Navigating Critical Language Education at the Crossroads of Neonationalism and Neoliberalism: The Role of Border Talk

In this paper, we investigate the pressures placed upon English teaching by neo-nationalist politics, particularly as it overlays existing neoliberal constraints. We focus on experiences and perspectives of Brazilian teachers who are committed to critical language education even carries increasing risks themselves. Interviews with five used illustrate ways in which their work is regulated through a form power working fear threat violence that has been termed (in)securitization (Rampton et al., 2022). By identifying metapragmatic strategies adopted faced hostile (in)securitization, including what terming border talk, other agents settings better position strengthen and, consequence, fight for more democratic future.