Building Belonging Every Day:Practical Activities for the Multilingual Classroom

Eight ways to help multilingual students feel they belong at school

Every Winter, schools celebrate International Mother Language Day. They spend a week exploring students’ original languages and cultures through a range of activities. Teachers and multilingual learners take part in assemblies, wear traditional clothes, display international flags, and share food from their country.  It is a wonderful (and delicious) tradition, but how can we ensure that celebrating our multilingual students isn’t just a once-a-year tradition?

How do we make sure our multilingual learners always feel part of the community?

After teaching in EAL departments for over a decade I’ve gathered several strategies to support all multilingual students as they settle in their new lives. Both inside the classroom and in the wider school there are lots of opportunities to nurture students and to help them feel a sense of belonging.

 

Why it’s important to help multilingual students feel they belong at school

When multilingual students feel they are safe, seen, and part of the school community, they can truly flourish. Not just in their education, but as young people.

Often, the first experiences of a multilingual student who’s part of the EAL program in an English-speaking school can be stressful and overwhelming. They need lots of support initially. Over time, they grow in independence and gain confidence in speaking English. As they take part more fully in the wider school curriculum, the initial support can be decreased. While this is a positive milestone, and shows the student’s progress there can be a negative aspect at this stage. Multilingual learners can sometimes feel conflicted about their heritage or feel a l oss of their identity. Assimilating into a new culture and speaking a new language is a significant change. Our language and how we use it is a core part of our identity. 

Students who regularly see representations of their culture in school or can use their home language in the classroom feel a greater connection to their education and community. For many multilingual students, these experiences can be incredibly meaningful. As teachers, when we engage with the “whole” student, we begin to build deeper, more authentic relationships.

 

5 classroom strategies to help multilingual students feel they belong

Whenever a teacher asks a multilingual student to “only use English in the classroom”, they are being asked to leave an integral part of their identity at the door.

Instead, use some simple techniques to integrate a student’s home language. Even if the teacher can only speak English, there are ways to embrace multiple languages in lessons.

Make time in lessons to introduce key vocabulary

Use translation tools to create resources of key words in students’ home languages. Allow students to translate these into English by matching pairs, working in groups, or verbally decoding the words as a whole class.

Encourage multilingual students to work together

Multilingual students who share a language are assets to each other. Support them to work together on a range of tasks. They will learn from each other as well as from the tasks, and they’ll learn that their multilingualism is an asset.Multilingual students who share a language are assets to each other. Support them to work together on a range of tasks. They will learn from each other as well as from the tasks, and they’ll learn that their multilingualism is an asset.

Allow students to start where they are comfortable

Before diving into English-centred tasks, let students research and take notes in their home language. They will build a strong foundation of understanding and feel curious. At this stage, the students can translate their notes into English. By sequencing tasks in this way, students can build on their learning and have context for their new vocabulary.

Enthusiastically explore languages with translanguaging

Create space in the classroom to make connections between key vocabulary in different languages.

Incorporate books and stories from different cultures

A classroom rich in multilingual resources allows students to see themselves reflected in literature, sparking a love for reading and reinforcing their linguistic identities.

3 wider school strategies to show multilingual students they are welcome and seen

As my school’s Middle School EAL Coordinator, I quickly understood how important celebrating multilingual students across the school was. Here are three tips to support all EAL students feel they belong in your school.

Improve multilingual visibility for all EAL students

I got permission to relocate the EAL classroom to a central location in the school to ensure familiarity for all students. Then, I created a student volunteer program called “the Middle School Language Ambassadors”. The student volunteers met fortnightly to plan activities to boost awareness around multilingualism. The students have taken the lead on welcoming new multilingual students, creating cultural displays around the school, assisting with school tours for perspective families, and devising fun activities for tutor time. These initiatives to improve visibility help everyone see that multilingual students are a key part of the school community, and they empower multilingual students to use their voices.

Highlight a language of the month

An activity that came out of the ECIS MLIE conference was our “Language of the Month” initiative. Every month, a different language takes centre stage. Students who speak the language introduce it during an assembly. Together they teach the wider school body to say “hello”, “goodbye”, and “thank you” in that language. Teachers support this learning by playing Kahoot during tutor time. The catering department also joins in by creating an incredible meal from a culture that speaks that language. It is truly a celebration of multicultural awareness.

Create a multilingual library

A multilingual library is a powerful tool for fostering belonging and promoting literacy. By providing books in multiple languages, teachers send a clear message that all languages and cultures are valued. A quick way to create the library is to source fiction and non- fiction books from educational booksellers. Include multilingual graphic novels, comics, and magazines. Try to choose titles which reflect students’ backgrounds and experiences. If the library budget is stretched, there are several affordable ways to build a multilingual library. Encourage students and families to donate books in their home languages. Partner with community organisations to expand multilingual book access. Set up a book exchange program where students can share stories from their cultural backgrounds.

Next steps to create a sense of belonging in your school for EAL students

Fostering belonging at school is about more than just inclusion. It’s about creating an environment where every student’s identity is celebrated and valued.

By teaching the whole child, integrating home languages, building a multilingual library, and engaging the whole school, educators can create meaningful daily interactions that transform the classroom into a space where all students thrive.

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