A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Using Language Portraits to Promote Critical Self-Reflection for Teaching Multilingual Students
Authors: Tigert, Johanna M.; Crawford, Jessica; Jones, Loren; Fotouhi, Golnar; Peercy, Megan Madigan; Hardy-Skeberdis, Melanie; Fredricks, Daisy E.
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Journal of Language, Identity and Education
ISSN: 1534-8458
eISSN: 1532-7701
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2026.2630200
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15348458.2026.2630200
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/516215472
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
The study examined how pre-service teachers (PSTs) of Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages used language portraits to express their identities visually and in writing. We conducted a qualitative analysis of both the visual and ideological layers of the portraits, focusing on what identity elements PSTs included or did not include in them, and the level of criticality achieved in their multimodal reflection. We found most color choices PSTs made were arbitrary, but certain languages were linked to body parts through function or emotion. Patterns indicating language hegemonies and legitimacy emerged through language inclusion and omission, and only few PSTs depicted translanguaging on their portraits. Lastly, engagement with race varied, with white PSTs often avoiding racial representation. Our findings highlight the need for teacher educators to foster deeper discussions on race and language ideologies and use the portrait assignment to promote more critical reflection. Discussing language portraits would help PSTs challenge internalized assumptions and develop more humanizing understandings of themselves and their pedagogies.
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Funding information in the publication:
The research reported in this paper was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Spencer Foundation [201900094]. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Spencer Foundation.