Written as a foundational textbook for students and teachers, this book provides a comprehensive first introduction to bilingualism and bilingual education. In a compact and straightforward manner, bilingualism at individual, language minority group and national levels are discussed. The 18 chapters cover the crucial issues and controversies about language minorities and bilingual education. These include: * Defining who is bilingual * Testing language abilities and language use * Languages in communities and minority groups * Language planning * Language loss and revival * The development of bilingualism in infancy and childhood * Bilingualism in the family * Learning a second language * Aptitude and motivation * Age and language learning * Bilingualism and 'intelligence' * Bilingual's thinking skills * Bilingualism and the brain * Theories of bilingualism * Types of bilingual education * Evaluations of bilingual education * Language minority underachievement * Biliteracy * Cultural awareness * Multiculturalism * Different classroom styles of second language learning * US and Canadian approaches to bilingual education * Bilingual classrooms * The politics surrounding language minorities and bilingual education * Assimilation and pluralism * Antiracism