Biliteracy and Globalization

Abstract

This chapter starts with defining 'biliteracy' and 'globalization' interdisci-plinarily. Conceptually the former is a text type and the latter a process. Four themes stand out at the cross roads of biliteracy and globalization: changing media of instruction in national school systems, new literacies required in the workplace, the threatened linguistic ecology of the globe, and biliterate textual practices influenced by the internet. Each of these themes is discussed under the heading 'major contributions'. The author discusses her own and other research projects regarding biliteracy under 'work in progress' while pointing out that many school systems teach languages in silos and proscribe biliteracy practices in the classroom denying students access to the multiple resources they bring to the class. Finally the author contends that future research in this area should study the workplace which is changing rapidly and thereafter try to link the skills required in the 21 st century workplace to biliteracy in the classroom.