Rethinking migration : the intersection of multimodal composition and critical reflection

Abstract

This chapter explores how multimodal composition and critical reflection can enrich English language learning and nurture critical engagement with migration discourse. Based on classroom-based research in Malta, it shows how a group of adult learners collaborated on reflective, multimodal texts about migration, combining AI-generated images with their writing. The analysis identified five key themes in students’ compositions, from economic concerns to personal experiences, and highlights the challenges and opportunities of fostering balanced perspectives, critical media literacy, and intercultural empathy. The chapter argues that multimodal composition and reflection can empower students as agents of change, equipping them with the critical tools to navigate and shape migration narratives in a globalised world.