Abstract

This book presents a comprehensive picture of languages and schools in Catalan-speaking countries, making much of the information available in English for the first time. The chapters examine multiple aspects of the language situation in these countries, including: the recovery of Catalan in schools; the position and status of the majority languages (English and Spanish); language-in-education policies in a multilingual, multicultural context; the possibility of multilingual competence; and the successes and failures of instructional processes.

A multilingual environment creates complex situations when teaching oral communication and literacy. The Catalan language is not only an element of identity, but also an example of a linguistic milieu affording immersion into an integrated language model. Catalan, Spanish and English are presented as a model of multilingualism. This book deals with good practices and the challenges encountered therein.

This book will be an excellent resource for scholars, educators, and policy-makers involved in language planning and acquisition.

Joaquim Arnau is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona. He has published widely on bilingual education and second language learning in Catalan.