Plurilingualism from the perspective of school education: Problems related to the choice of educational language at spanish primary schools

Abstract

The paper addresses problems related to the choice of educational language in Spain. We briefly present the current sociolinguistic situation in the Basque Country, Galicia and Catalonia and the possibilities of educational language choice in these autonomous communities. Based on data provided by the city halls of Bilbao, Vigo and Barcelona, we analyse the language models actually available at both state and (semi)private primary schools in these cities. We also take into account practical elements such as the distance of a school from the family’s residence. Our research reveals that each of the autonomous communities analysed addresses the choice of educational language in a different way and that a theoretical availability of different language models does not necessarily mean that the chosen model will be accessible in a state school close to the child’s home. The analysis aims to present questions related to the choice of educational language in a plurilingual state as part of a complex problem which is related not only to linguistic identity but also to general topics of multilingual education and its suitability for all children.