Frisian the Charter Alex RIEMERSMA Gdansk 12 September

Frisian & the Charter Alex RIEMERSMA Gdansk, 12 September 2008 Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning www. mercator-research. eu

Overview · Frisian language command & position · Charter as stimulus 1 -5 · Frisian in Charter: education · Strengthening legal position

Frisian in the Netherlands · West-Germanic language, related to English and German · Related to North-Frisian and Sater-Frisian in Germany

Frisian language · Ik haw west - I have been · Ik ben geweest – Ich bin gewesen · Tsiis – cheese · Kaas - Käse · Tsjerke – church · Kerk – Kirche · Twa skiep – two sheep

Frisian language command · 54 % Mothertongue · 94 % Understanding · 74 % Speaking · 65 % Reading · 26 % Writing

Legal position · No article in Constitution · No Frisian Language Act · Patchwork of Legal provisions · Framework Convention (2005) · European Charter RMLs (1996): 48 undertakings from part III

Charter as stimulus - 1 · 1992: Netherlands among the first 12 to sign the Charter · 1996: Netherlands among the first 5 to ratify; 48 undertakings from part III · 1998: Charter into force · 1998: Consulting Body – art. 7. 4: “convey needs and wishes”

Charter as stimulus - 2 · Common responsibility of national and regional authorities · Periodical reports (every 3 years) · Committee of experts: on the spot visits · Recommendations of the Council of Europe to national government

Charter as stimulus - 3 · Key words: “protect & promote” · Programmatic approach: - implementation - improvement - additional signature of undertakings · NGO & Public debate in European perspective

Charter as stimulus - 4 · National government = Treaty partner · National government to hold obligations, also in case of devolvement / delegation of authority to regional level · National language policy

Charter as stimulus - 5 · Upgrading of recognition of Lower Saxon in the Netherlands: * from part II > part III · Lower German in some “Länder” in Germany in part II (general objectives) + a few undertakings from part III

Frisian in media · Radio: 6. 00 – 23. 00 hrs · TV: 2 hours with re-run · 1994, 1 hour ‘regional’ broadcasting ‘full programme’ by 2011 · No newspapers

Frisian in education · Primary school and secondary education: obligatory subject, optional use medium of instruction · No prescribed time · Weak in teacher training · Weak position in inspection

Frisian in the European Charter · Article 8 b ii – primary education “substantial part of lessons” evaluation by Comex: not fulfilled; Comex urges the Dutch government … · Article 8 c iii – secondary education “integral part of curriculum” evaluation by Comex: not fulfilled; Comex urges the Dutch government …

Trilingual schooling · Grades 1 -6: 50% Dutch; 50%Frisian · Grades 7 -8: 40% Dutch; 40% Frisian; 20% English · Developments towards: “Early English” & Trilingual secondary education

Actions towards legislation · Pressure in public debate on: · Strengthening legislation for Frisian in education: time, longitudinality & quality · Umbrella language act for Frisian · Frisian in Netherlands’ constitution

• Eskerrik asko Tankewol Köszönöm • Grazia • Mercé plan • Dankscheen • Graciis • Kiitos • Diolch • Dz'akuju so • Hvala • Trugarez • Thank you • Mange Takk • Multumesc

Mercator Report on Minimum Standards on education in RMLs · On request of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE) · Recommendations to the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe

CEFR & RMLs · Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference (2001) · Instrument for the comparative description of language command

Themes of analysis · Educational goals & models · Time spent · Teaching materials · Teacher training · Inspectorate · Legal position

Challenges for teacher training · Quality & quantity · Special training for multilingual situations · More education aimed at multilingualism · Stress on proficiency in more languages · CEFR to be linked to core goals · Certificates & Diploms!

CEFR – further developments · European Language Portfolio = Documentation on individual level · Dialang: language tests · PISA · Result: common minimum standards