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Multilingualism for all: How to implement European
Language Policy Developments through Universities and Teacher Training
Alex RIEMERSMALjouwert / Leeuwarden, November 18, 2010
Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and
Language Learning
www.mercator-research.eu
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Overview of presentation
Scope of European Language Policies
Research Agenda:
- “mother tongue”
- Language Vitality
- Language Programmes
- Teacher Training
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Linguistic Diversity
Globe: 6,000 languages
Council of Europe (47 member states):6 working languageshundreds of languages
European Union (27 member states):23 official languages> 60 RMLs
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EU Language Policy
EU shall respect … linguistic diversity
Mother tongue + 2
Linguistic diversity: all languages are equal and equally treated
European Charter RMLs entry exam for new EU member states (2004)
Doctrine of “subsidiarity”
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Unesco Language Vitality Index
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Language Vitality factors (6)
Intergenerational transmission
Absolute number of speakers
Proportion of speakers within total population
Trends in existing domains
Response to new domains & media
Marerials for Education and Literacy
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Language Vitality factors (3)
Governmental and Institutional Language Attitudes & Politics
Community Member’s Attitudes towards their own languages
Documentation (& corpus planning)
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Language Vitality (additional)
Attractiveness for second language acquisition
Holistic approach regarding Language Programmes, including: - language learning
- teaching materials
- language nests
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Relative Position Frisian
Unesco Language Vitality scale (2003): unsafe, but not threatened by extinction
Euromosaïc (1996): nr. 14 out of 48
Intergenerational language transmission - decline of 10% per generation
Language policy: - attitude & use
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Domains of Frisian language use Strong oral language, weak in writing Strong community language Media:
radio full day service; tv 2 hours per day (with re-run)
Culture: amateur theatre & choir singing Social & economic life:
strong oral (= informal) use
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Legal position Frisian No mention in Netherlands’ constitution
Covenant Frisiqan Language and Culture (2001-2010) between Dutch governement and province of Fryslân
Announcement of Frisian Language Act: “equal footing” of Dutch & Frisian
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Research Agenda
Mother tongue > father tongue; language of birth
Mother tongue + 2 other languages >>> 2 first tongues + 2 other languages
Media >>> Social media
Literacy
Visibility + linguistic landscape
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Application of instruments
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML)
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Implementation of Charter
Programmatic versus static approach: - key words “to protect & to promote”
Development of Minimum Standards
Application of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
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Minimum Standards Education
Report Minimum Standards in Education of & in RMLs (2007)
Analysis & Recommendations:- Educational goals- Teaching time (subject & medium) - Teaching materials- Teacher training- Inspectorate
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Teacher Training
Subject & medium
Continuity from pre-school to primary &from primary to secondary schooling
Schools as centres of excellence
Master on Multilingualism and multilingual education
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Research themes
Research into school- and teacher characteristics
Monitoring longitudinal language proficiency in all three target languages:
in accordance with the 6 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
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• Eskerrik asko
• Mange Takk
• Diolch
Tankewol
• Trugarez
• Grazia
• Graciis
• Dankscheen • Mercé plan
• Kiitos
• Dz'akuju so
• Köszönöm
• Hvala
• Multumesc
• Merci