After considering the linguistic, social, pedagogical and administrative rationale for using Spanish or native languages, particularly Quechua, as the educational medium, the author proposes a national system of bilingual schooling to be conducted in Spanish above the primary levels, but with continued native language course offerings. (SJL)

Assesses the potential of selected aspects of geolinguistic analysis for the understanding of multilingual cities and outlines a research agenda highlighting the need for increased comparative research on urban multilingualism. The article illustrates the agenda with reference to a geographical information systems (GIS) analysis of language in…

Considers the pedagogical validity of English immersion education in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, Melanesian countries of the South Pacific. Questions the appropriateness of implementing a policy of English language immersion education in a postcolonial, multilingual Third World context where support for first language maintenance and second…

Explores how Cantonese-speaking math students and their teacher use different languages to achieve academic and social success in their multilingual classroom in Toronto. The article discusses inter-ethnic tensions related to the use of languages other than English and raises questions regarding the advantages and disadvantages of multilingual…

A review of literature since 1990 on world English focuses on theoretical, conceptual, descriptive, ideological, and power-related issues, including: types of diaspora; English-using communities; dynamics of those communities; monolingual paradigms and heteroglossic English forms; transcultural literary creativity; codification and authentication…

Studies the language proficiency of the Turkish returnees from Germany who were either born in Germany or emigrated there with their parents at a young age. Results indicate that returnees have a deficit in cognitive academic language proficiency compared to control groups and that a correlation exists between language proficiency in Turkish,…

Discusses a project that investigated the dynamics of multilingualism and mathematics teaching and learning in secondary level South African schools. Interviews with six teachers in three classrooms in three different types of schools indicated that teachers had developed strategies to handle multilingual learners, though they produced certain…

Investigates the applicability of Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) to non-English speakers. The GDDS described may be the first to provide automatic translation among languages. Although the translations are not perfect, the system provides a beginning step into the electronic support of multilingual groups. (16 references) (Author/CK)

Reviews European Community and Australian language policies. Considers cultural-economic interface in Australia with respect to current interest in teaching Asian languages for trade purposes. Discusses Australia's growing acceptance of languages other than English and its affect on Aboriginal people. Urges the better utilization of the country's…

Although Brunei Darussalam's official language is Malay, the country is linguistically and culturally diverse. Three facets of language and language education are discussed: relationships between Malay and minority languages; the relationship between Malay and English; and the place of bilingual education. (Contains 53 references.) (Author/LB)

Response to an article on community languages in Australia supports the argument that community language speakers do not have an advantage over non-speakers in the community language classroom, but can be disadvantaged by differences between the language taught in the classroom and that spoken in homes. Examples are drawn from Punjabi instruction…

Debate over language in education policies and practices in Lebanon has witnessed a shift in emphasis on the cultural-linguistic struggle between Arabic and French/English to emphasis on practical attitudes toward language education that is leading the country toward multilingualism. Discusses decrees and regulations issued by various governments…

Examines how language attitudes are expressed in Legon, Ghana, a multilingual society. Focuses on the graffiti in male lavatories, which offers an interesting glimpse of some of the intergroup tensions existing within Ghanian society. (Author/VWL)

Asserts the importance of viewing the world as an interrelated system in which each culture and person has important gifts to share. Examines how prejudicial attitudes can be changed through teaching tolerance. Maintains that the Montessori philosophy and methodology contain all the elements recommended for cultural harmony. Challenges teachers to…

This article reports on the Slovene share in the European project called Janua Linguarum--The Gateway to Languages. It highlights its forerunners and its outcomes, and gives an illustrative example of how primary school students encounter and explore various languages by using a relatively novel, plurilingual approach. All the materials produced…