Lublin, September 2011

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

Overview

• Fryslân

• Frisian Language

• Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

Visit Chinese delegation, November 2010

Early

Middle ages

Late

Middle ages

Today

Fryslân in history

Well-known outside Fryslân

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

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

Themes

Levels of Aggregation

A: (Intra-) Individual B: Inter-Individual (Social) C: Organizational

IMastery 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

3Not foreseen

IIStimulating and

Improving Multilingualism

4Not 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

IIIAdded Value of

Multilingualism

7Not foreseen

8- International comparison

social status RML en IML

- Socio–economical value- Language vitality index

9Not foreseen

 

Research Matrix

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

• Articles

• Newsletters

• Regional dossiers series

- 40 language descriptions

- Update every 5-8 years

- Online available

Publications

Structured contents

• 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

www.networkofschools.org

Network of Schools

• > 90 members

• > 30 language communities

• 15 EU member states

• News bulletins

• Website:

- teaching materials

- projects

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.euwww.mercator-research.eumercator@fryske-akademy.nl

Köszönöm

Haristo

Mersi dit

Tak Danke

HvalaTeşekkür ederim

Dzãczi

Thank you

Tige tank

Ful toank