Page 40 - Diversity in Action

Silva Bratož, Anja Pirih, Anita Sila, and Mojca Žefran

merse children in diverse linguistic and cultural experiences. Through initia-
tives like Language Awakening and translanguaging, educators challenge
monolingual ideologies and promote inclusive, equitable environments. The
DivCon framework’s journey metaphor provides a creative and exploratory
approach, fostering curiosity and positive attitudes in children from a young
age.
Ultimately, cultivating linguistic and cultural awareness not only enhances
communication skills but also nurtures empathy and a deeper connection to
theglobalcommunity.Thesefoundationaleffortsinearlyeducationhavethe
potential to shape inclusive, culturally sensitive individuals who value diver-
sity as a resource for personal and societal growth. By integrating these ap-
proaches, educators can contribute to a future where linguistic and cultural
diversity are celebrated and harnessed for mutual understanding.

Key Takeaways
• Plurilingualism views languages as interconnected systems within an in-
dividual, enabling them to draw from their entire linguistic repertoire for
communication and problem-solving.
• Early exposure to language awareness activities fosters metalinguistic
skills and cultural understanding in children, enhancing their ability to
reflect on language as a system.
• Byrecognisingthevalueoflinguisticdiversity,pluralisticapproachesfoster
intercultural competence and challenge monolingual ideologies.
• Innovative models like the DivCon framework engage young learners
through multi-sensory, participatory activities that expose them to lin-
guistic and cultural diversity.

References and Further Reading
Ahn, G. S., & Kim, S. H. (2009). The effects of child-initiated singing activities
through the literature approach on children’s music concepts. Asian-
Pacific Journal of Early Childhood, 3(2), 145–160.
Beacco, J.-C., & Byram, M. (2007). From linguistic diversity to plurilingual educa-
tion: Guide for the development of language education policies in Europe.
Council of Europe.
Bratož, S., & Sila, A. (2022). Analysing preschoolers’ awareness of linguistic
and cultural diversity through the DivCon model. Porta Linguarum: An
International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Learning, 115–131.
https://doi.org/10.30827/portalin.vi.26211
Busch, B. (2021). Mehrsprachigkeit (3rd ed.). Facultas.
Candelier, M. (Ed.). (2004). Janua Linguarum: The gateway to languages; The in-
troduction of language awareness into the curriculum; Awakening to lan-
guages. Council of Europe.
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