Preparing Teachers to Work with Multilingual Learners

This collection explores multilingualism in teacher education programs across Europe and North America, focusing on pre-service teachers' preparation for working in diverse classrooms. It examines the key features of current initiatives and the complexities of educational contexts, including history, language policies, and institutional priorities. The book highlights the impact of explicit instruction on multilingualism and pedagogies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2021
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

This comprehensive collection delves into diverse approaches to multilingualism in teacher education programs across Europe and North America. The authors explore how pre-service teachers are being prepared to navigate multilingual environments and examine the key features of current initiatives that address the growing linguistic and cultural diversity in classrooms. The focus extends beyond migrant backgrounds to include students from Indigenous, autochthonous, and heritage language backgrounds, as well as speakers of minoritized regional varieties. The chapters contextualize these initiatives within historical and ideological frameworks, shedding light on the complexities of each educational context and the role played by history, language policies, and institutional and programmatic priorities in fostering a multilingual focus in teacher education.

In their examination of how pre-service teachers are being trained to work in multilingual contexts, the authors adopt a critical stance toward the conceptualization of multilingualism within and across different settings. The book highlights the significant impact that explicit instruction on theories of multilingualism, pedagogies in multilingual classrooms, and exposure to the lived realities of multilingual children can have on the beliefs and practices of pre-service teachers.

By examining these diverse approaches, the collection provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with teaching in multilingual contexts. It underscores the importance of equipping pre-service teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively support students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, promoting inclusive and equitable education for all learners.

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788926096