Rethinking Research in Applied Linguistics: An Interview With Alastair Pennycook

During the 1st International Congress of Critical Applied Linguistics (ICCAL) - held in Brasilia-DF, Brazil, from October 19 to 21, 2015, by the “Group for Critical and Advanced Language Studies” [Grupo de Estudos Críticos e Avançados em Linguagens) - Alastair Pennycook (University of Technology, Sydney/Australia and the MultiLing Center at the University of Oslo, Norway) gave the event’s opening lecture entitled Critical Applied Linguistics Challenges. Widely known for his pioneering work with critical approaches in language education and applied linguistics, he generously accepted our request of being interviewed on this topic at this opportunity in 20242. This interview is divided into two parts. Firstly, we aim to delve into the philosophical underpinnings and motivations that have guided his illustrious career, offering our readers an in-depth look at the forces shaping his research and theoretical stances. Secondly, we seek to inspire the next generation of researchers by sharing his insights on navigating the complexities of interdisciplinary research, the evolution of his theoretical perspectives, and his vision for the future of applied linguistics.