Bilingual Education in Brazil:Local Threads in Global Dialogue

A much needed, long-awaited discussion takes place in Bilingual Education in Brazil: Local Threads in Global Dialogue, written by bilingual education specialist and household name Antonieta Megale. It is certainly a must-read for all of those who work not only in bilingual education, but also for anyone in English language teaching.

Split into seven chapters, the book published by Macmillan Education (2024) brings a foreword by Fernanda Liberali, setting the tone with extremely relevant viewpoints on what it means to know a language and how it can empower its user in a range of contexts. Fernanda positively anticipates what the reader should expect as they delve into this publication, highlighting Megale’s passion for the topic and how chapters are intertwined to offer a broad yet deep view of what it means to be a bilingual educator.

Each chapter begins with a brief summary on its theme, and is then immediately followed by two testimonials by language teachers working in different cities and from a wide range of backgrounds, inviting the reader to start their reflection even before the chapter officially starts. The chapters also contain a “Classroom Action” section, bringing practical ideas and procedures for teachers to try out in their lessons, which contributes to their questioning the status quo of their teaching practice. The reference lists at the end of each chapter serve as an illustration of how much more there still is to be read and learned about each sub-topic, an invitation for the reader to broaden their repertoire on the main and adjacent topics of the book.

Megale’s knowledge, passion, and purpose as a bilingual educator are noticeable throughout this work. It is crystal clear how much she has already contributed to the field and how she is willing to share her knowledge with whoever is reading.

References to her own practice, as well as to fellow experts, enrich each chapter and thus make us revisit what we have been doing in the classroom – have we been inclusive enough? Have we researched enough? Have we actually catered to learners’ needs and actively heard them so as to contribute positively to their education? I know it did make me think.

What makes this publication an absolute gem is how it encompasses so many crucial views of bilingual education in an accessible way, and how it encourages the reader to rethink their practice in a constructive manner. Touching upon extremely important aspects, such as the cultural diversity of English-speaking countries, political views on language teaching, the process of language learning itself, gender equity and anti-racist education, the different chapters shed light on how we, as educators, are supposed to take education to a much higher level, with a deeper understanding of our roles and the power we have to change the status quo.
It contributes to making us question why we do – or do not do – some activities with our learners and how we can turn their time in the classroom into a much richer and more memorable experience. Bilingual Education in Brazil: Local Threads in Global Dialogue has certainly come to make us better bilingual educators.