230519 Multilingualism in Educational Contexts (S) (WiSe 2025/2026)

In this course, we will examine multilingualism as a central feature of contemporary education, focusing on how multiple languages interact in both classroom and digital learning environments from a linguistic perspective.

Students are introduced to key concepts and theories in multilingualism research from sociolinguistic, cognitive, and conversational perspectives. Building on these foundations, we will then explore how multilingualism manifests in the experiences of learners and teachers (individual multilingualism), in their interactional practices, and how this is framed by educational policies and the broader society (societal multilingualism).

Engaging with a variety of case studies, students analyse practices such as code-switching, translanguaging, and bi-/multilingual processing, connecting societal and individual dimensions of bilingualism. The course combines theoretical with applied insights, preparing students and future teachers to develop a more profound understanding of and to critically engage with the multilingual reality in diverse educational contexts.