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Neoliberal foreign language education: the search for alternatives

ABSTRACT In the past decades, neoliberalism has permeated (foreign) language education, as has been discussed by critical research in the fields of: curriculum theory, applied linguistics, discourse analysis, language policy, language assessment, to name a few. Despite the fact that research on foreign language education and neoliberalism is certainly growing, less attention has been paid to actual “ways out” or alternatives to neoliberal foreign language education. This introductory paper delineates the domain and scope of the present Special Issue entitled “Alternatives to Neoliberal Foreign Language Education.” The paper critically discusses three discourses/processes that are key to understanding the effects of neoliberalism in language education worldwide: language as skill, standardization and profit, and devaluing education. Then, it moves to briefly introduce each of the four remaining papers, which critically discuss alternatives to neoliberal foreign language education in different countries. The full issue hopes to contribute to critical research in the field of foreign language education and neoliberalism but, more importantly, to the search for feasible alternatives that help us move from negative critique of the current situation of foreign language education to actual praxis with a view to transforming it.