CALICO Journal, 31(1), p-p 137-139. doi: 10.11139/cj.31.1.137-139 © 2014 CALICO Journal
137
Inclusive Language Education and
Digital Technology
Edited by Elina Vilar Beltrán, Chris Abbott, and Jane Jones
$39.95
ISBN: 9781847699725
Book (Paperback)
Multilingual Matters
200 pages
2013
Reviewed by
ANA SEVILLA-PAVÓN
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
Vilar Beltrán, E., Abbott, C., Jones, J. (Eds.) (2013). Inclusive language education and
digital technology. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
This book presents, in a pedagogically-sound and theory-grounded manner, the
interdisciplinary collaboration and insights provided by numerous practitioners and
specialists involved in technology-supported modern foreign language (MFL) teaching to
students with special education needs (SEN). The book’s contributions show how the
different fields can complement each other so as to make a valuable contribution
towards increasing the language learning opportunities of learners with hearing or visual
impairments, dyslexia, and other difficulties. While its focus is on the situation in the UK,
there are several illustrative case studies from different places across Europe.
The publication is divided into two parts: “Part 1: The Key Issues” is mainly theoretical
and preceded by an introduction and a brief biography of each of the contributors; “Part
2: Case Studies” is made up of the examples in Chapters 4 to 9, followed by a
conclusion. The introduction starts with a reflection on how important languages are for
communication in present-day globalized societies and for people’s personal enrichment,
enjoyment, and growth. All of these are good reasons for teaching languages to students
with SEN, while making good use of the potential of digital technologies.
In Part 1, the key issues of inclusive education and technology-enhanced language
teaching and learning are identified and explored. In Chapter 1, Jones assesses recent
policy changes concerning SEN and MFL education, comparing the current situation with
the past, when students with SEN were not allowed to learn foreign languages. Jones
reminds us that inclusion is not always effectively practiced due to the lack of an
effective pedagogy, teacher training, knowledge, and resources. However, this situation
is slowly improving. Jones discusses the insights and practices of three experienced and
committed language teachers, showing ways to make learning for students with SEN
more inclusive. The second chapter, by Abbott, presents the author’s personal view of
the history of technology use by language teachers. Abbott describes technology use in
the classroom and its ubiquitous use with the advent of mobile technologies and foresees
a future with new language learning opportunities. In spite of being a very interesting
account of the evolution of technologies, a clearer connection between technologies and
inclusive language learning would have been relevant. In Chapter 3, Wilson presents a
very insightful set of ten practical scenarios, pointing out the need for teachers to be
critical when facing the challenges of planning their MFL lessons so as to include learners
with SEN. This part is subsequently illustrated by the case studies from the last part of
the volume.
Part 2 deals with a set of 5 case studies of current and emerging practices in different
contexts and countries across Europe. In the first case study in Chapter 4, Vilar Beltrán
and Sales Ciges analyze several cases and compare the current situation of MFL