Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts

Anglophone Higher Education Institutions have embraced cultural diversity but continue to approach linguistic diversity through a deficit perspective, often treating multilingualism as an obstacle rather than a resource (Preece et al., 2018). This paper argues for the adoption of a linguistic reper...

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Main Author: Melike Bulut Albaba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE) 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
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Online Access:https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1542
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author Melike Bulut Albaba
author_facet Melike Bulut Albaba
author_sort Melike Bulut Albaba
collection DOAJ
description Anglophone Higher Education Institutions have embraced cultural diversity but continue to approach linguistic diversity through a deficit perspective, often treating multilingualism as an obstacle rather than a resource (Preece et al., 2018). This paper argues for the adoption of a linguistic repertoires perspective in learning development to leverage students' full linguistic capacities, thereby enhancing cognitive engagement, fostering inclusivity, and contributing to the decolonisation of academic spaces. Drawing on Cummins (2007), I explore how linguistic repertoires function as cognitive tools, aiding comprehension and critical thinking. Additionally, insights from Park and May (2025) and Preece (2019b) illustrate how integrating linguistic repertoires in learning development promotes inclusion and challenges linguistic discrimination. Finally, inspired by Wei and García (2022), I position linguistic repertoires as central to a decolonising agenda in higher education. I call upon learning developers to create pedagogical frameworks that recognise linguistic diversity as an asset, facilitating equitable and enriched educational experiences.
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spelling doaj-art-680a2cac5a0f4b0882aa4b1fbdaf3a9d2025-08-20T03:21:22ZengAssociation for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education1759-667X2025-06-013610.47408/jldhe.vi36.1542Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contextsMelike Bulut Albaba0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1845-1091Sheffield Hallam University Anglophone Higher Education Institutions have embraced cultural diversity but continue to approach linguistic diversity through a deficit perspective, often treating multilingualism as an obstacle rather than a resource (Preece et al., 2018). This paper argues for the adoption of a linguistic repertoires perspective in learning development to leverage students' full linguistic capacities, thereby enhancing cognitive engagement, fostering inclusivity, and contributing to the decolonisation of academic spaces. Drawing on Cummins (2007), I explore how linguistic repertoires function as cognitive tools, aiding comprehension and critical thinking. Additionally, insights from Park and May (2025) and Preece (2019b) illustrate how integrating linguistic repertoires in learning development promotes inclusion and challenges linguistic discrimination. Finally, inspired by Wei and García (2022), I position linguistic repertoires as central to a decolonising agenda in higher education. I call upon learning developers to create pedagogical frameworks that recognise linguistic diversity as an asset, facilitating equitable and enriched educational experiences. https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1542linguistic repertoireslinguistic inclusionmultilingualismdecolonisationtranslanguaging
spellingShingle Melike Bulut Albaba
Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
linguistic repertoires
linguistic inclusion
multilingualism
decolonisation
translanguaging
title Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
title_full Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
title_fullStr Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
title_full_unstemmed Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
title_short Proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
title_sort proposing a linguistic repertoires perspective in multilingual higher education contexts
topic linguistic repertoires
linguistic inclusion
multilingualism
decolonisation
translanguaging
url https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1542
work_keys_str_mv AT melikebulutalbaba proposingalinguisticrepertoiresperspectiveinmultilingualhighereducationcontexts