Diseño y evaluación de la pertinencia pedagógica, relevancia cultural y adecuación contextual de materiales de aprendizaje culturalmente receptivos para estudiantes multilingües de la UE “Eladio Roldós Barreiro”

Abstract

Introduction. Multilingual English as foreign language classrooms require learning materials that connect pedagogical objectives with students’ linguistic and cultural realities. Objective. To develop and evaluate culturally responsive learning materials for multilingual students at the Eladio Roldós Barreiro Educational Unit, considering pedagogical relevance, cultural significance, and contextual appropriateness through a design-based research approach. Methodology. A mixed-methods design-based research study was conducted with 70 multilingual EFL students aged 12–17. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed thematically and quantified through frequencies and percentages; students’ perceptions of the implemented materials were assessed through a Likert-type questionnaire. Three specialists reviewed the instruments and materials, and qualitative and quantitative findings were integrated through methodological triangulation. Results. Students showed a preference for interactive activities, particularly games (48.6%) and dialogues (45.7%), while pronunciation was the most frequently reported learning difficulty (45.7%). Spanish was the main language of daily communication for 97.1% of participants. Cultural references such as Christmas and New Year were frequently identified, and the evaluation of the implemented materials showed positive perceptions of their pedagogical relevance, cultural relevance, and contextual appropriateness. Conclusion. The findings support the use of culturally responsive materials that incorporate students’ communicative preferences, linguistic backgrounds, and meaningful cultural references. The DBR process provided empirical evidence for refining contextualized EFL materials in multilingual educational settings. General Area of Study: Education. Specific area of study: English language pedagogy and intercultural education. Type of study: Original article.