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Fryslân and the Mercator Research Centre
Cor van der Meer
Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
Fryske Akademy
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Overview
• Fryslân• The Frisian language in education
– Tri-lingual school project
• Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
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FRISIAN AREA IN 1000
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Fryslân
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Well-known outside Fryslân
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taalkaart
870870
26.30026.300
634.000634.000
11.50011.500
3.2003.200
342.000342.000
1.5001.500
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Linguistic knowledge (census)
1967 1980 1994
Understand 97 94 94
Speak 85 73 74
Read 69 65 65
Write 12 11 17
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Language databank
Dictionaries
Corpus Spoken Frisian
‘Spell-checker’
LinguisticInfrastructure
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MediaMedia
< 5% Frisian
> 80% Frisian
www.omropfryslan.nl = all in Frisian
Daily newspapers
Radio&TV
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Frisian in primary education
• 1816 – schoolmasters are advised ‘in particular not to tolerate the peasant vernacular’
• 1907 – Province of Friesland provides subsidies / lessons in Frisian outsite school hours
• 1937 – clause added to the law / during Dutch language and reading some instruction in Frisian
• 1950 – Bilingual trial / 6-year experiment at nine schools- 1st and 2nd class reading and writing- Frisian as subject / medium of instruction
• 1955 – change in law, Frisian as medium of instruction is allowed in first three grades
• 1980 – obligatory
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Frisian in secondary education
1971 Examination in Frisian language is allowed if pupils choose the
subject
1980-1990 Several experiments
1993 Obligatory in first two grades
from 1998 Projects in several upper grades
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3TS Trilingual School
Start of project on 7 schools
Grades 1 – 5 (4 – 9 years old) 50% Frisian / 50% Dutch
Grades 6 – 8 (10 -12 years old) 40% Frisian, 40% Dutch + 20% English
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Advantages Trilingual Education
- awareness of multilingualism- minority language has full respect- clear distinction between different languages- visibility of languages- more feeling for languages - more feeling for other cultures
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Results Trilingual School
26th of September 2006 - certificates
Results pupils:- much better skills on Frisian- equal results on Dutch- more flair on using English
Teachers:
- more motivated, more competent
- proud of their schools
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• Documentation and information• Research and publications• Databases• Network of Schools• Conferences• Website
Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
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Structured contents
• 1 Introduction• 2 Pre-school education• 3 Primary education• 4 Secondary education• 5 Vocational education• 6 Higher education• 7 Adult education• 8 Educational research• 9 Prospects• 10 Summary of statistics• Education System in ….• References and further reading• Useful addresses
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Network of schools
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Network of Schools
• > 60 Members
• 20 Language communities
• Newsbulletins
• Website
• Teaching materials
• Projects
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Position within Europe• European Union
– Communication on Multilingualism
• Council of Europe– European Charter on RML– Framework Convention for the protection of
National Minorities
• Cooperation and Partnerships– Mercator centres, EBLUL– Network for the Promotion of Linguistic
Diversity– ECML in Graz, ECMI in Flensburg– Regional authorities and institutes
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Mercator conferences 2007
• “Multilingualism and Language Learning: Measurement and good Practice” 10 – 11 May 2007
• “New developments in Basque education in a European perspective” organised in collaboration with the Basque ministry of Education, 7 – 8 November 2007
• “The future of European policy towards Multilingualism and Language Learning”, 21 – 23 November 2007
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Conferences in 2008
• April, regional thematic seminar
• May, Basque seminar in Ljouwert
• September, FEL conference in Ljouwert
• December, Frisian philology conference
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Cooperation and other events
• March, visit and presentation Scots Language Centre
• April, visit EU commissioner Orban
• May, conference organisation for 10 years Charter for RML
• October, conference organisation in Moldava
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Fields of Research
• The added value of multilingualism and multilingual education
• New developments in multilingual education in Europe
• Application of the CEFR and the ELP in Europe
• Informal learning and promotion of reading in families & households
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• Eskerrik asko
• Moltes gràcies
• Diolch
Tankewol
• Trugarez
• Grazia
• Graciis
• Go raibh maith agaibh
• Dankscheen • Mercé plan
• Giitus
• Dz'akuju so
Köszönöm
• Hvala
• Multumesc
• Thank you