Linguistic Diversity in Spain and France: A Comparative Perspective

In this article, the authors explore and compare the experiences of Spain and France in matters of linguistic diversity. Although the constitution of European Union was a powerful factor in building some coherence in linguistic and immigration policies, Spain and France still hold particular characteristics regarding these issues. Spain organized a legislative and educational framework for building a multilingual nation, while France remain mainly in a monolingual perspective. Spain and France have different strategies for addressing the educational needs of immigrant children. The Spanish context seems to be more open to multicultural education.