Comparative Studies In Bilingualism And Bilingual Education

This volume reports on bilingual practices in contemporary societies in a number of European and non-European countries. The topics discussed here include language use and language learning in a bilingual context, issues in bilingual education, the use of language in the linguistic landscape, language and the media, language perceptions, language use and attitudes, and the use of language as a vantage point for the study of social change. This book captures the various different approaches and viewpoints on bilingualism by researchers who have focused on contexts such as Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and the USA. Of the 17 chapters here, five deal with aspects of bilingualism in Malta, which, in view of its minuscule size but complex language use, offers itself as an excellent laboratory for the scientific study of bilingualism.

This book investigates the role native language plays in the process of acquiring a second language within a bilingual educational model. The research presented is based on a 2 year longitudinal study of students in a bilingual school. Particular attention is paid to the development of academic language proficiency. Performance in both languages was compared between two groups of peers learning in submersion classes in Germany and in Portugal. This comparison allows the assessment of effects of a given bilingual education programme. There is a considerable advantage found for the students who learned in the bilingual environment, both in written and in oral samples. These students developed a more proficient bilingual academic discourse ability; socioeconomic status and cognitive abilities were controlled for. When comparing the results with an external measure for school achievement, the advantage was confirmed. The results also hint at didactic factors which seem to contribute to this performance.

This volume compiles a unique yet complementary collection of chapters that take a strategic comparative perspective on education systems, regions of the world, and/or ethnolinguistic communities with a focus on non-dominant languages and cultures in education. Comparison and contrast within each article and across articles illustrates the potential for using home languages – which in many cases are in non-dominant positions relative to other languages in society – in inclusive multilingual and multicultural forms of education. The 22 authors demonstrate how bringing non-dominant languages and cultures into schooling has liberatory, transformative potential for learners from ethnolinguistic communities that have previously been excluded from access to quality basic education. The authors deal not only with educational development in specific low-income and emerging countries in Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines Thailand and Vietnam), Latin America (Guatemala and Mexico) and Africa (Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania), but also with efforts to reach marginalized ethnolinguistic communities in high-income North American countries (Canada and the USA). In the introductory chapter the editors highlight common and cross-cutting themes and propose appropriate, sometimes new terminology for the discussion of linguistic and cultural issues in education, particularly in low-income multilingual countries. Likewise, using examples from additional countries and contexts, the three final chapters address cross-cutting issues related to language and culture in educational research and development. The authors and editors of this volume share a common commitment to comparativism in their methods and analysis, and aim to contribute to more inclusive and relevant education for all. “A richly textured collection which offers a powerful vision of the possible, now and in the future.” Alamin Mazrui, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, USA “This book takes the local perspective of non-dominant language communities in arguing for a multilingual habitus in educational development. Benson and Kosonen masterfully extend theories and clarify terminology that is inclusive of the non-dominant contexts described here.” Ofelia García, City University of New York, USA

This is a remarkably interesting and useful book...it makes a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of both bilingualism and education.' Journal of Education Policy

The bibliography includes 615 citations of books, articles, general sources, and bibliographies on aspects of bilingual education, multicultural education, and the role of language in education in Canada. Citations in the first section, on society and language policy, are organized in the following categories: history; sociological aspects; psychological aspects; politics in education; policy analysis; finance and economics; general works; and general works specific to a province or region. The second sections' contents, on bilingual teaching and learning, are presented in the following categories: contributions to psycholinguistic ideas; teaching methods and curriculum; pre-school learning; primary school learning; secondary school learning; and bilingualism and higher education. The third section, "Beyond French-English Bilingualism," includes: immigrants and other ethnic groups; adaptation for Asian migrants; and programs for Ukrainians. The fourth section, "Reference Works", includes general and program guides and bibliographies. Background information on Canada's relevant educational and language history is provided in an introductory narrative. (MSE)