Teacher preparation in a bilingual setting: In‐service training for teachers in Catalonia

Contrary to public perception, Spain is one of the oldest and largest multilingual nations in Europe. Decades of linguistic repression have been followed by a profound social renaissance. Four languages are officially recognised. Their ‘normalisation’ and re‐introduction into regional educational systems represent important facets of this cultural renewal. Catalan is the language autochthonous to the ‘autonomous community’ of Catalonia. In a little more than a decade, 80% of the schools in Catalonia have incorporated bilingual instruction into their curriculum. The present work, based on five months of field research, analyses two of the most innovative and successful programmes which have facilitated the bilingual preparation of educational staff in Catalonia since 1978.