence of professionals

Do you have any questions or would like to collaborate?

Linda Gijsen | Senior researcher | Research group Multilingualism and Education

Linda Gijsen

  • Research group: Multilingualism and Education