Imagining Multilingual Schools

We need more books of this type (and our sincere thanks go out to Garcia and her collaborators realizing this need) and owe a huge vote of thanks to the editors, authors and publisher for getting this much overlooked ball rolling at last! More power to them all!

-- Joshua Fishman, Emeritus Professor

This book clearly offers a space for in-depth thinking about the construction of multilingual schools. For the reader interested in imagining actual possibilities, it also offers a space for witnessing the realities of language diversity and co-existence, of respect to human and language rights, and of recognition of traditionally marginalized peoples. Overall, it offers a space for peace to become reality in our schools and society.

-- Laura Alicia Valdiviezo, University of Massachusetts-Amherst * Journal of Peace Education, Volume 6, No. 2 *

This book is an inspiration for language policymakers, language education program developers, practitioners and researchers who seek to understand and nurture linguistic diversity on the local and global levels through education. Researchers, policymakers and practitioners will leave this book stimulated by realistic possibilities for promoting multilingualism on the local level.

-- Rebecca Freeman Field * Language Policy (2008) 7 *

This inspiring book is hope and imagination in full wingspan. This volume is a fine collection of articles by leading scholars in the area of bilingualism.

-- John C. Maher, International Christian University, Tokyo * International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism Vol 11 No. 5, 2008. *

In the “glocalized” context of hegemonic forces of assimilation and English (only), this book comes just in time for educators, researchers, parents, and policy makers. It allows us to better understand the factors that contribute to the oppression of minoritized languages and their speakers and the ways these factors have been overcome in different settings. Furthermore, it offers a space to imagine ideal circumstances for multilingual schools across divergent settings, a vital aspect to the vision, hope, and forward movement of those who believe in the strength of a multilingual and multicultural society. The next step is for the reader to imagine and bridge the vision with reality.

-- Tatyana Kleyn, City College of New York * Teachers College Record, December 08, 2006 *

A priceless contribution to the world to recognize and accept bi/multi-linguality as nature’s gift for humanity to nurture!

-- Jennifer Marie Bayer, Central Institute of Indian Languages * www.boloji.c