Multilingual Literacy (New Perspectives on Language and Education, 85) (Volume 85)

This book investigates multilingual literacy practices, explores the technology applied in different educational frameworks, the centrality of multilingual literacy in non-formal, informal and formal educational contexts, as well as its presence in everyday life. Thematically clustered in four parts, the chapters present an overview of theory related to multilingual literacy, address the methodological challenges of research in the area, describe and evaluate projects set up to foster multilingual literacy in a variety of educational contexts, analyze the literacy practices of multilinguals and their contribution to language and literacy acquisition. This volume aims to initiate a change in paradigms, shifting from structured and conservative problematizations to inclusive and diverse conceptualizations and practices. To that end, the book showcases explorations of different methodologies and needs in formal and non-formal educational systems; and it serves as a springboard for developing multivocal participatory spaces with opportunities for learning and identity-building for all multilinguals, across different settings, languages, ages and contexts.

Esther Odilia Breuer is Head of the Centre for Writing Competency at the University of Cologne, Germany.

Eva Lindgren is Professor of Language Teaching and Learning in the Department of Language Studies at Umeå University, Sweden. Her research interests include curriculum, multilingualism and literacy with a particular focus on writing development across languages.

Anat Stavans is Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics in the English Language and Literature Department at Beit Berl College, Kfar Saba, Israel.

Elke Van Steendam is Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Arts Department of KULeuven, Belgium.