From Foreign Language Education to Education for Intercultural Citizenship

Essays and Reflections

By (author) Prof. Michael Byram

Publication date:

27 May 2008

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

210x148mm
6x8"

ISBN-13: 9781847690791

This collection of essays and reflections starts from an analysis of the purposes of foreign language teaching and argues that this should include educational objectives which are ultimately similar to those of education for citizenship. It does so by a journey through reflections on what is possible and desirable in the classroom and how language teaching has a specific role in education systems which have long had, and often still have, the purpose of encouraging young people to identify with the nation-state. Foreign language education can break through this framework to introduce a critical internationalism. In a ‘globalised’ and ‘internationalised’ world, the importance of identification with people beyond the national borders is crucial. Combined with education for citizenship, foreign language education can offer an education for ‘intercultural citizenship’.

Acknowledgements

Introduction

I FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Purposes

1 Foreign Language Education in Context

2 Purposes for Foreign Language Education

Possibilities

3 Is Language Learning Possible at School?

4 The Intercultural Speaker – Acting Interculturally or Being Bicultural

5 Intercultural Competence and Foreign Language Learning in the Primary School

6 Analysis and Advocacy: Researching the Cultural Dimensions of Foreign Language Education

Perspectives

7 Nationalism and Internationalism in Language Education

8 Language Learning in Europe

9 Foreign Language Teaching as Political Action

II INTERCULTURAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION

10 Language Education, Political Education and Intercultural Citizenship

11 Education for Intercultural Citizenship

12 Policies for Intercultural Citizenship Education

13 Curricula for Intercultural Citizenship Education

14 Assessment and/or Evaluation of Intercultural Competence and Intercultural Citizenship

Conclusion

References

Appendix

I enjoyed reading this book. It promises to be a typically clear and compelling discussion of the institutional implications for adopting an intercultural approach to language teaching in European schools. It deserves to be read and debated widely.