Language Debates: Theory and Reality in Language Learning, Teaching and Research

This book captures an urgent moment for language teaching, learning, and research, exploring gender stereotyping, linguistics, language activism, multilingualism, and digital humanities. It acknowledges the history of language teaching and suggests ways forward for reform and policy, setting languages and language learning at the heart of transformative goals. The editors and contributors are a multilingual and multicultural team working across languages, cultures, and borders. The debates are based on events and workshops within the wider research project, and each debate is accompanied by an interview to continue the conversation. The overall aim is to challenge widely-held views about language learning, innovate and transform language research, teaching, and learning, and foreground the unique form of cognition and critical engagement of Modern Languages as an academic discipline.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton General Division

This book is a timely and essential contribution to the field of language teaching, learning, and research. At its core, it presents a series of thought-provoking debates on crucial topics such as gender stereotyping, the role of linguistics in modern languages, language activism, multilingualism, and modern languages and digital humanities. These debates delve into the profound impact of languages and the individuals who learn and speak them on the world, as well as the ways in which our thoughts, perceptions, and identities are shaped by language.

Language Debates recognizes the historical context of language teaching and the contemporary challenges and opportunities it faces. It boldly advocates for reform and policy changes, placing languages and language learning at the center of a transformative vision for the future. This book is a must-read for academics, language teachers, policymakers, students, activists, and anyone passionate about advancing language learning and teaching.

The editors and contributors of this book are a diverse and multinational team, bringing together expertise from various languages, cultures, and borders. Their work is informed by a global perspective, reflecting the interconnectedness of our world. Uniquely, the debates in this volume are based on events and workshops within the Language Acts and Worldmaking Debates Series, as well as the subsequent discussions that followed. These debates are enriched by the insights and perspectives of participants who have actively engaged in these discussions.

Each debate is accompanied by an insightful interview that provides a model for continuing the conversation beyond the printed pages of the book. Additionally, the Language Acts and Worldmaking series website (www.jmlanguages.com/languageacts) offers valuable resources, including recorded debates, additional materials, and further information about the series. By exploring these links, readers can deepen their understanding of the topics discussed and actively participate in the ongoing debates.

As with all volumes in the Language Acts and Worldmaking series, Language Debates aims to foster intellectual inquiry, promote cross-cultural understanding, and inspire action. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, educators, and anyone interested in exploring the complex dynamics of language and its role in shaping our world.

Weight: 352g
Dimension: 137 x 214 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529372250