Based on policy analysis and empirical data, this book examines the problematic consequences of colonial legacies of language policies and English language education in the multilingual contexts of the Global South. Using a postcolonial lens, the volume explores the raciolinguistics of language hierarchies that results in students from low-income backgrounds losing their mother tongues without acquiring academic fluency in English. Using findings from five major research projects, the book analyzes the specific context of India, where ambiguous language policies have led to uneasy tensions between the colonial language of English, national and state languages, and students' linguistic diversity is mistaken for cognitive deficits when English is the medium of instruction in schools. The authors situate their own professional and personal experiences in their efforts at dismantling postcolonial structures through reflective practice as teacher educators, and present solutions of decolonial resistance to linguistic hierarchies that include critical pedagogical alternatives to bilingual education and opportunities for increased teacher agency. Ultimately, this timely volume will appeal to researchers, scholars, academics, and students in the fields of international and comparative education, English and literacy studies, and language arts more broadly. Those interested in English language learning in low-income countries specifically will also find this book to be of benefit to their research.

Based on policy analysis and empirical data, this book examines the problematic consequences of colonial legacies of language policies and English language education in the multilingual contexts of the Global South. Using a postcolonial lens, the volume explores the raciolinguistics of language hierarchies that results in students from low-income backgrounds losing their mother tongues without acquiring academic fluency in English. Using findings from five major research projects, the book analyzes the specific context of India, where ambiguous language policies have led to uneasy tensions between the colonial language of English, national and state languages, and students' linguistic diversity is mistaken for cognitive deficits when English is the medium of instruction in schools. The authors situate their own professional and personal experiences in their efforts at dismantling postcolonial structures through reflective practice as teacher educators, and present solutions of decolonial resistance to linguistic hierarchies that include critical pedagogical alternatives to bilingual education and opportunities for increased teacher agency. Ultimately, this timely volume will appeal to researchers, scholars, academics, and students in the fields of international and comparative education, English and literacy studies, and language arts more broadly. Those interested in English language learning in low-income countries specifically will also find this book to be of benefit to their research.

The field of TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) has experienced a considerable shift over the years in the theories, principles, and practices of English language teaching. As English continues to hold a position as a global language, teachers are faced with both the challenges and opportunities of understanding and adapting to the changing landscape of English language teaching to meet a variety of needs within diverse contexts. This book provides a glimpse into the field of teaching English both within English-speaking communities and in international contexts by providing beginning ESOL teachers with foundational knowledge and a guiding framework to support their teaching practice in their respective contexts.

The English language plays an increasingly important role in providing opportunities for intercultural communication and learning on the global platform. In this era, English is no longer a language owned by any particular linguistic community, but is a language that provides speakers with a voice to engage in global conversations. Linguistics for Teaching English in Multilingual Classrooms approaches teaching English from this global perspective with a deep appreciation for the rich linguistic and cultural resources our students bring into our classrooms. Through an introduction to the foundational concepts within the field of linguistics and practical strategies for classroom implementation, this book guides teachers in supporting and addressing the linguistic needs of our students from multilingual backgrounds.