Linguistic equity

reflections on the assessment of bilingual students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/2237-4876.2025v28n1p89-103

Keywords:

avaliação educacional, equidade, justiça, bilinguismo, letramento em avaliação, translinguagem

Abstract

The assessment of bilingual students is a central issue in the field of education, as it involves not only measuring learning but also addressing equity and justice. This article discusses the challenges and possibilities of equitable assessment for these students, drawing on the concepts of assessment literacy (Stiggins, 1991; 1995; Quevedo-Camargo; Scaramucci, 2018) and the principles of equity and justice proposed by Kunnan (2000; 2004; 2013; 2018). We argue that assessment should integrate content and language coherently (Gottlieb, 2016; 2022), recognizing the complexity of bilingual linguistic practices. Additionally, we explore translanguaging (García; Wei, 2014) as a pedagogical resource that allows for a more representative evaluation of students' knowledge. Based on recent studies, we propose assessment strategies that ensure greater transparency, accessibility, and respect for the linguistic and cultural diversity of bilingual students. Finally, we highlight the need for a dynamic and inclusive assessment approach that acknowledges the challenges of bilingualism without reinforcing monolingual models of knowledge measurement.

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Author Biographies

Antonieta Megale, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

PhD in Applied Linguistics from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). Professor in the graduate program of the Department of Languages at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). São Paulo, Brazil.

Maria Teresa de la Torre Aranda , Instituto Singularidades

Master of Arts in Teaching, with an emphasis on English language teaching, from the School for International Training, Vermont, USA (2001). He is currently a professor at the Higher Institute of Education of São Paulo, Singularidades, teaching in the postgraduate course Bilingualism and Bilingual Education: Challenges and Possibilities. São Paulo, Brazil.

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Published

2025-04-30

How to Cite

MEGALE, Antonieta; ARANDA , Maria Teresa de la Torre. Linguistic equity: reflections on the assessment of bilingual students. Signum: Estudos da Linguagem, [S. l.], v. 28, n. 1, p. 89–103, 2025. DOI: 10.5433/2237-4876.2025v28n1p89-103. Disponível em: https://ojs.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/signum/article/view/52442. Acesso em: 15 jan. 2026.