Reflecting on a Vibrant Exchange at the University of Porto

On April 18th, 2024, I had the privilege of speaking at the University of Porto, where I shared insights from my work on bilingual education. The event, titled The Bilingual Revolution / Revolução Bilíngue was not just a lecture but a dynamic exchange with an enthusiastic audience comprised of students and faculty, all passionate about the potential of multilingual education.

My role as an educator and author has taken me to many corners of the world, but discussing bilingualism at the Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto was uniquely enriching. The engagement from the audience, including thoughtful interventions from Professor Françoise Bacquelaine, emphasized the relevance of bilingual education in today’s interconnected world.

During the talk, I explored the themes of my publications, such as Conversations on Bilingualism and The Bilingual Revolution, focusing on how bilingual education can preserve linguistic heritage and empower diverse communities. We delved into practical strategies and shared stories of how bilingualism is being implemented across various countries, and what it would look like in Portugal.

This dialogue was more than an academic discussion; it was a collective brainstorming session on how we can harness bilingual education to fight inequalities and build inclusive societies. The enthusiasm and insights from the Porto community were invigorating and reinforced my belief that the future of education indeed requires embracing multiple languages.

For those interested in exploring this topic further, I encourage delving into the mentioned works and joining us in this ongoing conversation about the transformative power of bilingual education. Let’s continue to push the boundaries of traditional education and embrace a multilingual approach that prepares future generations for a diverse world.

Thank you, Universidade do Porto, for hosting this memorable event and to all who joined us in pushing forward the dialogue on bilingual education. #RevoluçãoBilíngue #BilingualRevolution