Awakening to Languages in Educational Contexts

A Literature Review

Authors

  • Sara Tavares-Santos Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9288-1236
  • Ana Raquel Simões Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0580-0560
  • Susana Pinto Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7441-4140

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25749/sis.42108

Keywords:

awakening to languages, pluralistic didactic approach, language awareness, educational contexts, literature review

Abstract

In the context of plurilingual and intercultural education, the Awakening to Languages (AtL) approach has been a focus on language education due to its potential to develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills towards linguistic and cultural diversity. Consequently, a literature review was carried out to: i) understand how this approach has been (re)constructed over the years; ii) identify the predominant authors cited by the articles; iii) and collect suggestions of didactic activities following this approach. Searches were developed in four databases, namely: Scopus, ERIC, Taylor & Francis, and Web of Science. These searches led to a corpus of 14 articles which was subjected to categorical qualitative analysis. The results indicate that the approach is seen as a way to reconstruct knowledge about languages and, although activities are presented, it seems necessary to invest in ways to enable its replication in educational contexts.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Sara Tavares-Santos, Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Teacher of English and Spanish with teaching experience in both formal and informal learning environments. She is a researcher at the Research Centre on Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers (CIDTFF) and a member of the Laboratory of Education in Languages (LabELing). Her research interests focus on images of languages and the Other, awakening to languages, and linguistic landscapes.

Ana Raquel Simões, Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Associate Professor in Language Didactics at the Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro (UA). She is the coordinator of the Research Centre Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers at the UA (CIDTFF). Her research focuses on language education, interculturalism and plurilingualism, digital citizenship and teacher education.

Susana Pinto, Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Centro de Investigação em Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Assistant Professor in Language Didactics at the Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro (UA). She is an integrated researcher at the Research Centre Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers at the UA (CIDTFF). Her research focuses on language education (policies), teacher education, intercultural doctoral supervision and research across languages and cultures. She is the coordinator of the Laboratory of Education in Languages (LabELing).

References

Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1997). Writing narrative literature reviews. Review of General Psychology, 1(3), 311-320. https://psychology.yale.edu/sites/default/files/baumeister-leary.pdf

Byram, M. (2012). Language awareness and (critical) cultural awareness – relationships, comparisons and contrasts. Language Awareness, 21(1–2), 5-13. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2011.639887

Candelier, M. (2009). L’éveil aux langues – une proposition originale pour la gestion du plurilinguisme en milieu scolaire. UNESCO. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/L%27éveil-aux-langues-une-proposition-originale-pour-Candelier/12ead5aec2da30f73607605cd0cde7b466687965

Candelier, M. (Ed.), Andrade, A.-I., Bernaus, M., Kervran, M., Martins, F., Murkowska, A., Noguerol, A., Oomen-Welke, I., Perregaux, C., Saudan, V., & Zielinska, J. (2004). Janua linguarum - The gateway to languages. The introduction of language awareness into the curriculum: Awakening to languages. Council of Europe Publishing. https://www.ecml.at/Portals/1/documents/ECML-resources/JAN-EN.pdf

Candelier, M., Camilleri-Grima, A., Castellotti, V., De Pietro, J.-F., Lörincz, I., Meißner, F.-J.-, Noguerol, A., & Schröder-Sura, A. (2012). FREPA/CARAP: A framework of reference for pluralistic approaches to languages and cultures. Council of Europe Publishing. https://carap.ecml.at/Portals/11/documents/CARAP-version3-EN-28062010.pdf

Candelier, M., & Kervran, M. (2018). 1997-2017: Twenty years of innovation and research about awakening to languages-Evlang heritage. International Journal of Bias, Identity and Diversities in Education, 3(1), 10-21. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijbide.2018010102

Chik, A., & Melo-Pfeifer, S. (2020). What does language awareness look like? Visual methodologies in language learning and teaching research (2000–2018). Language Awareness, 29(3–4), 336-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2020.1785481

Coelho, D., Andrade, A. I., & Portugal, G. (2018). The ‘Awakening to Languages’ approach at preschool: Developing children’s communicative competence. Language Awareness, 27(3), 197-221.

Comissão Europeia (1995). Livro branco sobre a educação e a formação - Ensinar e aprender: Rumo à sociedade do conhecimento. Serviço das Publicações Oficiais das Comunidades Europeias.

Cots, J. M., & Garrett, P. (2017). Language Awareness: Opening up the field of study. In P. Garrett & J. M. Cots (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Language Awareness (1st Edition, pp. 1-19). Routledge.

Darics, E., Staschen, O., Drury, M., Chojnicka, J., Mazzoli, M., Olthof, J., Serafis, D., & Wildfeuer, J. (2025). Critical language awareness as a future imperative: Seeing the ‘water.’ Frontiers in Communication, 10, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1623193

De Pietro, J.-F., & Matthey, M. (2001). L’éveil aux langues: Des outils pour travailler la différence. Langage et Pratiques, 28, 31-44. https://www.irdp.ch/data/secure/613/document/eveil-aux-langues-613.pdf

Dimova, I. (2020). In search of the way forward: Implementing the pedagogical perspective of english as an international language in bulgaria. ELOPE: English Language Overseas Perspectives and Enquiries, 17(2), 179-193. https://doi.org/10.4312/elope.17.2.179-193

Donmall-Hicks, B. G. (1997). The history of language awareness in the United Kingdom. In L. v. Lier & D. Corson (Eds.), Encyclopedia of language and language education: Knowledge about language (pp. 21-30). Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Dubiner, D. (2018). ‘Write it down and then what?’: Promoting pre-service teachers’ language awareness, metacognitive development and pedagogical skills through reflections on vocabulary acquisition and teaching. Language Awareness, 27(4), 277-294. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2018.1521815

Ducar, C. (2022). SHL teacher development and critical language awareness: From engaño to understanding. Languages, 7(3), 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages7030182

European Commission. (2018). Proposal for a council recommendation on a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of languages. European Commission. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:36ae2f05-5dc7-11e8-ab9c-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_1&format=PDF

Facciani, A. (2024). Parents’ multilingual storytelling in the school setting: Exploring influence on family language practices. EuroAmerican Journal of Applied Linguistics and Languages, 11(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.21283/2376905X.1.11.1.2906

Fourcade, M. (2021). Sociolinguistics of youth activism: Implications for the future of political language. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 10(6), 1-15. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7c69/3f5d10f0d5ef9b68d2d56ea90e43db9530de.pdf

Gaspar, A., & van der Worp, K. (2026). Integrating CALS and translanguaging to promote metalinguistic awareness: A study in the Southern Basque Country Integrating CALS and translanguaging to promote. Language Awareness, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2026.2631545

Ghanmi, R., & Navracsics, J. (2025). Metalinguistic awareness, writing competence and lexical diversity in bilingual and multilingual adults in Hungary learning English as an additional language. International Journal of Multilingualism, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2025.2517337

Gkaintartzi, A., & Katsara, O. (2024). Pluralistic approaches in education: Educating for diversity through “Awakening to Languages.” Ampersand, 13(December), 100205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2024.100205

Green, B., Johnson, C., & Adams, A. (2006). Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: Secrets of the trade. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 5(3), 101-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0899-3467(07)60142-6

Hawkins, E. (1996). Awareness to language: An introduction. Cambridge University Press.

Hawkins, E. (1999). Foreign language study and language awareness. Language Awareness, 8(3–4), 124-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658419908667124

Huang, T., & Guo, J. (2024). Investigating critical language awareness and critical cultural awareness in EFL materials use. Language Awareness. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2024.2434012

Kearney, E., & Ahn, S.-Y. (2013). Awakening to world languages: Intercultural awareness in very young learners. Learning Languages, 18(2), 44-48. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1090897&scope=site

Kelly, M. (2019). Language awareness in a comprehensive approach to language teaching and learning. Journal of E-Learning and Knowledge Society, 15(1), 37-54. https://doi.org/10.20368/1971-8829/1616

Le Pichon-Vorstman, E., Siarova, H., & Szőnyi, E. (2020). The future of language education in Europe: case studies of innovative practices. NESET report. European Journal of Language Policy, 13(1), 114-120. https://doi.org/10.3828/EJLP.2021.7C

Maad, M. R. B. (2021). Embracing balance in early childhood education: The case of awakening to languages pedagogy. International Journal of Learning and Change, 13(1), 92-106. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJLC.2021.111661

Meighan, P. (2025). Decolonizing Language Education. In Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics (pp. 1-11). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal20412

Möller-Omrani, C., Bader, M., & Haugen, K. (2026). Education stakeholders’ linguistic diversity and its potential for pluralistic approaches in language education pluralistic approaches in language education. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2026.2632363

Özkaynak, O., & Sayer, P. (2026). Whose English counts? Language ideologies in Turkish TESOL teacher education. Language Awareness, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2026.2625713

Roehr-Brackin K. (2024). Measuring children’s metalinguistic awareness. Language Teaching, 58(1), 27-43. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444824000016

Roothooft, H., & Bueno-Alastuey, M. C. (2025). Students’ beliefs about written corrective feedback in two foreign language contexts. Language Awareness, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2025.2522107

Rozas, L. W., & Klein, W. C. (2010). The value and purpose of the traditional qualitative literature review. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 7(5), 387-399. https://doi.org/10.1080/15433710903344116

Saeli, H., Rahmati, P., Dalman, M., Shamsi, Y., & Koltovskaia, S. (2025). Embrace or resist? EFL teachers on adopting ChatGPT as a teaching and feedback tool teaching and feedback tool. Language Awareness, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2025.2577191

Sierens, S., Frijns, C., Van Gorp, K., Sercu, L., & Van Avermaet, P. (2018). The effects of raising language awareness in mainstream and language classrooms: A literature review (1995-2013). In C. Hélot, C. Frijns, K. Van Gorp & S. Sierens (Eds.), Language Awareness in Multilingual Classrooms in Europe: From Theory to Practice (pp. 21-85). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501501326-002

Silva, V., & Lourenço, M. (2023). Educating for global citizenship and peace through awakening to languages: A study with institutionalised children. Porta Linguarum, 40, 181-197. https://doi.org/10.30827/portalin.vi40.26655

Svalberg, A. (2012). Language awareness in language learning and teaching: A research agenda. Language Teaching, 45(3), 376-388. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444812000079

Svalberg, A. (2016). Language Awareness research: Where we are now. Language Awareness, 25(1–2), 4-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2015.1122027

Szelei, N., Ramaekers, S., Dekeyser, G., & Agirdag, O. (2024). Revisiting parental engagement: Creating, crossing, and blurring the boundaries of the home-school language divide. Linguistics and Education, 81, 101308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2024.101308

Tammenga-Helmantel, M., Boon, N., Knopp, E., & Jentges, S. (2022). Plurilingual approaches in teaching materials: A tool for textbook analysis. FOLIO, 21(1), 4-11.

Torregrossa, G., & Carbonara, V. (2026). Exploring the benefits of translanguaging pedagogies on secondary-school students’ metalinguistic awareness: the role of language learning aptitude and vocabulary knowledge. Language Awareness, 34(4), 862-885. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2025.2608085

van den Broek, E. W. R. (2020). Language awareness in foreign language education: Exploring teachers ’ beliefs , practices and change processes. (PhD thesis). Radboud University, Netherlands. https://ico-education.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Proefschrift_Language-awareness-in-foreign-language-education_EllenVanDenBroek-2020.pdf

Wang, W., & Liu, X. (2024). A review of language awareness (2020 – 2024): Current trends and future directions. Journal of Language Teaching, 4(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.54475/jlt.2024.020

Weber, R. P. (1990). Basic Content Analysis. SAGE Publications Ltd.

Wu, M. M. (2025). Language awareness: More than just better language learning. Discover Education, 4, art. 484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00911-x

Yang, F., Li, K., & Li, R. (2024). AI in language education: Enhancing learners’ speaking awareness through AI-supported training. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 14(6), 828-833. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijiet.2024.14.6.2108

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30