Application of translinguism in teaching foreign languages to students (specialty “Ecology”)

Abstract

This article explores the concept of translinguism and its application in the educational environment. The authors have developed a learning model that includes flipped classroom, face-to-face classes, team work and project-based learning. The study involved 3rd year students (N=26) of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU), studying in the field of “Ecology”. During one semester (February 2020 - June 2020), students studied the discipline “Spanish” in English according to proposed methodology. The study examined the impact of the proposed model on the study of the Spanish language and the development of translational competence. For the analysis descriptive statistics and pairsamples Students’s t-test were conducted. Interviews were also conducted with students to analyze their perception of the new learning model. Generally, the overall quality of students’ Spanish knowledge improved. According to the descriptive results, students developed their translingual competence significantly. Thus, it can be assumed that the proposed learning model positively influenced students’ level of such competence. The results of the interview showed that students positively evaluate the proposed teaching model, and also consider it to be effective for learning Spanish and developing translingualism.