Pathways To Multilingualism: Evolving Perspectives on Immersion Education

Twenty-one international academics and researchers contribute 13 chapters focusing on the development of perspectives and practices within three branches of language immersion education: foreign language ("one-way"), bilingual ("two- way"), and indigenous immersion programs. Coverage includes an overview of the importance of bi- and multilingual competence in the current era of globalization, the evolution of the current understanding of effective instruction in immersion contexts, the evolution of specialists' responses to learner language development issues, the evolution of contexts in which immersion occurs and how context impacts programs. The text concludes with a synthesis chapter identifying and discussing six overarching themes emerging from the preceding chapters, and suggesting key areas for further research. For students, scholars, academics, researchers, and practitioners interested in classroom and research-based perspectives on immersion education. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Tara Williams Fortune, Immersion Projects Coordinator for CARLA, one of several language resource centers in the U.S., is engaged in the preparation and continuing education of language immersion professionals. Her research examines the dynamics of language use and peer interaction in second language mediated learning. Diane J. Tedick is associate professor in Second Languages and Cultures Education at the University of Minnesota. She is a language teacher educator for immersion and bilingual education, foreign language education, and ESL. Her research focuses on the pedagogy required for balancing language and content in instruction.