Page 121 - Diversity in Action

Reviews

ThevolumeDiversityinAction:TrainingTeachersthroughMultilingualandMul-
ticultural Experiences edited by Silva Bratož and Martina Irsara provides valu-
able insights into the promotion of multilingualism and diversity across var-
ious educational settings.
The six research-oriented chapters offer a clear overview of scientific ap-
proaches to multiliteracy, (linguistic) diversity in its transformative dynamics,
processabilityin secondlanguageacquisition,metalinguisticawareness,and
global citizenship education. The scientific analysis of these topics – exam-
ining their respective manifestations in interaction, concrete practices and
cultural intersections – further enhances the volume’s relevance.
In addition to the theoretical introduction, the authors present innovative
strategies derived from their research in Italian, Austrian, Slovenian and Croa-
tian kindergartens and primary schools. The theoretical foundation lies in ap-
plied linguistics, with a focus on social, cultural, multimodal and contrastive
approachesto languagelearningandteaching.Combinedwith thereflective
nature of the chapters, this interplay between research and theory makes the
volume a thought-provoking academic resource.
One of the clear strengths of this volume is its dual theoretical-practical sci-
entific approach. Rather that offering evidence-based best practices, it out-
lines evolving systems of knowledge that have been built up evolutionarily
through research-practice partnerships between researchers and teaching
teams. In doing so, the volume aptly addresses the economized (multilin-
gual) environment in the European Union and also the antinomic structure
of practices.
The target audience includes students, researchers, pre- and in-service
teachers, and educational policymakers seeking to reflect on various aspects
of multilingualism – such as translanguaging, (linguistic) diversity, intercul-
turalcommunication,and multiliteracy. Thevolumethusservesasacompre-
hensive study guide as well as a highly informative reference work for both
researchers and practitioners in the field of foreign language teaching and
learning.
Marjan Asgari

121