English-only Instruction in Tertiary-level L2 Writing: An Exploratory Study with Translingualism

Abstract

Since CLT's propagation emphasises teaching English monolingually in an adamant manner, the tide has been set to follow that trend blindly. However, English-only instruction has been under debate recently, particularly in non-native teaching contexts. This paper questions the credibility of English-only instruction in teaching tertiary-level L2 writing in Bangladesh. Through small-scale action research with 36 students studying at a private university, the researchers discover that inconsistent dependency on English as the only medium of instruction has far-reaching effects on academic writing perception in a multilingual setting. The initial findings suggest that students from Bangla-medium background, who are taught following NCTB (National Curriculum and Textbook Board) syllabus, constitute the most considerable portion of the affected community. To address the issue, participants were trained following a translingual action plan. A comparative analysis between their former and subsequent performances projects that application of translingual practices has a constructive influence that can equip the learners with a deeper understanding of academic writing. It also proposes that other than trying to fit the learners into the scaffold of English-only instruction, the novice writers should be taught translingually.