Public education systems in Europe were created in the course of the foundation of the 'classical' nation state in the 18th and 19th centuries. Historical analyses show that it was part of their destiny to contribute to the consolidation of the respective states' national self-design. In the 19th century, the myth developed that a nation state is…

This article explores policy and practice in relation to support for speakers of community languages in Northern Ireland primary schools against the backdrop of the broader UK context, with reference also to the Republic of Ireland and wider European and international experiences. After an initial discussion of the educational, social and…

Surveys the linguistic situation as well as the organization of foreign language instruction in the countries of Western Europe. Although linguistic diversity would serve rather than hinder mutual comprehension and cooperation, monolingualism is the usual tendency in most of the countries with the exception of Holland and Luxemburg. (Text is in…