This fall, international scholars, educators, and policymakers will gather at Teachers College Columbia University to share educational visions and design in language and literacy education associated with speakers of various African languages as well as speakers of Creole languages and African American English.

The three-day symposium addresses theoretical and pedagogical concerns and their political consequences in the areas of discourse and literacy studies, policy, international development, and education. The symposium highlights a different language group each day, beginning with an exploration of the cultural, historical, and linguistic roots of African language, education, and policy on the African continent as well as in the United States. The second day focuses on Creole-speaking regions, investigating the interface between language, education, and policy, and the third day turns to the sociolinguistic situation in the United States, this time addressing these questions for speakers of African American English. Based on the theme of paradigms, practices and politics of language in education, we combine theoretical presentations with educational development sessions (putting theory directly into practice) and roundtable discussions among educators, policymakers, and language scholars (translating theory and practice into conversation toward change). We invite you to join us as we engage in conversation, reflection and action as an international community. Please visit our website at www.tc.edu/ceoi/multiplelanguages