PSYCHO-PEDAGOGICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL BENCHMARKS OF MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION OF STUDENTS FROM A MOTIVATIONAL PERSPECTIVE IN ISRAEL AND THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

The relevance and importance of the research topic. The period in which we live is marked by complexity. Various social phenomena, alongside global economic crises, have a direct or indirect impact on the schools - institutions integrated within the broader social system. These phenomena influence not only the educational processes the schools carry out but also the way in which social actors perceive the value of education. Consequently, formal education has become subject to evolving conceptions, perspectives, and reforms aimed at modernizing the educational system, an institution increasingly viewed as out of step with contemporary needs. Bilingual (or multilingual) education, in general terms, refers to the use of two or more languages as mediums of instruction for part or all of the school curriculum. This definition excludes programs that merely involve the bilingual students without actually implementing bilingual (or multilingual) instruction. For a program to qualify as bilingual, both languages must be used as mediums of instruction. As scientific research has demonstrated, bilingual education becomes effective when multiple languages are used not only for teaching them as subjects in isolation but also for teaching the content of the curriculum, such as mathematics, social sciences, or the humanities. Bilingualism (or multilingualism) cannot be examined solely in relation to the language itself; it must always be understood in the broader social context, considering the specific circumstances of the linguistic communities concerned. These communities, in turn, occupy quite different position within the society, with varying degrees of access to power, recognition and opportunities. Internationally, multilingual education has been established as a priority in numerous educational policy documents, such as Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the Key Competences for Lifelong Learning, which emphasize the importance of multilingual competences. These skills pertain to the effective and appropriate use of multiple languages for communication. Multilingual competences integrate linguistic, historical, and intercultural components and are grounded in the ability to mediate between different languages and modes of communication.