Critical Pedagogies for Modern Languages Education: Criticality, Decolonization, and Social Justice

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In the context of Black Lives Matter, decolonizing initiatives, #MeToo, climate emergency protests and other movements for social and environmental justice, this volume posits a simple question: how can modern languages be taught so that they challenge rather than reinforce social inequalities Informed by interdisciplinary theories, Critical Pedagogies for Modern Language Education focuses on practical discussions of case studies in areas directly relevant to the classroom contexts of modern languages educators. The volume transforms modern language educators and the modern language profession by putting the politics of language teaching at the centre of its analysis. With case studies covering 12 languages (Modern Standard Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Levantine, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tamazight) across 14 countries and regions (Austria, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Kenya, the Levant, Morocco, the Netherlands, Palestine, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA), the contributors cover a wide range of theories, including critical discourse analysis, activist pedagogies, culturally sustaining pedagogy, linguistic justice and translanguaging. With student-teacher collaboration at its heart, critical modern languages pedagogy unmasks the ideologies and hegemonies that lie behind mainstream language use and affirms the value of minority linguistic and cultural practices. The volume thus provides transformative approaches to modern languages teaching and learning that respond to the key social concerns of the 21st century.

Reviews

This edited volume urges us to engage with the liberatory and transformative potential of languages education and to actively reimagine our practice from critical, social justice and decolonizing perspectives. The carefully curated collection of chapters is underpinned by a diverse range of theoretical and conceptual frameworks as well as practical, polyphonic examples of classroom practice across sectors and geographical contexts. This compelling volume is essential reading for pre- and in-service language teachers and teacher trainers as well as researchers passionate about the enactment of critical language pedagogies. -- Adriana Daz, Senior Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, University of Queensland, Australia
A forceful and passionate plea for incorporating politics into the language classroom. Fascinating case studies examine the teaching of 11 languages across 13 countries and discuss a range of current issues related to critical pedagogies and decolonization efforts in education. Should be of vital interest to any teacher of modern languages. -- Claire Kramsch, Emerita Professor of German and Affilate Professor of Education, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Author Bio

Derek Hird is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at Lancaster University, UK.