3rd Edition

Bilingualism in Schools and Society Language, Identity, and Policy

By Sarah J. Shin Copyright 2026
284 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

284 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

284 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Bilingualism in Schools and Society provides a clear and engaging introduction to key issues surrounding bilingualism in educational and social contexts. This third edition expands on core sociolinguistic concepts, including code-switching, translanguaging, flexible bilingualism, and code-meshing, offering a more nuanced view of how language practices evolve in diverse, multilingual... Read more
  1. Facts and Myths About Bilingualism
  2. Bilingualism in a Globalized World
  3. The Politics of Bilingualism
  4. Heritage Language Education
  5. Bilingualism and Identity
  6. Social and Conversational Aspects of Code-Switching
  7. Educating English Learners
  8. Educational Models That Promote Additive Bilingualism
  9. Multilingual Families

Biography

Sarah J. Shin is Professor and Chair of Education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA. A UMBC Presidential Research Professor, she is the co-author of Linguistics for Language Teachers (Routledge, 2020) and an editorial board member for the Journal of Language, Identity, and Education.

“In the third edition of Bilingualism in Schools and Society, Dr. Sarah Shin invites readers to critically explore and deconstruct the sociopolitical and sociocultural dimensions of bilingualism across the globe, leading to a multifaceted, yet situated, understanding of bilingual phenomena at all levels of society. Shin's updated edition provides rich topics and questions for discussion, engaging student application activities, and useful suggestions for further reading, thus serving as a comprehensive and accessible text of high practical and social value for all educational stakeholders who live, teach, and work in multilingual settings.”

Ellen SerafiniAssociate Professor, Spanish Applied Linguistics, George Mason University, USA

 

“Sarah Shin offers a timely and much-needed contribution to the study of bilingualism with a book that thoughtfully examines its complex sociopolitical dimensions. Each chapter is clearly structured to guide readers through key themes, building a deep understanding of what it means to be bilingual in today’s world. The third edition of Bilingualism in Schools and Society features diverse voices from the field, up-to-date data, and pressing contemporary issues. It encourages meaningful dialogue and critical engagement. This book is a must-read for students, parents, educators, administrators, policymakers, and anyone invested in multilingual education and language policy today.”

Maria Villalobos-BuehnerProfessor of Spanish, World Language, ESL, and Bilingual Education, Rider University, USA

 

"Bilingualism in Schools and Society, now in its third edition, is the best introduction to bilingualism in print today. It is thorough, scholarly, well organized, and accessible to a variety of readers. It will serve as an invaluable resource to practitioners and researchers who wish to understand both individual and societal bilingualism, bilingualism and identity, and the many implications of bilingual language use for education."

Guadalupe ValdésBonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor in Education, Emerita, Stanford University, USA

 

“In this latest edition, Sarah Shin expertly combines an up-to-date and critical review of research on different aspects of bilingualism with practical advice on policy and practice regarding bilingual schools and families. The result is a fascinating account of the linguistic and social diversity in the contemporary world and a user-friendly guide to parents, teachers, policy makers, and bilingual speakers themselves on what they can do with this hugely rich and uniquely human resource, i.e. bilingualism. A most welcome book and a highly valuable contribution.”

Li WeiDirector & Dean of the UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK