Transcript Mercator, a gateway to Europe and beyond International Conference on “National, Ethnic and Language Minorities in the European Union” Cor van der Meer Mercator European.

Mercator, a gateway to Europe and
beyond
International Conference on “National, Ethnic and
Language Minorities in the European Union”
Cor van der Meer
Mercator European Research Centre on
Multilingualism and Language Learning
Lublin, September 2011
Overview
• Fryslân
• Frisian Language
• Mercator European Research Centre on
Multilingualism and Language Learning
Visit Chinese delegation, November 2010
Fryslân in history
Early
Middle ages
Today
Late
Middle ages
Well-known outside Fryslân
Frisian as First Language
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2000
Fries
Nederlands
Frisian Language Command
• 54 % Mother tongue
• 94 % Understanding
• 74 % Speaking
• 65 % Reading
• 26 % Writing
The Frisian case (1)
 The Netherlands ratified the European
Charter in 1998. 48 provisions under
part III signed for Frisian only.
 The Framework Convention went into
force in 2005. Frisian is the only
national minority language.
The Frisian case (2)
Education:
 At primary school level Frisian is an
obligatory subject.
 Substantial part in primary education
and integral part of secondary
education.
The Frisian case (3)
However
 Actual time spent on Frisian is 30-45
minutes a week;
 61% of the teachers are not qualified to
teach the language;
 The attainment goals are not measured
by the Dutch Inspectorate of Education.
Visit SPLIKA, december 2010
Trilingual education in Fryslân (1)
• Model used:
- Group 1-6: 50 % Frisian, 50 % Dutch
- Group 7-8: 40 % Frisian, 40 % Dutch, 20%
English
• Systematic use of Frisian, Dutch and
English as a medium of instruction.
• Interactive language education
Trilingual education in Fryslân (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 Netherlands
- Results for English slightly better, but
not significantly
Mercator Research Centre
1987-2006:
• Documentation and Information Centre.
• Funded by the European Union.
2007 onwards, transition into:
• Information and Research Centre.
• Funded by the Province of Fryslân and the
municipality of Ljouwert/Leeuwarden.
Mercator’s activities
• Research
• Publications & databases
• Network of Schools
• Newsletters
• Conferences & seminars
• Advisory role
Research Matrix
Levels of Aggregation
A: (Intra-) Individual
B: Inter-Individual (Social)
C: Organizational
Themes
I
Mastery of Language &
Language
Acquisition
1
- Differences between RML
and IML
- Conditions of Language
acquisition
- Language Testing
- Standardization of Language
tests
- Pupil follow systems
- Reading skills
- Language loss
- Didactical competences
2
- Use of new technologies in
Language Learning:
- E-learning
- Distant learning
- Didactics
3
Not foreseen
II
Stimulating and
Improving
Multilingualism
4
Not foreseen
5
- Role models
- Language attitude
- Interaction between RML and
IML speakers
- Position and function of
media
- Language Survey Fryslân
- Immersion
6
- Language policy
- International comparison
policy- Minimum
standards RML language
learning
- Euro barometer
III
Added Value of
Multilingualism
7
Not foreseen
8
- International comparison
social status RML en
IML
- Socio–economical value
- Language vitality index
9
Not foreseen
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.
Research Reports
• Development of Minimum Standards for
RML education
• Use of the CEFR and ELP in RML
education
• Comparative studies
• Study on the devolvement of legislative
power to regional authorities
• Trilingual Education in Europe
Publications
• Articles
• Newsletters
• Regional dossiers series
- 40 language descriptions
- Update every 5-8 years
- Online available
Structured contents
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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
www.networkofschools.eu
Network of Schools
• > 90 members
• > 30 language communities
• 15 EU member states
• News bulletins
• Website:
- teaching materials
- projects
www.networkofschools.org
Conferences 2011 / 2012
• 2011 April: International conference “Languages of
the Wider World”
• 2011 May: Expert seminar “Cultural Education and
Civil Society: how can languages contribute?”
• 2011 Sept 30 / October 1: Mercator Network seminar
on “Languages and Legislation” in Barcelona
• Soon: International Expert Seminar on “Early
Language Learning”
• 2012: June 20 – 23; International Conference on
Language and Social Psychology
Projects
• Mercator Network of Language Diversity
Centres
• MELT: Multilingual Early Language
Transmission
• EUNoM: The European Universities’
Network on Multilingualism
• More Languages, More Opportunities
• Added Value of Multilingualism
• Mercator Research Centre - “lead partner”
4 Partner institutes:
• Aberystwyth – University of Wales
• Barcelona – Ciemen
• Budapest – Hungarian Academy of Sciences
• Eskilstuna (Sweden) – Mälardalen University
Partnerships / co-operation
• Network for the Promotion of Linguistic
Diversity in Cardiff
• European University Network on
Multilingualism in Barcelona
• European Centre for Modern Languages
in Graz
• Civil Society Platform on Multilingualism
• Regional authorities
Visit SPLIKA, december 2010
www.mercator-research.eu
[email protected]
Thank you
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Haristo
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