Dismantling Misconceptions About ELLs: Disrupting the Monolingual Bias with Dr. Lillian Ardell

In Episode 162 of the Equipping ELLs podcast, Dr. Lillian Ardell joins host Beth Vaucher to tackle one of the most pervasive issues in education today: the monolingual bias. This belief system prioritizes English proficiency above all else, often to the detriment of multilingual learners’ cultural and linguistic identities. Dr. Ardell, a seasoned bilingual education coach, explains how this bias manifests in classrooms and offers educators a roadmap for advocacy and change.

Listen in to the episode here.

The Impact of Monolingual Bias

Dr. Ardell recounts a striking anecdote about a teacher named Zoraida, whose well-intentioned suggestion to use Sandra Cisneros’s work was reduced to a shallow coloring activity by a colleague. This moment exemplifies how low expectations and assimilation narratives overshadow the rich, complex abilities of ELLs. Dr. Ardell emphasizes that these biases, reinforced by educational policies, perpetuate inequality.

A Framework for Linguistic Justice

Through her work, Dr. Ardell champions “linguistic justice,” encouraging teachers to challenge deficit thinking and create culturally sustaining classroom environments. Her practical framework includes:

Recognizing and addressing linguistic prejudice.
Building coalitions with equity-minded colleagues and families.
Incorporating culturally relevant materials into everyday teaching.
Empowering students through transparency and goal-setting.

Practical Disruptors for Educators

Dr. Ardell offers numerous “disruptors,” from advocating for curricula that celebrate diversity to embedding fun and joy into language learning. She urges educators to rethink traditional methods, focus on students’ strengths, and embrace multilingualism as an asset, not a barrier.

Looking Ahead

With her upcoming book, Disrupting the Monolingual Bias: A Framework for Endurance, Advocacy, and Teacher Empowerment, Dr. Ardell aims to inspire a new generation of educators to push for systemic change. Her message is clear: advocacy begins with small, deliberate steps and the courage to disrupt outdated practices.

This episode is a call to action for educators ready to move beyond the status quo. Whether you’re a veteran advocate or new to supporting ELLs, Dr. Ardell’s insights will leave you motivated to create more inclusive and effective learning spaces.

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Ardell on Instagram
Get More Info on Disrupting the Monolingual Bias
⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership (We have everything you need for your school year!)
Shop our TpT Store for Hundreds of ELL Resources

Connect with Beth:

More about Equipping ELLs:

We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.

Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.

Beth

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