H-FARM International School – Venice has been collaborating with the MLRC since 2024 to engage in action research that drives school-wide equity. An exciting journey focused on strengthening translanguaging practices across the school began when staff participated in the Rome Research Symposium cohort in January 2025 and again in Malaga in January 2026, leading to serving as a Research Symposium host school in November 2026.
Serving students aged 3 to 18, H-FARM International School integrates technology and personalized learning to prepare students for success in an ever-evolving world. The “H” in H-Farm stands for “human.” Multilingualism –- or Language Success – is a core pillar at H-FARM. The school recognizes language as central to students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Their goal is to create spaces for all languages to coexists, ensuring students learn English as the language of instruction while simultaneously developing their home languages.
Following H-FARM’s participation in the MLRC Research Symposia, they launched two successive Action Research projects, exploring collaborative practices between subject teachers and EAL specialists. The research revealed increased consistency in meetings, greater clarity of shared roles, and heightened teacher confidence in balancing content and academic language. The results also indicated that there are some compacity constraints and a rising need for protected and regularly scheduled co-planning time.
Collaborating with the MLRC in Action Research has been a powerful tool to engage in deep inquiry at H-FARM, developing into collective efficacy: the confidence and competence to lead change from within. Looking ahead, their work will focus on developing a culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum. By grounding this practice in collaborative inquiry, they aren’t just teaching language – they are transforming their school culture.
