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Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and
Language Learning
Cor van der Meer & Alex Riemersma
Fryske Akademy
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Overview
• Fryslân• Language(s)• Mercator European Research
Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
• Multilingual Education
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EarlyMiddle ages
Late Middle ages
Today
Fryslân in history
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Well-known outside Fryslân
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Which sport is done mostly by the inhabitants of Fryslân?
A Korfball
B Ice-skating
C Football (soccer)
D Swimming
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Visit Basque Students June 23, 2009
What percentage of the Frisian soil is in use for agriculture?
A 50%
B 80%
C 65%
D 90%
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In 2005 the Netherlands had nearly 1,5 miljoen milkcows. How many
are there in the Frisian graslands?
A 150.000
B 250.000
C 300.000
D 500.000
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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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Continent Languages
Count Percent
Africa 2,092 30.3
Americas 1,002 14.5
Asia 2,269 32.8
Europe 239 3.5
Pacific 1,310 19.0
Totals 6,912 100.0
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Visit Basque Students June 23, 2009
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2000
Fries Nederlands
Frisian as first language
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Frisian language command
• 54 % Mothertongue
• 94 % Understanding
• 74 % Speaking
• 65 % Reading
• 26 % Writing
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In practise primary education in Fryslân uses minimal …
A There is no compulsory minimum to teach Frisian
B 1 hour Frisian lessons per week is compulsory
C 3 hours Frisian lessons per week is compulsory
D 1 day per week Frisian lessons compulsory
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Visit Basque Students June 23, 2009
Home languages Ljouwert– Nederlands– Fries– Leeuwarders– Engels– Arabisch– Koerdisch– Hindu– Berber– Papiamentu– Duits– Somalisch– Turks– Frans– Vietnamees– Chinees– Spaans– Bosnisch
- Irakees- Italiaans- Farsi- Surinaams- Armeens- Afgaans- Pools- Urdu- Albanees- Javaans- Portugees- Russisch- Sranan Tongo- Grieks- Joegoslavisch- Marokkaans- Moluks Maleis- Indonesisch
- Roemeens- Tamil- Angolees- Filippijns- Catalaans- Ivriet- Punjabi- Zweeds- Kosovaars- Libanees- Lingala- Noors- Oekraïens- Ruandees- Servo-Croatisch- Tsjechisch- Vlaams- Dari
- Georgisch- Ghanees- Indisch- Jamaicaans- Nepalees- Oostenrijks- Pakistaans- Servisch- Sri Lankees
60 languages
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How many EU citizens speak a Minority Language ?
A 5 million
B 15 million
C 30 million
D 45 million
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Mercator network
• Mercator Research Centre “lead partner” 4 Partner Institutes:
• Aberystwyth – Universiteit van Wales• Barcelona – Ciemen• Boedapest – Hungarian Academy of
Sciences• Eskilstuna (Zweden) – Mälardalen
Universiteit
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MERCATOR ?
Gerardus Mercator 1512-1594
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Mercator Research Centre
• 1987-2006: Documentation & Information CentreFunded by the European Union
• 2007-2008: transition into Information and Research CentreFunded by province of Fryslân and municipality of Ljouwert/Leeuwarden
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Position within Europe
• European Union – Communication on Multilingualism
• Council of Europe– Language Policy Development
• Cooperation and Partnerships– Mercator network, EBLUL– Network for the Promotion of Linguistic
Diversity– ECML in Graz, ECMI in Flensburg– Regional authorities and institutes
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Difference between EU and CoE
• EU: 1957– 27 member states– “Economic Federation”
• Council of Europe: 1949– 47 member states– “Human rights development”– Gateway to European Union:
• European Charter on RML• Framework Convention for the protection of National
Minorities
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EU-based typology
Unique minority languages a) Welsh, Frisian, Galicianb) Catalan (E, I, F), Basque (E, F)
Minority languages with a ‘kin-state’a) German (B, Dk, F, I), French (I), Slovene (Au, I)b) Ukrainian (Sl, Pol)
Special cases Romani, Yiddish
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Cornish
Galician
Luxemburgish
Catalan (I)
Saterfrisian
200 2.000 20.000 280.000 2 M 7 M
Differences in size
Catalan
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Mercator’s activities
• Publications & Databases• Research• Network of Schools• Network of Teacher Training Institutes• Conferences & seminars• Q&A service
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Publications
• Research reports• Newsletters• Regional Dossiers
– 40 language descriptions – Update every 5 year– Online available
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Kaart fan NOS
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Network of Schools
• > 90 Members• > 20 Language communities• 15 EU member states• Newsbulletins • Website:
– Teaching materials– Projects
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Conferences in 2009
• April, conference “Multilingualism, Regional and Minority Languages: Paradigms for the languages of the wider world” London, organised with CETL, UCL en SOAS
• June, “Pedagogy and Didactics in the Multilingual Classroom”, seminar in co-operation with Basque Ministry of Education
• September, Mercator Network conference• October, “Partnership for Diversity conference,
in combination with “Liet international”
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Fields of Research
• Added value of multilingualism and multilingual education
• New technologies; distant language (and culture) learning
• Application of the CEFR and the ELP in Europe
• Informal learning and promotion of reading in families & households
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Old Theory
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New Theory
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Definitions
• Monolingual education: dominant language only
• Bilingual / Trilingual Eduction:two or more languages taught as a subject and used as medium of instruction
• Immersion: use of minority (or: lesser used language) as only medium of instruction – the dominant language taught as a subject
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Why bilingual education?
• Right on education in mother-tongue
• Pedagogical development
• Social integration
• Cultural participation
• Language maintenance
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Models of bilingual education
• Immersion
• Systematic split of time
• Systematic split of subjects
• One person / one language
• [Minority language as a subject only]
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Trilingual education (1)
• Model used:– groep 1-6: 50% Frisian, 50% Dutch– groep 7-8: 40% Frisian, 40% Dutch, 20% English
• Systematic use of Frisian, Dutch and English as medium of instruction
• Interactive language education
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Trilingual education (2)
• Results: – Good quality of Frisian– Results of Dutch at the same level at the end of
grade 8 as all other pupils in the Nederlands – Results for English slightly better, but not
significantly – Self conciousness in English better, but not
significantly
Visit Basque Students June 23, 2009
Visit Basque Students June 23, 2009
• Eskerrik asko
• Moltes gràcies
• Diolch
Thank you
• Trugarez
• Grazia
• Graciis
• Go raibh maith agaibh
• Dankscheen • Mercé plan
• Giitus
• Dz'akuju so
Köszönöm
• Hvala
• Multumesc
• Tankewol