"This book offers a theoretical backdrop on issues related to multicultural education and intercultural approaches to language pedagogy as well as a wide repertoire of educational practices for developing intercultural awareness and communication along with the enhancement of second/foreign language skills development. Considering the growing multicultural nature of education as well as the development of cultural knowledge, intercultural awareness constitutes a significant parameter in promoting effective communication and mutual understanding, leading to social inclusion beyond the classroom boundaries. These cultural dimensions stress the need for teachers to adopt effective practices (in the foreign language classroom) that blend intercultural knowledge and understanding, and enable students to identify themselves, understand others, and use a foreign language to convey and create a cultural reality" --

This book offers a theoretical backdrop on issues related to multicultural education and intercultural approaches to language pedagogy as well as a wide repertoire of educational practices for developing intercultural awareness and communication along with the enhancement of second/foreign language skills development. Considering the growing multicultural nature of education as well as the development of cultural knowledge, intercultural awareness constitutes a significant parameter in promoting effective communication and mutual understanding, leading to social inclusion beyond the classroom boundaries. These cultural dimensions stress the need for teachers to adopt effective practices (in the foreign language classroom) that blend intercultural knowledge and understanding, and enable students to identify themselves, understand others, and use a foreign language to convey and create a cultural reality. It provides a space to academics, researchers and practitioners to present studies and projects that create an environment of interculturality in foreign language classrooms, in an attempt to open students' minds towards the acceptance of cultural otherness. This book does not pretend to be a work about theory; the authors do not, for example, delve into the complexities of the relationship between language, culture and globalization. The focus is on the manner with which teachers perceive the cultural dimension of foreign language teaching and learning as well as their students knowledge of and attitudes toward the target language countries, including their reflections on their own teaching practices. The contributors of this book report and reflect on practices that heighten students multicultural sensitivity and intercultural awareness, and are relevant to a range of stakeholders. They also discuss challenges of cross-curricular and CLIL applications in diverse contexts based on playful activities and stories that make students know and apply the culturally appropriate behaviour that goes with a second/foreign language. The book consists of a selection of thirteen chapters that comprise eleven studies conducted by the two authors, Eleni Griva and Vasilios Zorbas, in collaboration with some researchers. Moreover, two colleagues, who are experts in the field of multiculturalism and intercultural communication, were invited to submit a chapter for this book, which is divided into three parts: The first part, consisting of four chapters, focuses on multicultural education issues. The second part, consisting of six chapters, discusses the role of play in multicultural awareness/ intercultural communication and second/foreign language development. The third part, consisting of three chapters, centers on aspects and considerations of the CLIL and multicultural/citizenship awareness.

This volume brings together 15 peer-reviewed papers which discuss numerous current topics in language and literature. It synthesizes various contemporary practical topics in post-secondary education written by active researchers and practitioners in their respective areas. By using research methods such as mixed methods, case studies, discourse analysis, grounded theory and the repertory grid, the contributors offer insights into the ways in which higher education continuously changes and evolves to face constant challenges resulting from new instructional practices. Taking this into consideration, this book will help educators, researchers and students to keep up with these changes, and to stay aware of contemporary issues relating to post-secondary education.

The contributors to this volume have collaborated to present their work on introducing competences in intercultural communication and citizenship into foreign language education. The book examines how learners and teachers think about citizenship and interculturality, and shows how teachers and researchers from primary to university education can work together across continents to develop new curricula and pedagogy. This involves the creation of a new theory of intercultural citizenship and a procedure for implementation. The book is written by teacher researchers who aim to help other teachers, and concludes with reflections on the lessons they have learnt which will help others to implement these ideas in their own practice. The book is essential reading for foreign language educators and researchers, students in pre-service teacher training and teachers in in-service training.

This volume is the result of a British Council seminar on language and citizenship ...

The central aim of language teaching is typically to prepare learners to communicate through the language learnt. However, much current language teaching theory and practice is based on a simplistic view of communication that fails to match the multilingual and intercultural reality of the majority of second language (L2) use. This Element examines the relationship between language and culture through an L2 in intercultural and transcultural communication. It puts forward the argument that we need to go beyond communicative competence in language teaching and focus instead on intercultural and transcultural awareness. Implications for pedagogic practice are explored including intercultural and transcultural language education.

This title explores the interface between Citizenship education and language teaching. It sets the context for understanding Citizenship and for developing a practical approach towards its teaching in MFL. This book contains case studies focusing on relevant issues, and should be of interest to all MFL teachers, as well as those involved in Citizenship education.