Reviews research which investigates all aspects of the Puerto Rican experience of school in the United States. Suggests that new research be conducted from a multilingual/multicultural perspective that analyzes educational inputs, processes, contexts, and products. (APM)

Argues that competence in English and complex, plurilingual competence are cornerstones for further European integration and the development of a European identity. Suggests a model of democratic participation dependent on diverse linguistic competencies at different levels of democracy would provide the basis for communicative integration that is…

This review of "Linguistic Genocide in Education or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights?" by Tove Skutrabb-Kangas (Erlbaum 2002) finds the book a useful guide for examining language policies in education but suggests its argument is weakened by the invisibility of teachers in the analysis and the loaded and inflammatory language used.…

A method for measuring attrition of communicative competence is introduced and illustrated using data from spontaneous multiperson conversations of Spanish L-3 subjects from Ghana. The method involves creation of a multifactor index using defined temporal variables, frequency counts of selected verbal behaviors, and grammatical information, and…

Discusses minority language education in Malaysia, a multilingual and multicultural country. Looks at four language minority groups and what they have done to to provide beginning education programs for their children that use the children's native languages. (Author/VWL)

Discusses problematic aspects of multilingualism, looks for plausible reasons to explain the deficits educators have to deal with, and gives a brief sketch of what appears to the author as recommended directions for future research. Concludes that multilingual reading instruction must rely on responsive instruction and reflective teaching. (SG)

Presents an Australian standpoint on literacy policy. Addresses the unreconciled issue of redistributive social justice in Australian education: the educational achievement and life pathways of Aborigine and Torres Strait Islander children and youth. Concludes that to move forward both in research and policy towards a more inclusive literacy in…

Stresses the importance of maintaining multilingualism in the United States in the face of arguments by "English Only" advocates that the U.S. risks being torn apart by multilingualism. Historical evidence from the Soviet Union and from Australia is cited to support the viability of successful management of multilingualism. (Author/DJD)

In the past two decades, bilingual education has become an educational movement and a field of academic inquiry worldwide. An overview focuses on the main trends that have evolved out of the international debate surrounding bilingual education. (82 references) (GLR)

Although Kashmiri is the first language of 3-4 million people, it has many features of a minority language. This article reports research suggesting that teachers in Kashmir have a poor opinion of the language, question whether it is really a language, and wonder whether it is worth teaching. (Contains 28 references.) (JL)

This article examines some phonological explanations for pronunciation difficulties experienced by learners of English and Chinese. Rules of accommodation, rules of distribution and alternation, voicing, and morphophonemic rules are examined. (Contains six references.) (JL)

Refutes the concept that a single and universal tongue is ideal and the rich diversity of languages is an unfortunate state of affairs, pointing out that the mastery of several languages enhances cultural understanding and experience. (eight references) (CB)

This study concerns the urban vernacular "Leewarders" and the two other languages, Dutch and Frisian, spoken in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. The study was carried out by interviews, a survey, a variant of the matched-guise experiment, and participant observation. (JL)

Sociopolitical change occurs in conjunction with sustaining local literacies. In hierarchically organized societies, ruling elite perceive local literacies as threat to existing power structure. The Ambedkar Nagar project in India, a literacy drive that adopted a campaign-based approach (CBA), is described. A CBA uses mass participation, voluntary…

Educators must realize that multiculturalism and multilingualism are not merely fashionable terms but everyday classroom realities. Teachers cannot always revamp curricula, but they can challenge their cultural assumptions and limited world views and seek ways to connect to other cultures. Multicultural education, cultural learning, and…