Champion Metalinguistic Awareness in Every Classroom: 6 reasons why

by Lissette Jacobson & Maurice McDavid
authors of Your Words Are Fire

As educators, we're constantly seeking ways to help our students learn more effectively, think critically, and communicate clearly. We focus on content, skills, and standards. But what if one of the most powerful keys to unlocking deeper learning lies not just in what we teach, but in fostering an awareness of the very tool we use to teach it – language itself?

This key is metalinguistic awareness.

What Exactly is Metalinguistic Awareness?

Simply put, metalinguistic awareness is the ability to think consciously about language and how it works. It's stepping back from simply using language (speaking, listening, reading, writing) to reflecting on language as an object of thought.

Metalinguistic Awareness: It's the difference between simply driving a car and understanding how the engine, transmission, and brakes work together.

Someone with strong metalinguistic awareness can:

• Understand that words are separate from the concepts they represent.
• Recognize and manipulate the sounds within words (phonological awareness, a subset).
• Identify different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and understand their function.
• Grasp sentence structure and how changing word order can change meaning.
• Recognize ambiguity and multiple meanings in words or phrases.
• Understand figurative language (metaphors, similes, idioms).
• Recognize different registers of language (formal vs. informal) and when to use them.
• Think about the relationship between spoken and written language.
• Compare and contrast features of different languages or dialects.

It's the difference between simply driving a car and understanding how the engine, transmission, and brakes work together. You can drive without knowing the mechanics, but understanding them allows for better troubleshooting, maintenance, and appreciation of the machine. Similarly, metalinguistic awareness empowers learners to use language more effectively, precisely, and thoughtfully.

Why is Metalinguistic Awareness Crucial? (Hint: It's Not Just for Language Arts!)

While it might seem like the exclusive domain of ELA or World Language teachers, metalinguistic awareness is a foundational skill that benefits students across all subject areas and grade levels.

Here's why:

1. Enhanced Reading Comprehension: Understanding sentence structure, recognizing signal words (like “however” or “therefore”) and identifying subtle meanings are crucial for decoding complex texts in any subject, from historical documents to scientific articles to mathematical word problems.
2. Stronger Writing Skills: Conscious awareness of word choice, sentence construction, tone, and audience allows students to express their understanding more clearly and persuasively, whether writing a lab report, a historical essay, or explaining their mathematical reasoning.
3. Improved Problem-Solving: Many academic challenges involve interpreting language precisely. Think about multi-step instructions, word problems in math, or analyzing scientific procedures. Metalinguistic skills help students break down the language barrier to get to the core of the problem.
4. Boosted Critical Thinking: Language isn't neutral. Understanding how language can be used to persuade, obscure, or frame information is vital for analyzing sources, identifying bias, and developing informed opinions in social studies, science, and beyond.
5. Foundation for Future Language Learning: Whether learning academic vocabulary or a new language entirely, students with strong metalinguistic awareness have a head start. They already possess frameworks for understanding grammatical concepts, sound systems, and word formation.
6. Deeper Subject Matter Understanding: Every discipline has its own specific vocabulary and ways of using language.
   • In Math: Understanding the precise meaning of terms like "sum," "factor," "variable," or "proof" and recognizing how symbols function as a language.
   • In Science: Deconstructing complex terms (e.g., "photosynthesis," "mitochondria"), understanding the passive voice often used in lab reports, and valuing precision in description.
   • In History/Social Studies: Analyzing primary source language, understanding how word choice reflects perspective, and grappling with the changing meanings of terms over time (e.g., "democracy").
   • In the Arts: Using specific vocabulary to describe techniques, colors, or musical elements; analyzing lyrics or scripts.
   • Even in Physical Education: Understanding instructions, rules, and specific terminology for movements or plays.

Fostering Metalinguistic Awareness in Your Classroom

The good news is you don't need a separate "Metalinguistic Awareness" class. You can weave it into your existing curriculum:

• Talk About Words: Discuss word origins (etymology), prefixes, suffixes, and roots. Explore synonyms and antonyms and discuss why one word might be better than another in a specific context.
• Play with Language: Use puns, riddles, word games, and tongue twisters. These aren't just fun; they highlight the sounds, structures, and ambiguities of language.
• Analyze Sentence Structure: Break down sentences together. Look at how clauses connect and how punctuation guides meaning. Model sentence combining and revision.
• Discuss Ambiguity: Point out when words or phrases could have multiple meanings and how context helps us figure it out.
• Compare and Contrast: Compare formal and informal language, different dialects represented in the classroom or even translate concepts between languages if applicable.
• Explicit Instruction: Directly teach grammatical concepts in the context of reading and writing for that subject. Don't just label parts of speech; discuss their function and impact.
• Focus on Revision: Encourage students to think critically about their own language use during the writing and revision process. Ask "Why did you choose that word?" or "How could you say this more clearly/precisely?"

The Takeaway

Metalinguistic awareness isn't just another educational buzzword. It's a fundamental cognitive skill that underpins learning across the board.

By explicitly drawing students' attention to the structure, nuances, and power of language – the very tool they use for thinking and communicating every day – we equip them to be more effective learners, more critical thinkers, and more articulate communicators in every facet of their lives.

Let's make thinking about language a conscious part of learning in all our classrooms.

Learn more with their new book, Your Words Are Fire.

About the Authors

LISSETTE JACOBSON

Administrator and educator of multilingual learners, co-founder of the Culture, Identity, and Multilingual Advocacy educational consulting company, and PD instructor 

MAURICE McDAVID

Administrator and educator, PD instructor, coauthor of the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading standards

TOGETHER

Co-founders and hosts of the Black, Brown & Bilingüe podcast, dedicated to affirming Black and Brown identities, nurturing multilingualism and multiculturalism, and making equity the center of all conversations. Learn more at BlackBrownBilingue.com and @blkbrwnbilingue (X).

Resources:

• This post was shared previously on BlackBrownBilingue.com.
• Hands and word image by lisa runnels from Pixabay.