Rutu FoundationLibrary
A selection of books, articles, and reports on mother tongue and multilingual education. The site is updated regularly, so check back often.
To suggest a new entry: please contact info@rutufoundation.org
Jump to|Americas|Asia|Africa|Europe|Australia
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The Resilience of Students with an Immigrant Background: Factors that Shape Well-Being (2018) OECD report with a chapter on Language barriers, providing statistical information based on PISA results on the persistent performance gap between immigrant and native students in OECD countries. Read the full report |
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The Multilingual Edge of Education (2018) Edited volume by Piet van Avermaet a.o. with findings on educational approaches around the globe that use students' multilingual repertoires as pedagogical resource for learning and teaching." |
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Linguistic Diversity and Social Justice: An Introduction to Applied Sociolinguistics (2016) This book by Ingrid Piller examines the connection between linguistic diversity and inequality in employment, education and community participation. |
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Fixing the Broken Promise of Education for All (2015) Chapter 3 of this joint UNESCO/UNICEF report on out-of-school children focuses on the language barrier in education. Read the full report |
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Language Issues in Comparative Education (2013) Comparative studies of education systems around the world, with a focus on non-dominant languages and cultures in education. |
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Language Policies in Education. Critical Issues, 2nd ed. (2013) Edited volume by James Tollefson offers case studies from around the world. |
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Opportunity, Equity and Identity beyond 2015 (2013) Papers and presentations of the 10th International Language & Development Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa. |
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Mother-Tongue Education: Policy Lessons for Quality and Inclusion (2013) Policy Brief from the Global Campaign for Education to inform policy makers on increasing literacy rates, including latest developments from around the world. |
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Introduction to Issues and Implications for Children Learning to Read in Multilingual Settings (2013) A review of research and practices in second language literacy learning. |
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Why Language matters for the Millennium Development Goals (2012) Unesco brochure outlining the linkages between language and the MDGs |
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Reflecting Language Diversity in Children's Schooling (2011) Moving from 'Why Multilingual Education' to 'How?' Results of an action research project on how multilingual education initiatives can be scaled up. |
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Indigenous Children's Education as Linguistic Genocide and a Crime Against Humanity? A Global View (2010) Powerful argument by two of the leading experts globally, Tove Skutnabb-Kangas and Robert Dunbar Read the book |
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Educational Equity for Children from Diverse Language Backgrounds (2010) Mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual education in the early years Review of research and program reports on mother tongue based bilingual education. |
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Language and Education: The Missing Link (2009) Study aimed at senior policy makers as well as donor agencies supporting basic education in low and middle income countries. Read the report |
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Addressing Challenges to Children's Rights to Use their Mother Tongue in Early Education and Schooling (2009) Great summary of the mother tongue education land scape past and present by Jessica Ball, a leading global expert. Read the report |
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Indigenous Languages: A View from UNICEF (2009) Based on UNICEF's rights based approach the author focuses on mother tongue based bilingual education for indigenous peoples. Read the report |
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Study on Lessons Learned and Challenges to Achieve the Implementation of the Right of Indigenous Peoples to Education: Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2009) Important report on indigenous peoples' right to education. Read the full report |
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Social Justice Through Multilingual Education (2009) Examples from around the world showing how multilingual schooling can be provided for indigenous and minority children. |
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Bilingual Education in the 21st Century: A Global Perspective (2009) A comprehensive examination of the history and current state of bilingual education programs through the world. |
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Mother Tongue Matters: Local Language as a Key to Effective Learning (2008) Four useful cases to help inform educators and decision-makers when to consider mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual education programs. Read the report |
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Girls, Educational Equity and Mother Tongue Based Teaching (2008) Rutu Advisor, Carol Benson, looks at mother tongue-based schooling as an effective strategy for addressing girls' school participation. Read now |
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Education, Multilingualism and Translanguaging in the 21st Century (2008) The author, leading expert Ofelia Garcia, questions dominant beliefs about bilingualism and asks what language practices we need to nurture minority language students. Read the chapter |
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Seminar on Indigenous Education (2007): Effective practice, mutual learning OECD report providing government policy advisors and programme designers with insights on successful practices to support strong futures for indigenous peoples across the world. |
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Advocacy Kit for Promoting Multilingual Education: Including the Excluded (2007) This UNESCO kit is designed to raise awareness on the importance of mother tongue-based multilingual education Read now |
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In Their Own Language: Education for All (2005) This World Bank paper outlines the benefits of first language instruction, covering increased access and equity; improved learning outcomes; reduced repetition and dropout rates; socio-cultural benefits and lower overall costs. Read this article here |
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UNESCO Guidelines on Intercultural Education (2005) Guidelines for policy makers outlining the key issues concerning intercultural education. Read now |
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Mother Tongue Based Teaching and Education for Girls (2005) UNESCO Advocacy Brief explaining how mother tongue-based learning breaks down barriers to girls. Read the brochure |
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The Importance of Mother Tongue-Based Schooling for Educational Quality (2004) Background study for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report. Read the study |
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Education in a Multilingual World (2003) UNESCO Education Position Paper including UNESCO Guidelines on language and education Read the article |
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Bilingual Children's Mother Tongue: Why is it Important for Education? (2001) Summary of research findings by leading expert Jim Cummins. Read now |
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The Use of First and Second Languages in Education: A Review of Educational Experience (1997) Discussion paper by Nadine Dutcher of the World Bank on the experiences of seven countries in teaching multilingual pupils. Read the paper |
| Americas & The Caribbean | |
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Undoing Appropriateness: Raciolinguistic Ideologies and Language Diversity in Education (2015) Article by Nelson Flores and Jonathan Rosa, critical assessment of linguistic approaches in education that do not take account of the racialization of students in the U.S. |
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Clarifying Translanguaging and deconstructing named languages: a perspective from linguistics (2015) Article by Ricardo Otheguy, Ofelia García and Wallis Reid in which they explain the concept of translanguaging and why translanguaging of bilinguals should be encouraged rather than restricted in school. |
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Translanguaging in Curriculum and Instruction: Guide for Educators (2014) Guide for educators explaining how translanguaging strategies can be used to help bilingual students. Intended for US educators but also useful for teachers elsewhere. |
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Indigenous Youth and Multilingualism (2014) Language identity, ideology, and practice in the dynamic cultural world. |
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Handbook of Heritage, Community, and Native American Languages in the United States: Research, Policy, and Educational Practice (2014) |
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English Language Learners in Canadian Schools: Emerging Directions for School-Based Policies. (2012) Overview by Jim Cummins and others aimed at English as Second Language (ESL) teachers and policy makers on what matters in promoting academic success among English learners. |
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Educación bilingüe y políticas de revitalización de Lenguas Indígenas (2014) Collection of chapters on bilingual education and revitalization efforts for indigenous languages in Mexico (Spanish only). Read more |
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Meertaligheid in het onderwijs in Suriname (Multilingualism in education in Suriname) (2012) Study on attitude and practices to serve as the basis for developing a language policy in education (Dutch only) |
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Bilingual Community Education and Multilingualism Beyond Heritage Languages in a Global City (2012) Read more |
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Intercultural Bilingual Education (IBE) at Primary Level Aguacate Belize (2011) A description of the Aguacate primary school in Belize as good practice in IBE. |
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Intercultural Multilingual Education in Latin America (2009) Background and overview of intercultural multilingual education in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay, and Norway |
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Reaching the unreached: indigenous intercultural bilingual education in Latin America (2010) An important overview by leading expert Luis Enrique López. |
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Indigenous Education for Cultural Survival: The Makushi Amerindians of Guyana (2009) Paper on educational efforts by Makushi to maintain the culture and language. |
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Improving Bilingual Educational Services to the Indigenous Population in Chiapas (2008) Project Plan of the Inter-American Development Bank |
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Met open oren. Vreemde talenonderwijs aan jonge kinderen op Aruba (2008) Handbook for teachers about multilingual education (in Dutch only). |
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Building the Nests: Early Childhood Indigenous Immersion Programs in BC (2006) Study of two language nests in indigenous communities in Canada |
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Bilingual Education in South America (2005) An integrated vision of bilingual education in six South American countries: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. |
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The Revival of the Mohawk Language in Kahnawake (1992) Results of a successful revitalization initiative by a Mohawk community in Canada. |
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Culture Camps for Language Learning Handbook: Immersion Handbook A resource for indigenous communities on planning and carrying out language and culture immersion camps |
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Language and Culture Immersion Programs Handbook Practical tool for elders, community members, teachers and others involved in language and culture immersion. |
| Asia | |
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Heritage Language Playschools for Indigenous Minorities (2013)
A how-to guide on establishing and operating playschool programmes for indigenous communities based on experiences in Malaysia. |
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Action Research on Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education in Vietnam (2012) Programme Brief on a mother tongue pilot programme in Vietnam supported by UNICEF. |
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Mother Tongue as Bridge Language of instruction: Policies and Experiences in Southeast Asia (2009) Compendium of language policies, case studies and general recommendations for mother tongue-based education in Southeast Asia, co-published by the World Bank |
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Language Development and Revitalisation: An Educational Imperative in Asia (2008) A powerful argument for mother tongue-based multilingual education by the former director of UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau |
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The Bilingual Education Policy in Singapore: Implications for Second Language Acquisition (2005) Article on the underlying language planning of Singapore's bilingual education policy. |
| Africa | |||
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Language Rights and Schools Booklet produced by the Education Rights Project in South Africa, aimed at parents, teachers and students |
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Giving Space to African Voices. Rights in Local Languages and Local Curriculum (2014) Collection of articles demonstrating the necessity for a locally grounded curriculum with local languages to enhance African children's rights to education. |
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The Kom Experimental Mother Tongue Education Project Report for 2012 Study of a mother tongue education pilot in Cameroon. |
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Language in Schools in Namibia: The Missing Link in Educational Achievement? (2011) Study of attitudes to home language learning and educational success in Namibia. |
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To understand lessons, think through your own languages (2011) An analysis of narratives in support of the introduction of indigenous languages in the education system in Senegal. |
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Steps forward and new challenges: indigenous communities and mother-tongue education in southern Africa (2008) Article discussing the particular challenges facing the indigenous San community in southern Africa. |
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Bilingualism, language policies and educational strategies in Africa (2003) Short overview article highlighting language policies in post-colonial Africa |
| Europe | |
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Rethinking Language Education and Linguistic Diversity in Schools (2017) Thematic report from a programme of expert workshops and peer learning activities by the European Commission. |
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Ruimte voor nieuwe talenten: Keuzes rond nieuwkomers op de basisschool (2017) Expert advice for educators on language support for newcomers in Dutch classrooms. |
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Meertaligheid en onderwijs: Nederlands Plus (2017) Edited volume by Orhan Agirdag and Ellen-Rose Kambel (Rutu Foundation) on multilingualism in education with a focus on the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname and the Dutch Antilles. In Dutch with online English translations. |
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Rethinking Literacies and Language Learning (2016) Report of Thematic Workshop by the European Commission in Brussels, June 2016. Read the report |
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Migrants in European Schools: learning and maintaining languages (2016) Thematic report from a programme of expert workshops and peer learning activities by the European Commission. Read the report |
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The Cost of Doing Nothing: Educating Language-Minoritized Students (2016) Discussion paper written for the European Commission calling on policy makers to pay more attention to the experiences of language-minoritized students. |
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Language Teaching and Learning in Multilingual Classrooms. Policy Brief by the European Commission (2015). Study commissioned by the European Commission to gather, analyse and synthesise existing data and research on what works for the education of multilingual migrant children. |
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Struggles for Legitimacy in Mother Tongue Instruction in Sweden (2015) Study of teachers working with mother tongue instruction in Sweden. |
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Meertaligheid: een troef (2015) An extremely useful handbook for teachers, policy makers and parents in Belgium working with multilingual children. Includes a dvd. (in Dutch only) |
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Managing Diversity in Education (2014) Languages, Policies, Pedagogies (New Perspectives on Language and Education) |
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Language Support for Migrant Children in Early School Years: Mapping European Policies (2014) Based on a survey of 12 European countries, this report of the Sirius European Policy Network on Education for Migrant Children written by Ellen-Rose Kambel of the Rutu Foundation, provides an overview of language support for migrant children in primary education. |
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Activities to Support Multilingualism at School. Teacher's Guide how to Motivate Children to Use Languages (2013) Teacher guide produced by the EU Multilingual Families project. |
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Professional Development for Staff Working in Multilingual Schools (2010) Guide for educational managers to address challenges of running a multilingual school. Includes an extensive list of resources. Read the guide |
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Translanguaging in the Bilingual Classroom: A Pedagogy for Learning and Teaching? (2010) The article describes a flexible bilingual approach to language teaching and learning. Read a summary |
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All Languages Welcomed Here (2009) Study on multilingual education policies in Flanders, Belgium with recommendations for teachers Read the article |
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Multilingual Europe: Diversity and Learning (2008) A comparison of experiences in different settings, illustrating how to devise innovative pedagogies for multilingual classrooms. Read more |
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De thuistaal van allochtone leerlingen als hefboom voor gelijke onderwijskansen (2008) Report on developing the home language to improve the school language proficiency and equality in education. Read the article |
| Australia & Oceania | |
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Teacher Education with Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing as a Key Pillar (2012)Paper reviewing an indigenous teacher education initiative in the Northern Territory, Australia Read now |
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Naplan Language Assessments for Indigenous Children in Remote Communities: Issues and Problems (2011) Critical assessment of standardized tests that rely on cultural and linguistic knowledge not to be expected from indigenous children in Australia. Read the article |
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Guide to Community Protocols for Indigenous Language Projects (2004) Guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (Australia) with protocols for producing language materials at a local level. Download the guide |
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Revitalisation of Indigenous Languages in Education: Contextualising the Papua New Guinea Experience (2003) Article by leading expert Tove Skutnabb-Kangas discussing one of the most impressive large-scale experiments of mother tongue teaching. Read the summary |
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Papua New Guinea's Vernacular Language Preschool Programme (2002) UNESCO Policy Brief on Early Childhood with a concise review of language education programmes in the world's most linguistically diverse nation. Read the policy brief |
Meertaligheid en Onderwijs/ Multilingualism & Education
