"As the Director of EL & Bilingual Programs in a district serving over 1,000 multilingual learners, I see daily how critical it is for educators to move beyond defaulting to translation and instead make thoughtful, strategic decisions that truly accelerate language and content learning. This timely and practical book captures that nuance beautifully—guiding teachers on when, with whom, how, and why to use translation in ways that honor students’ assets while avoiding overreliance on AI-driven translation tools.
"This is a must-read resource that offers a clear and practical roadmap for supporting multilingual newcomers. It equips educators to build student agency and belonging, accelerate language and literacy, and design instruction that honors students’ identities and strengths."
"As an educator with more than 26 years supporting newcomer students, this book resonates deeply with my lived experience—reminding us that while translation may open the door, it is connection, belonging, and high expectations that truly change lives."
"In Wait, Don’t Just Translate: Strategies for Emergent Multilingual Learners, Dr. Honigsfeld and Dr. Dove once again offer a powerful blend of research and practice that educators can immediately put to use. Grounded in a strong theoretical foundation and enriched by authentic stories from the field—including the voices of former newcomer students—this book brings clarity and humanity to the complex work of supporting multilingual learners.
"The field has been waiting for a professional resource like this! While educators are often eager to serve and support their newcomer students, the overuse of translation has created misunderstandings and misconceptions in schools across the country. This book helps provide guidance to teachers, teams, and schools as they navigate how to leverage translation with intentionality, culturally responsive understanding, and identity-affirming pedagogy. I'm thrilled for this book to be in the hands of educators and leaders serving newcomer students!"
"As a teacher of ENL and HLA newcomer students for over two decades -- and as the founding teacher of a high school course in Spanish for Translation and Interpretation -- I can confidently say this book is long overdue!Early in my career, well-intentioned guidance often encouraged teachers to rely on translation as a primary support for English Learners. What we didn’t yet understand was that translation, when used without purpose or strategy, can unintentionally limit language development.Wait… Don’t Just Translate provides the clarity our field has needed for years.
"As a teacher educator working with both K–12 pre-service and practicing teachers, I highly recommend this book for anyone new to working with multilingual learners. It speaks directly to the questions teachers often have: how to move beyond reliance on translation tools while still supporting students’ language development, and what effective support actually looks like in practice. Grounded in field-based research and the voices of both teachers and multilingual learners, this book offers clear, practical strategies for supporting newcomers in meaningful and sustainable ways.
"This book provides a guide for educators seeking to move beyond simple translation toward a more holistic, asset-based approach for supporting emergent multilingual learners. By prioritizing equity, engagement, and relational trust, it offers research-informed strategies that empower newcomers to thrive academically and socially from the moment they arrive. It is an invaluable resource for creating inclusive school environments where every student’s linguistic and cultural background is celebrated as a vital foundation for their success!
"Wait, Don’t Just Translate is more than a manual on language acquisition; it is a profound call to center the inherent beauty and unique gifts of every multilingual learner. This book reminds us that effective pedagogy must begin with a steadfast commitment to an asset-based mindset. By weaving together advocacy for equity with practical tools—such as guidance on what success looks like for newcomers, technology spotlights, and reflective opportunities for practitioners—the authors provide a comprehensive roadmap for success.
"This timely book makes a compelling case that overreliance on translation, including the growing use of AI by teachers and students, limits newcomer multilingual learners’ language development and equitable access to rigorous content. Honigsfeld, McDermott Goldman, and Dove thoughtfully reframe translation as one tool for engagement and equity rather than a crutch while offering a wide range of practical strategies to actively engage students in meaningful learning.
"With AI and tech tools making translation fast and easy, many well-meaning educators are unknowingly overusing it in ways that can limit rather than expand the growth of newcomer Multilingual Learners. This timely and thoughtful book helps teachers move beyond good intentions -- helping them develop a clear, principled approach to deciding when translation supports learning and bilingualism, and when students need to wrestle with English themselves, whether taking it in through listening and reading or producing it through speaking and writing.
"As though one remarkable book from Drs. Honigsfeld, Dove, and McDermott Goldman, Nine Dimensions of Scaffolding for Multilingual Learners, wasn't enough, we’re now treated to yet another brilliant collaborative creation to support multilingual learner education. These three leading women researchers are sharing leadership to reshape the field of multilingual teacher preparation and professional learning through innovative, practice-centered approaches--for the true betterment of our schools and communities.
"Not sure when to translate and when to use other approaches? Wait, Don’t Just Translate: Strategies for Emergent Multilingual Learners provides clear guidance on this nuanced topic. As a teacher educator, I have used several books by Drs. Honigsfeld, Dove, and McDermott Goldman in my methods classes. I appreciate how complex concepts are presented in engaging, easy-to-understand formats. I receive great feedback on the texts I select for my courses.