Within the last decade, conversations about globalisation have shifted and evolved in several ways as countries have experienced increasing demographic changes. The heightened presence of non.native language learners (NNLL) moving within and across borders has implications for many areas of society, including education, social and health services, and national and international security. By exploring the academic literature base and collecting cross-cultural and cross-national data on current trends and experiences, we will be better equipped to ensure that our institutions and their constituencies are prepared to meet the needs and reap the rewards of multilingualism. The cases of Estonia and Singapore offer two lenses through which I examine how educational and linguistic policy can interact with other factors including immigration patterns, identity formation, language use, socio-economic development, and political policy.