Rethinking the Education of Multilingual Learners: A Critical Analysis of Theoretical Concepts

Jim Cummins has proposed influential theoretical concepts such as threshold and interdependence hypotheses, conversational fluency, and academic language proficiency, and this book evaluates their credibility using empirical adequacy, logical coherence, and consequential validity. It also evaluates two different versions of translanguaging theory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2021
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Over the past four decades, Jim Cummins has emerged as a prominent figure in the field of linguistics, proposing a series of groundbreaking theoretical concepts that have profoundly impacted the understanding of language learning and teaching. Among these concepts, the threshold and interdependence hypotheses, as well as the distinction between conversational fluency and academic language proficiency, have gained widespread recognition and have been extensively studied and debated. In his latest book, Cummins takes readers on a personal journey through the evolution of these ideas, providing a comprehensive account of how they were developed and scrutinized by scholars in the field.

Furthermore, he examines the credibility of critiques these concepts have generated, employing rigorous criteria of empirical adequacy, logical coherence, and consequential validity. These criteria serve as a framework for evaluating the theoretical legitimacy of any proposed theory, and Cummins applies them to assess two different versions of translanguaging theory – Unitary Translanguaging Theory and Crosslinguistic Translanguaging Theory. By doing so, he offers a clear and concise explanation of this controversial concept, shedding light on its strengths and weaknesses and helping to clarify its implications for language education.

Through his meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Jim Cummins has not only contributed to the advancement of linguistics but also provided valuable insights into the complex processes of language learning and teaching. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the field, as it offers a wealth of knowledge and valuable perspectives on the current state of language theory and practice.

Weight: 714g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800413573