Critical Language Education for Radical Social Transformation: Discussions about Literacies, Criticality and Affect in Barbaric Times

Abstract

This article discusses the idea of critical linguistic education aiming at a radical social transformation – considering that this will only occur if critical and affective practices are integrated to the learning process. To achieve this objetive, we revisit the concept of critical literacy and then reflect on its connection with affectivity. After a brief review of the concept of criticality and its pedagogical appropriation by the theoretical strands named critical thinking, critical pedagogy, and critical literacy, we align ourselves with the perspective of criticality as a problematizing practice, which emerges from an engagement with differences. In chaotic times, we argue in favor of a linguistic education based on a critical-affective posture, so that the educational process follows the freirean philosophy, that is, is supportive of a transformative and peace-oriented education. Finally, we present a brief rereading of the pedagogy of multiliteracies, to instigate possibilities of pedagogical implementations that may contribute to an actual radical social transformation.