Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism

by Colin Baker

Written in a very reader-friendly style, the book is a practical introduction for parents and teachers to bilingualism. Straightforward and realistic answers are given to a comprehensive set of frequently asked questions about bilingualism and bilingual education. Areas covered include family, language, culture, identity, reading, writing, schooling and issues.

In the third edition, there is new or more detailed consideration of:

- Moving between countries, cultural adaptation

- Identity issues

- One parent - one language (OPOL) families

- Pre schools / kindergartens / nursery schools

- Helping with homework

- Dyslexia

- Language scaffolding

- Multilingualism and trilingualism; trilingual families

- Adoption

- WWW links, articles and books for further reading

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Linguistics, Teaching, Reference, Parenting, Language

484 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Taru Luojola]

Syksyn viimeinen kurssikirja, jota opintosuoritusta varten ei olisi enää tarvinnut lukea loppuun, mutta enpä keskenkään viitsinyt jättää. Kuten nimestäkin voi päätellä, tässä keskitytään kaksi- ja monikielisyyteen nimenomaan koulunäkökulmasta ja tarkastellaan etenkin lapsia ja nuoria. Huomattavan suuri osa kirjasta käsittelee Yhdysvaltain koulujärjestelyjä ja sitä koskevaa lainsäädäntöä, ja muutenkin suurin osa kirjassa esitellystä aiemmasta tutkimuksesta keskittyy Pohjois-Amerikkaan ja Länsi-Eurooppaan. Mutta kyllä tässä käsitellään aihetta myös yleisemmin ja kansainvälisemmästäkin näkökulmasta, vaikkakin harmillisen vähän sivumäärään nähden.

[Christine]

This was my textbook for a summer class.
A good, thorough introduction to language, bilingualism, multilingualism, policies, education, etc. I found it slightly repetitive in some chapters, but Baker does that to show just how complex & interconnected the issues surrounded language education really are.

If you want to know what it is I do for a living, this will give you an good idea about all areas concerning language education and all its various implementations.

[Cait Webster]

In depth Analysis

[Stephane]

Read (almost) all of it for school early this year, so I decided to add it.

I found it very throughout, I suppose it is the 6th edition for a reason! Overall a great introduction to bilingual education, offer an extensive reference list for anyone who would like to delve deeper into a specific concept. Supports the reader's interests, if one is engaged with the topic, of course.

As a textbook, I found it very functional, easy to apprehend and well structured. Includes a very useful summary of main ideas covered through every chapters.

At time a little dry, and repetitive.

As far as textbooks go, you could do a lot worse!

[Camila]

This book desperately needed an editor. The information is not organized logically.

[Aleida Gilmore]

I like this book, it really helps me to understand many concepts during my Master's Degree.

[Laura]

Read most of it for a class. Lots of great information, but repetitive and very wordy.

[Heather]

Read the 7th edition

[Anna]

I'm finally done with this big, fat book on bilingual education and I must say it is incredibly thorough! I read all 19 chapters and have learned a LOT of theory and much about the realities of bilingual education in the United States and some other countries. The book takes a sociocultural view on language and begins by describing what bilingualism IS, how it is developed, how education systems can promote or discourage bilingualism, and also stays conscious of all of the political aspects of language, especially here in the United States.

I really enjoyed reading this book because I felt like it was all very well connected and there was a lot there but it was not necessarily overwhelming. The language isn't too technical and it's pretty easy on the eyes. The summaries at the end of each chapter are also great. I'd recommend this to anyone who's interested in learning a lot about bilingual education. Yes, parts are kind of redundant but it's an excellent, insightful read for all types of educators.

[Emma]

Great book. You learn how bilingual education began in the states, what it has become throughout the years and what it can become. There are many policies having to due with Bilingual education, yet not many schools are following the laws. Great informative book.

[Claire]

UGH, boring. Lots of contextless information artlessly thrown out at the reader.

[Ginni]

Excellent textbook on bilingualism. Read it for a class and learned a lot. I know I will use it in future classes and in teaching.