This volume centres around concepts of personal and cultural authenticity as they play out in various contexts of foreign language teaching and learning worldwide. The chapters cover a wide range of contexts and disciplines, including both theoretical and empirical work; together they comprise both a rigorous analysis of authenticity in language teaching and a step away from notions of native-speakerism and cultural essentialism with which it is often associated. Written by a group of scholars working across several continents, the chapters offer diverse perspectives regarding the role language plays in processes of personal growth, learning, development, self-actualisation and power dynamics. The book addresses the theoretical and philosophical nature of authenticity while remaining grounded in the teaching and learning of languages, with authenticity viewed as a practical concern that guides our actions and beliefs. The book will be of interest to scholars, researchers and students of authenticity as well as foreign language teachers interested in the theoretical underpinnings of their practice.

Brings together research in SLA, literary and cultural studies, philosophy and sociology to examine concepts of authenticity in foreign language teaching and learning

About the Author

Leo Will is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Giessen, Germany and an Adjunct Professor at Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Canada. He is the author of Authenticity in English Language Teaching: An Analysis of Academic Discourse (2018, Waxmann Verlag). He is conducting phenomenological research in the realm of language teacher education and takes an interest in vocabulary learning.

Wolfgang Stadler is a Professor of Russian (Applied) Linguistics and Subject-Specific Language Education at Innsbruck University, Austria. He is the author of a hundred academic articles dedicated to research in pragmatics, sociolinguistics and Russian language pedagogy and the (co-)editor of eight books on topics such as connecting cultures, the testing and assessing of foreign language competences, the pragmatics of silence and the linguistics of football. He has recently founded the open access journal Didaktik der Slawischen Sprachen (DiSlaw) and serves on the editorial board.

Irma Eloff is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa and Adjunct Professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. She is the author and editor of six books and more than 90 scientific articles and book chapters. She conducts research in sustainability sciences with particular interest in quality education and good health and wellbeing.

Reviews
Authenticity has been one of the core concepts of Communicative Language Teaching since the 1970s. This multifaceted, interdisciplinary volume engages with authenticity both in a most stimulating philosophical chapter and in diverse empirical studies, spanning different languages, contexts and approaches. A very welcome and necessary book for those who like to delve into the fundamental questions of language learning and teaching. * Friederike Klippel, Professor Emerita, Munich University, Germany *
This is a truly important book for language educators to better understand the notion of authenticity in our times both inside and outside language learning contexts. What makes this book highly relevant to current debates is its multilingual, global and cross-disciplinary orientation. * Werner Delanoy, University of Klagenfurt, Austria *
The multi-disciplinary nature of these contributions makes for a remarkably comprehensive understanding of authenticity. Compulsory reading for all researchers of language learning and teaching. * Christa van der Walt, Stellenbosch University, South Africa *



Book Information
ISBN 9781800411043
Author Leo Will
Format Hardback
Page Count 296
Imprint Multilingual Matters
Publisher Multilingual Matters
Weight(grams) 590g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 19mm