Through U.S. Eyes: Examining Spanish Multilingual Education Policies

Abstract

This article offers an overview of the main language education policies aimed at addressing the needs of immigrant background students currently implemented in Spain’s multilingual schools. In particular, the article examines the politics of segregation of language immersion programs for newcomers in the Spanish State, as well as their relationship with other language learning programs implemented as part of European initiatives to promote the use of Global English. This study is based on long-term ethnographic research conducted in different schools in Madrid. Adopting a comparative perspective, we also discuss different language programs in U.S. public schools: e.g., English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, bilingual education initiatives, Transitional and Dual Immersion programs. We examine how different educational policies for English language learners in the U.S. might be able to inform Spanish language education policies, forcing us to rethink the current school integration of immigrant origin students in Spain. We conclude with a critical discussion of the lessons we can draw from both cases.

Key words: multilingualism; language policy; immigration; education; ethnography; United States of America; Spain.