Why a Developmental Perspective Matters for Learning

This chapter presents the theoretical case for adopting a developmental perspective on intercultural language teaching and learning and lays the conceptual foundation for the remainder of the book. The discussion is presented in two sections. The first section briefly traces recent paradigm shifts in second language learning, and the reframing of the goals of languages education. An intercultural and multilingual orientation is considered in relation to how it may be realised through curriculum design and the language teacher’s pedagogical stance. The second section examines contemporary understandings of development, in particular a bioecological view of human development and its value in considering development of intercultural language learning.