Decoloniality, language and literacy. Conversation with teacher educators

Abstract

‘offered an analysis of a Polish piece of poetry or a commentary on his favorite heritage author’ (276). Such suggestions are valuable for all teachers of immigrant or multilingual youth. The Multilingual Adolescent Experience is a unique, critical body of work that places immigrant adolescents at the forefront of the discussion of their own needs. By interviewing students and their families about language socialization practices as they naturally occur in these students’ real lives, Machowska-Kosciak offers an illuminating and engaging view of the assets multilingual, multicultural youth could bring to the classroom if they were only given the opportunity. Adolescence, Machowska-Kosciak explains, is an era of seeking belonging ‘to something bigger’ (99) than family. The Multilingual Adolescent Experience teaches readers that immigrant teenagers may feel as though they have to choose one language, one culture to belong to. It is our responsibility, as educators, to teach them that it is possible to choose both.