Language Education and Applied Linguistics

'This is no ordinary textbook on the application of linguistic study to education. Nicholas and Starks offer a novel, dynamic framework that integrates notions of self, multiplicity, and communicative repertoire in order to explain the intersection of language and education. Educators who care about language and linguists who care about education need to read this foundational resource.' - Walt Wolfram, North Carolina State University, USA

'Written in an amazingly lucid style, this book brings together two fields that have so much to offer each other yet have hitherto been rather separate. The result is a refreshing critique of linguistics, applied linguistics and language education, offering new conceptualisations of language, literacy, cognition, and learning. It should be read and re-read by anyone interested in language learning and language use in today’s plurilingual world.' - Li Wei, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK

'By reframing language as the communicative repertoire available to each individual within a multiplicity of needs, practices and contexts, this book offers a theoretical and practical bridge between language education and psycho-/sociolinguistic SLA. At a time when language education scholars are increasingly drawn to anthropology and language socialization research, the book offers a much needed reconceptualization of language, language learning and language use for researchers in language and literacy education and reminds them of what the field of applied linguistics has to offer. Eminently suited for any undergraduate or graduate course dealing with language study for educators, introduction to applied linguistics, educational linguistics or applied language studies.' - Claire Kramsch, University of California, Berkeley, USA

'Language Education and Applied Linguistics: bridging the two fields is an accessible book for students and teachers who want to connect the two disciplines from theoretical and practical perspectives. The comprehensive concept of Multiplicity, based on the combination of societal resources and individuals’communicative repertoires, is the main contribution of the book. Nicholas and Sparks provide a clear summary of the state of the art and give sufficient historical context to introduce their construct. They develop the four dimensions, in intricate relationships with elements, threads and features. As a result, the proposed framework represents a dynamic continuum that blurs boundaries between disciplines. This fluid tool becomes beneficial for those interested in common zones between Language, Applied Linguistics and Language Education.' - Laura Dubcovsky, University of California, Davis, The LINGUIST List

'The authors of this book have eloquently articulated the current issues in applied linguistics and language education and this book shows a wide range of insightful ideas related to those areas. Thus, those who are new to the realm of materials development should take this gold mine of tips and start the process of materials development with the knowledge provided in this book.' - Karim Sadeghi and Maryam Soleimani, Urmia University, Iran