Translanguaging options for note-taking in EAP and EMI

Abstract

Taking notes while simultaneously listening to academic content in a second language is a daunting task for many students. While doing so, the note-taker is faced with a number of choices, including when, where, and how to take notes. Choices that students make are related to the overall format and system of notes as well as how to record specific pieces of information. The option of translanguaging, or making use of their multilingual resource, in note-taking is often overlooked by students and teachers in English for academic purposes (EAP) settings. The present article reports results of an international survey of EAP students with respect to their translanguaging habits and preferences when taking notes and presents a range of related pedagogic implications with the intent of preparing students for English medium instruction (EMI) in higher education.