Defining New Literacies and Why They Matter

 In my role as a former preschool lead teacher, the concept of new literacies extends beyond print or even spoken language and into the age of technology and communication strategies. In the Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age they say “Recognize and honor the multilingual literacy identities and culture experiences individuals bring to learning environments and provide opportunities to promote, amplify, and encourage these differing variations of language. (National Council of Teachers of English. 2019)” One experience that I had involved a child in my preschool class who had just moved to the U.S. from China. This child spoke no English, and while his parents spoke broken English, communication between us was difficult. The first couple of months were incredibly challenging, as the child did not understand me, and I struggled to understand him. I tried using my usual techniques—asking the parents to share key words in their native language and spelling them phonetically so I could use them. However, these methods didn’t seem to help much in this case. I was hoping that the other children in the room would be able to help that child gain more language, but this did not happen.

I relied heavily on gestures, pointing, and repeating actions to help him understand, but the process was frustrating and, at times, heartbreaking, as I wanted so much to help but wasn’t sure how. Then, I remembered the translator app on my iPhone. Even though phones aren’t typically allowed in the classroom, my boss approved using the translator app in hopes that it would help. The change was immediate and significant. With the app, the child could speak into the phone and have his words translated, and I could use it to communicate instructions or questions. This tool helped us build trust and understanding, and the child began to gain confidence in trying English words in the classroom. It was a breakthrough that taught me how new literacies—in this case, digital translation tools—can help both teachers and students in challenging situations.

“The capacity to connect with individuals all over the world creates unique opportunities for learning and sharing information, for which developing digital communication skills is vital. Some of the skills required for communicating in the digital environment include digital citizenship, collaboration, and cultural awareness.” (Beecher, C. (2023). Chapter 1) Expanding literacy to include tools like translation apps and acknowledging the role of technology in communication can make a tremendous difference. In this case, the translator app became a bridge between the child’s home language and English, helping him feel more confident and supported. This aligns with the broader understanding of new literacies, where digital tools play a crucial role in facilitating meaningful communication across languages and cultures.

National Council of Teachers of English. (2019, November 7). Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age. NCTE. https://ncte.org/statement/nctes-definition-literacy-digital-age/

Beecher, C. (2023). Chapter 1. What is Literacy? Multiple Perspectives on Literacy. Iastate.pressbooks.pub. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/teachingearlyliteracy/chapter/what-is-literacy-multiple-perspectives-on-literacy/