Translanguaging approach [manuscript] : a teaching strategy in technical courses / Sherlyn L. Belanio.

This research primarily sought to determine the effectiveness of using translanguaging approach in teaching technical courses to Grade 11 Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing (EPAS) students at Mariveles National High School Camaya Campus, S.Y 2018-2019. The respondents of this study were 30 students who were enrolled under the EPAS track during the second semester of the S.Y 2018-2019. This study employed quasi-experimental research design in which the sample was then divided equally into two groups based on their age, and grades in English 10 and Filipino 10 subjects. The experimental group was taught using translanguaging approach while the control group was taught with the same concepts using English only as the medium of instruction. The respondents were asked to answer the pretest before starting the instructions. This helped to determine the level of the students' performance in which was used as basis of comparison to the results of the posttest that was administered after completing the lessons. The instrument that was used in the conduct of this study was a self-structured pretest and posttest. Based on the results of the pre-test and posttest, both the experimental and the control groups displayed great improvement in their performances after completing the instructions. However, the use of translanguaging approach showed a greater advantage over the use of English Only. Therefore, there is significant difference between the mean performances of the control group and the experimental group; thereby, results supported the use of translanguaging approach as an effective strategy in teaching technical courses such as in EPAS subject. As the findings were revealed, it was recommended that the learners should not be prohibited from switching or mixing or translating from L2 to their L1 especially if the learners are experiencing difficulty in expressing themselves or finding the correct words to comprehend the concept. More so, teachers should apply this strategy with a great care and considerations with other factors and also to understand the process. They must also apprehend and analyze their strategies first if they are suitable to learning situation before applying to make their lessons more comprehensive and relevant to their students' needs. Another is the school administrators should be open to the idea of using translanguaging approach and should not view this as a lack of language competency for both teachers and learners. Moreover, they should provide programs or trainings that would further enrich the skills and knowledge of the teachers in applying different strategies that involve language teaching and teaching technical skills. Lastly, employing translanguaging approach during instructions in technical subjects should not be discouraged but be prompted as an effective and transitional language learning strategy.