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Professor Colin Baker

 

Biography

Dr Colin Baker is Professor of Education at Bangor University. He is the author of fifteen books and over fifty articles on bilingualism and bilingual education, with specific interests in language planning and bilingual education.
His textbook Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism (Multilingual Matters, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2006), now in preparation for its fifth edition, has sold over 50,000 copies and has been translated into Japanese, Spanish, Latvian, Greek, and Mandarin. In 1994, the first edition won a prize as 'Best Book of 1993 by an established author' (Standing Conference in Education).
His Encyclopedia of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education (Multilingual Matters, with S.P. Jones) won the British Association for Applied Linguistics Book Prize Award for 1999. In 2000, he was honoured with the California Association for Bilingual Education Special Recognition Award for Research and Scholarly Activity.
He is editor of the International Journal of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education and also edits two book series for Multilingual Matters. In addition to academic activities, Colin Baker has held two government appointments as a member of the Assessment and Curriculum Council and the Welsh Language Board. He is married with three bilingual children.

 

Current teaching

• Lectures to Masters modules
• Supervisor to students studying for PhD, MPhil, and MA.

 

Projects / Publications / Research

2009

‘Bilingual Education’ in R. Kaplan (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Applied Linguistics (2nd edition). New York: Oxford University Press.

Sign Language and the Deaf Community. in Fishman, J. (ed.) The Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity (2nd edition), New York: Oxford University Press.

2008

‘Survey Methods in Researching Language and Education. In K. King & N.Hornberger (eds) ‘ Research Methods in Language and Education’. Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd edition, Vol 2. Berlin: Springer.
‘Knowledge of Language, Bilingualism and Multilingualism. In J. Cenoz & N. Hornberger (eds) Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd edition, Vol 6. Knowledge about Language. Berlin: Springer..

2007

Bilingual Education: An Introductory Reader (with Ofelia García, Teachers College, New York). Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.
A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism. Multilingual Matters (3rd ed.).
Opening Plenary Paper for the European Union Regional and Minority Languages in Education Systems Conference, Brussels, 27/28 April 2006: 'Changing Perspectives in Bilingual and Multilingual Education'. Published in Regional and Minority Languages in Education Systems, Brussels: European Commission, 2007 (pp.126-147.)
'Becoming Bilingual at School'. In P. Auer and Li Wei (eds), Multilingualism. Mouton de Gruyter.
'Survey Methods in Researching Language and Education.' In K.King and N.Hornberger (eds), Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd ed., Vol. 2: Research Methods in Language and Education. Berlin: Springer.
'Knowledge of Language, Bilingualism and Multilingualism'. In J.Cenoz and N.Hornberger (eds), Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2nd ed., Vol. 6: Knowledge about Language. Berlin: Springer.
'Bilingual Education in the United States: A View from Abroad'. In The Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education (ed. J.M.Gonzalez). Sage Publications.
'Bilingualism and Multilingualism'. In K.Malmkjaer (ed.), The Linguistics Encyclopedia, 3rd ed. Routledge, 2008.

2006
Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 4th ed. Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.
'Bilingual Education.' In K.Brown (ed.), Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics, 2nd ed. Oxford, Elsevier (p.772-780).

2005

'Psycho-sociological analysis in language policy research.' In T.Ricento (ed.), An Introduction to Language Policy: Theory and Method. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

2004

'Bilingual Education in the Basque Country: A Model of its Influence' (with J.Aiestaran). In Welsh Journal of Education, 2004, 13, 1, 8-29.

2003

'Language Planning: A Grounded Approach.' In Jean-Marc Dewaele, Alex Housen, and Li Wei., Bilingualism: Beyond Basic Principles: Festschrift in Honour of Hugo Baetens Beardsmore. Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.
'Addysg Cyfrwng Cymraeg fel System' (gyda Twm Prys Jones). Yn G.Roberts a C.Williams (goln), Addysg Gymraeg Addysg Gymreig, 66-84. Coleg Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes, Bangor.
'Natur ac Anghenion Disgyblion Dwyieithog' (gyda Jessica Clapham). Yn G.Roberts a C. Williams (goln), Addysg Gymraeg Addysg Gymreig, 103-115. Coleg Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes, Bangor.
'Education as a Site of Language Contact.' In Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, Language Contact and Change, 2003, Vol.23, 95-112. Cambridge UP.
'Biliteracy and Transliteracy in Wales: Language Planning and the Welsh National Curriculum.' In N.Hornberger (ed.), Continua of Biliteracy: An Ecological Framework for Educational Policy, Research and Practice in Multilingual Settings. Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.
'Pre-School Welsh Language Development: The Impact of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin' (with Elen Lloyd Roberts). Also published in Welsh as 'Datblygiad Ieithyddol Cyn Ysgol: Effaith Gwaith Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin.' Cardiff: Welsh Language Board.

2002

'A Biography of Jim Cummins.' In R.Mesthrie (ed.), The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociolinguistics. Elsevier Science.
'Bilingual Education.' Chapter in R.Kaplan, The Oxford Handbook of Applied Linguistics, 229-242. New York: Oxford UP.
Bilingvisma Un Bilingvalas Izglitibas Pamati (with Ina Druviete). Latvian edition of the Foundations book. Sorosa Fonds Latvija.

2001

Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 3rd ed. Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.
An Introductory Reader to the Writings of Jim Cummins (with Nancy H.Hornberger). Multilingual Matters.
Guía Para Padres y Maestros de Niños Bilingües (written with Prof. Alma Flor Ada, San Francisco, USA). Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.

2000
A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism, 2nd ed. Multilingual Matters.
The Care and Education of Young Bilinguals: An Introduction for Professionals. Multilingual Matters.
'Three Perspectives on Bilingual Education Policy in Wales: Bilingual Education as Language Planning, Bilingual Education as Pedagogy and Bilingual Education as Politics.' Chapter in R Daugherty, R Phillips, and G. Rees (eds), Education Policy in Wales: Explorations in Devolved Governance. University of Wales Press.
'Welsh Language Education: A Strategy for Revitalisation'. Chapter in C.Williams (ed.), Language Revitalisation: Policy and Planning. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
'Bilingualism' and 'Bilingual Education'. Two articles in The Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning (ed. Michael Byram). Routledge.

1999

'Sign Language and the Deaf Community.' Chapter in Fishman, J. (ed.), Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity. New York: Oxford UP.

1998
Encyclopedia of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education (with Sylvia Prys Jones). Multilingual Matters. (This won the British Association for Applied Linguistics Book Prize Award for 1999.)
'Bilingual Education in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.' Chapter in The Encyclopedia of Language: Volume 5: Bilingual Education, 127-141. Mouton de Gruyter.
'Survey Methods in Researching Language and Education.' Chapter in The Encyclopedia of Language: Volume 8: Research Methods in Language and Education, 35-46. Mouton de Gruyter.

1997
'Language Contact in the Classroom.' Chapter in Recent Studies in Contact Linguistics (eds. W.Wölck and A. de Houwer). (20th Anniversary Festschrift for the Research Centre on Multilingualism, Plurilingua.) Bonn: Dummler.
'Educating for Bilingualism for Deaf Children'. In Journal of the British Association of the Teachers of the Deaf, 1997, 21, 2, 3-9.
'Contact Between Languages in Great Britain.' Chapter in Contact Linguistics (ed. Peter Nelde). Walter de Gruyter.
The Effectiveness of Bilingual Education.' In Research Information for Teachers, New Zealand Council for Educational Research, 1997, 2, 1-5.

1996
Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 2nd ed. Multilingual Matters. (Also published in Japanese by Taishukan Publishing Company, 1996, and in Spanish by Catedra (Spain), 1997)
'Educating for Bilingualism: Key Themes and Issues for Deaf Children.' In P.Knight and R. Swanwick (eds), Bilingualism and the Education of Deaf Children: Advances in Practice. Leeds: ADEDC, University of Leeds.
'Perceptions of Bilinguals.' In European Journal of Intercultural Studies, 1996, 7, 1, 45-51.

1995

'Bilingual Education and Assessment.' Chapter in Bilingualism, Education and Identity (eds. B.M.Jones and P.Ghuman), University of Wales Press.
Policy and Practice in Bilingual Education: A Reader Extending the Foundations (co-edited with Ofelia García, City College of New York). University of Wales, Bangor. Multilingual Matters.
A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism. Multilingual Matters. (Also published in Swedish as Barnets Väg Till Tvåspråkighet by Förlaget Påfågeln, Uppsala, 1996.)
'Educating for Bilingualism.' In Towards a Typology of Minority Language. Education European Commission (DG XXII), Brussels, Belgium.
'Bilingualism and Intelligence.' Chapter in Change in Education, 2nd ed. (ed. Glenn Smith et al.). LEPS Press: Northern Illinois University.

1993
Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Multilingual Matters. (This book was the 1994 Standing Conference in Education Book Prizewinner for the best book of 1993 by an established author.
'Bilingualism and Information Technology.' Chapter in European Models of Bilingual Education (ed. Hugo Baetens Beardsmore). Multilingual Matters.
'Bilingual Education in Wales.' Chapter in European Models of Bilingual Education (ed. Hugo Baetens Beardsmore). Multilingual Matters.
GWASG Final Report: Evaluation of the National Curriculum Assessment of Welsh and Welsh as a Second Language. November 1993. Welsh Office, Cardiff.

1992
Attitudes and Language. Multilingual Matters, Clevedon.
'The Evaluation of National Curriculum Assessment of Welsh and Welsh Second Language at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3: An Interim Report to the Welsh Office and the Schools Examinations and Assessment Council' (with Iolo Wyn Williams). May 1992.

1991
'The Effectiveness of Bilingual Education.' In Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1991, 11, 4, 269-277.

1990
'The Growth of Bilingual Education in the Secondary Schools of Wales.' Chapter in Perspectives on a Century of Secondary Education in Wales 1889-1989 (ed. W.G.Evans). CAA, Y Ganolfan Astudiaethau Addysg.
'Attitudes to the Welsh Language and Bilingualism.' Final Report to ESRC.

1988
Key Issues in Bilingualism and Bilingual Education. Multilingual Matters: Clevedon.
'Normative Testing and Bilingual Populations.'. In Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1988, Vol. 9, No. 5, 399-409.

1987

Guest Editor of special issue of Education for Development on bilingualism and bilingual education, 1987, 10, 3 (editorial pp. 3-6).

1986
Profion Bangor (Cynllun y Canllaw). A series of diagnostic tests for Welsh.

1985
Aspects of Bilingualism in Wales. Multilingual Matters: Clevedon.

1984
'Language Background Classification' (with J.Hinde). In Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 1984, 5, 1, 43-56.
Two Models for Curriculum Development in Minority Languages.' Chapter in Special Education in Minority Communities (ed. P.Williams). Open UP.

1983
'Provision of Materials and Tests for Welsh-Speaking Pupils with Learning Difficulties: A National Survey' (with C.L.Griffith). In Educational Research, 1983, 25, 1, 60-70.

 

Responsibilities

• Co-Director of the ESRC Centre for Research on Bilingualism
• Deputy Director of the College of Education and Lifelong Learning
• Director of Research, College of Education and Lifelong Learning
• Editor, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
• Co-editor of book series on bilingualism and bilingual education for Multilingual Matters.

 

Qualifications

• BA (Wales): First Class Honours in Educational Studies
• PhD (Wales)
• Fellow of the British Psychological Society (1994)

 

Positions held

• 2007 on: Pro Vice Chancellor

• 1994 on: Professor of Education (Personal Chair, University of Wales)
• 1977-1994: Lecturer and subsequently Senior Lecturer in Education, University College of North Wales

 

Links:

International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism:
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/1367-0050

Book publishers: http://www.multilingual-matters.com/

ESRC Research Centre on Bilingualism:
http://www.bilingualism.bangor.ac.uk/