In contemporary and urban societies, knowledge and information feature prominently. Scientific and technological knowledge drives production, consumption and progress of societies. In this scenario, languages and the "linguistic market" appear as important issues and are crucial for human interaction as well as for political, educational and economic achievements. Globalization and internationalization are key words in the configuration of this kind of society. That is why a multilingual education is a strategic orientation. This paper discusses linguistic policies that could favour a multilingual education in Brazil, so that broader objectives, such as the internationalization and the enhancement of scientific and technological production and innovation, become a reality. The data presented in the paper is part of a broader research on the linguistic competence of Brazilian undergraduate students in international mobility programs. Preliminary results point out the predominance of the private educational system rather than the public, and the increase of individual strategies, in the process of learning a foreign language.
globalization; multilingualism; linguistic policies; foreign language teaching and learning; Science without Borders; internationalisation; Brazil
