Critical Language Pedagogy

An introduction to critical language pedagogy grounded in Freirean principles, social transformation, teacher agency, and human flourishing.

Critical language pedagogy is the application of critical pedagogy (CP) ideas and principles to the teaching of additional languages. This Element aims to provide readers with a simple and direct introduction to this perspective on additional language teaching. It addresses principles, regular practices, materials, and their availability and form.Critical language pedagogy (CLP) is the application of critical pedagogy (CP) ideas and principles to the teaching of additional languages. CLP is mainly associated with a theory of education in which the work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire is to be taken as central. This Element aims to provide readers with a simple and direct introduction to this perspective on additional language teaching. It addresses main principles, regular practices, materials, and their availability and form and considers future development work needed. The starting point is teachers' values, alongside students' issues and problems, and the (ideal) end point is a desired network of teachers (together with students and community members) who have a shared interest in transforming their classrooms in directions that will foster human flourishing.