1

Multilingual education, using pluralistic approaches to languages and cultures, adheres to a new vision for language teaching that encourages the decompartmentalization of languages and the taking into account of linguistic knowledge and skills acquired at home. Research-based evidence points to the educational, cultural, and social advantages of these approaches. These include the development of metalinguistic skills and the building of self-confidence resulting from the acknowledgement of informal learning, which in turn encourage positive attitudes toward learning in general. Furthermore, awareness of languages and cultures contributes to intercultural understanding and to the building of a more tolerant society whose members view diversity as a resource rather than a threat.