Multi-lingual and multi-cultural information literacy: perspectives, models and good practice

This paper aims to review current approaches to, and good practice in, information literacy (IL) development in multi-lingual and multi-cultural settings, with particular emphasis on provision for international students.

A selective and critical review of published literature is extended by evaluation of examples of multi-lingual IL tutorials and massive open online courses.

Multi-lingual literacy and multi-cultural IL are umbrella terms covering a variety of situations and issues. This provision is of increasing importance in an increasingly mobile and multi-cultural world. This paper evaluates current approaches and good practice, focussing on issues of culture vis-à-vis language; the balance between individual and group needs; specific and generic IL instruction; and models for IL, pedagogy and culture. Recommendations for good practice and for further research are given.

This is one of very few papers critically reviewing how IL development is affected by linguistic and cultural factors.