Transcript In Support for Regional and Minority Languages, the Mercator European Research Centre in Friesland, the Netherlands Cor van der Meer Salekhard, November 2011

In Support for Regional and
Minority Languages, the
Mercator European Research
Centre in Friesland, the
Netherlands
Cor van der Meer
Salekhard, November 2011
Overview
• Fryslân
• The Frisian Language
• Mercator European Research Centre on
Multilingualism and Language Learning
Where to find Fryslân
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
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
The European dimension
• European Union
– Communication on Multilingualism
• Council of Europe
– European Charter for RML
– Framework Convention for National Minorities
• Organisation for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE)
EU-based typology
•
Unique minority language communities
a) Welsh, Frisian, Galician
b) Catalan (E, I, F), Basque (E, F)
•
Minority language communities with a ‘kin-state’
a) German (B, Dk, F, I), French (I), Slovene (Au, I)
b) Ukranian (Sl, Pol), Russian (Est, Lit, Lat)
•
Special cases
a) Irish, Luxembourgish, (Maltese)
b) Romani, Yiddish
Mercator Research Centre
1987-2006:
• Documentation and Information Centre.
• Funded by the European Union.
2007-2008: 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
• Network of Teacher Trainings Institutes
• Conferences & seminars
• Q&A service
Research Matrix Mercator
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.
• Language Vitality: new technologies and
distant language learning.
• Application of the CEFR and the ELP in
Europe.
• Informal learning and promotion of
reading in families & households.
Publications
• Research reports
• 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
Research Reports
• Development of Minimum Standards for
RML language education
• Use of the CEFR and ELP in RML
language education
• Comparative studies
• Study on the devolvement of legislative
power to regional authorities
• Trilingual Education in Europe
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
• 2012 February 9-10: International Expert Seminar on
“Early Language Learning” (Poliglotti4.eu)
• 2012: June 20 – 23: International Conference on
Language and Social Psychology
Projects
• Mercator Network of Language Diversity
Centres (a)
• MELT: Multilingual Early Language
Transmission (b)
• EUNoM: The European Universities’
Network on Multilingualism (c)
• More Languages, More Opportunities (d)
• Added Value of Multilingualism (e)
• 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 Network of Multilingualism in
Barcelona
• European Centre for Modern Languages
in Graz
• Regional authorities
Co-operation with the Basque
Autonomous Community
Contract with BAC includes:
• Scientific research on “Added value of
Multilingualism”
• Organisation of annual European Expert
Seminars
• Support for Network of Schools
Visit SPLIKA, december 2010
www.mercator-research.eu
[email protected]
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