Enhancing classroom resources in multilingual schools: Experiences and perspectives from Italian teachers

Italian schools have recently experienced a steady increase in linguistic and cultural diversity, which is specifically due to the presence of students with a migration background. In the 2020/2021 school year, the number of such students reached 856,388, with the Friuli Venezia Giulia region exhibiting a higher-than-average incidence of 13.0%. This contribution presents us with some insights for transforming plurilingualism in the classrooms into a valuable resource. The essential role of teachers is emphasised, together with a growing need for specific on-the-job linguistic training, in order to be able to take full advantage of the potential for plurilingualism. A number of recent field experiences, together with their theoretical framework and expected impact are explored, advocating for a holistic, plurilingual, and inclusive Italian school.