If education is our only hope, and I believe it is, Dat Bao, Seiko Harumi and their contributors have given us a vision and a manifesto for a balanced, respectful, and reflective engagement with the world through the teaching and learning process. This book will be an inspiration to all educators, not just language specialists.

Adam Jaworski, Emeritus Professor, University of Hong Kong

This captivating book provides a cutting-edge and comprehensive review of theory and research on silence, speech, and quiet learning. The edited volume provides chapters from authors around the globe on the complex and fluid links between speech and silence, and the influence on practitioners and learners. As its title promises, this volume illustrates the importance of documenting transcultural research on contextual literacies, and brings to life diverse voices that advocate for the value of silence in social-communicative skills and language education.

Sandra Leanne Bosacki, Professor of Educational Studies, Brock University, Canada

This collection makes a compelling case for taking silence seriously in educational research. Bao and Harumi have assembled a rich array of studies to argue that silence forms a key part of classroom practice. The book is essential reading for anyone who suspects that what isn't said can actually speak volumes!

Jim King, Associate Professor of Education (Applied Linguistics), University of Leicester, UK