Translanguaging in the Undergraduate Nursing Classroom: An Educational Innovation.

Background: Translanguaging is "the act performed by bilinguals of accessing different linguistic features or various modes of what are described as autonomous languages in order to maximize communicative potential" (Skutnabb-Kangas et al., 2009). Translanguaging can be used as a tool to empower undergraduate nursing students to use their chosen strongest written language for assignments.

Method: Students in an undergraduate nursing elective course at a large, public urban university could submit specific noncollaborative (solo) assignments in their language.

Results: Three students in a class section of a total of nine students chose to submit one or more assignments in a language other than English. Students reported that this experience was unique and empowering. The instructor noted a difference in the writing level in the language of choice other than English.

Conclusion: Nursing educators should consider allowing and/or encouraging students to submit specific written assignments in their chosen language. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(X):XXX-XXX.].