abc plurilingualism belgium

Learning foreign languages in Learning foreign languages in pre-primary, primary and pre-primary, primary and

secondary educationsecondary education in Belgium. in Belgium.

French CommunityFrench Community..

Primary schoolPrimary school

What’ s compulsory?What’ s compulsory?

• 2 hours a week from 5th grade to 6th grade.2 hours a week from 5th grade to 6th grade.

• Schools can choose the language Schools can choose the language English – Dutch – GermanEnglish – Dutch – German

Except for…..Except for…..

Schools in Brussels where ….Schools in Brussels where …. - Dutch is compulsory.- Dutch is compulsory. - Children receive 3 hours a week in 3rd and 4th grade and - Children receive 3 hours a week in 3rd and 4th grade and

5 hours a week in 5th and 6th grade.5 hours a week in 5th and 6th grade.

In some other parts of Belgium near Germany where In some other parts of Belgium near Germany where German is compulsory .German is compulsory .

It is a rule for towns called « It is a rule for towns called « Communes à facilitésCommunes à facilités » »

What’s not compulsory but possible What’s not compulsory but possible in every primary school in Belgium?in every primary school in Belgium?

Eveil aux langues ( language awareness)Eveil aux langues ( language awareness)Apprentissage précoce.(early learning Apprentissage précoce.(early learning

language)language)Enseignement EMILE /CLIL.Enseignement EMILE /CLIL.

Eveil aux langues (Language Awareness)Eveil aux langues (Language Awareness)

Children can discover foreign languages Children can discover foreign languages and they can explore different cultures. and they can explore different cultures.

It’ s not a learning programme. It s just a It’ s not a learning programme. It s just a way to increase motivation for learning way to increase motivation for learning and discovering foreign languages and and discovering foreign languages and culture.culture.

Apprentissage précoce ( early learning Apprentissage précoce ( early learning language)language)

Children « learn » another language through Children « learn » another language through

games, rhythms, songs for one or two hours a games, rhythms, songs for one or two hours a week.week.

The main aim is communication.The main aim is communication.Every school can implement such a programme if Every school can implement such a programme if

they want. They can begin in pre-primary school they want. They can begin in pre-primary school until the grade in which learning a foreign until the grade in which learning a foreign language is compulsory.language is compulsory.

EMILE /CLIL EMILE /CLIL

Content learning integrated in language.Content learning integrated in language.

Children learn a second language through Children learn a second language through learning subjects.learning subjects.

How does it works?How does it works?

You can start in 3th grade of pre-primary You can start in 3th grade of pre-primary school or in 3th grade of primary school.school or in 3th grade of primary school.

- between ¼ and ¾ of the time in the - between ¼ and ¾ of the time in the target language ( from 3rd grade of target language ( from 3rd grade of kindergarten to 2nd grade of primary kindergarten to 2nd grade of primary school)school)

- between 1/4 and 1/2 of the time in the - between 1/4 and 1/2 of the time in the target language ( from 3rd grade to 6th target language ( from 3rd grade to 6th grade of primary schoolgrade of primary school))

Schools can choose the target language Schools can choose the target language (English/Dutch or German) except in (English/Dutch or German) except in Brussels where Dutch is compulsory.Brussels where Dutch is compulsory.

Children have 2 teachers: one who Children have 2 teachers: one who teaches subjects in French (which are teaches subjects in French (which are imposed by the French Community imposed by the French Community curriculum) and the other who teaches curriculum) and the other who teaches subjects in the target language.subjects in the target language.

EvaluationsEvaluations

At the end of primary school, children At the end of primary school, children must take the « national examination » in must take the « national examination » in French.French.

There is no specific test for CLIL schools.There is no specific test for CLIL schools.

Secondary schoolsSecondary schools

What is compulsory ?What is compulsory ?

4 hours a week in English, Dutch or 4 hours a week in English, Dutch or German (except in Brussels for example German (except in Brussels for example where Dutch is compulsory for 1st and 2nd where Dutch is compulsory for 1st and 2nd grade).grade).in 3rd and 4th grade, students have 2 in 3rd and 4th grade, students have 2 compulsory hours but if they want to, they compulsory hours but if they want to, they can opt to have up to 4 hourscan opt to have up to 4 hours..

In 5th and 6th grades, students can In 5th and 6th grades, students can choose to learn a third language (usually choose to learn a third language (usually German, Spanish or Italian).German, Spanish or Italian).

Clil in secondary school.Clil in secondary school.

There are two different programmes…There are two different programmes…

A « continuum » for children who started A « continuum » for children who started this programme in kindergarten or in 3rd this programme in kindergarten or in 3rd grade of primary school.grade of primary school.

A “late start” (« A “late start” (« apprentissage tardifapprentissage tardif ») for ») for children who want to begin with CLIL in children who want to begin with CLIL in the secondary schoolthe secondary school. .

They used to have between 8 and 13 They used to have between 8 and 13 hours a week in the target language.hours a week in the target language.

All of the subjects can be taught in the All of the subjects can be taught in the target language except for religion.target language except for religion.

The CLIL programme was initiated in 1989 The CLIL programme was initiated in 1989 in Belgium, so it is not an experiment: we in Belgium, so it is not an experiment: we have a law, inspections, training have a law, inspections, training programmes, coaching for teachers, programmes, coaching for teachers, examinations to test the language level of examinations to test the language level of the teachers who are not native.the teachers who are not native.

Every year, the number of schools with a Every year, the number of schools with a CLIL programme increaseCLIL programme increase..

Thank you

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