In Support for Regional and Minority Languages the

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

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 • • • • 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” (Poliglotti 4. 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) • EUNo. M: 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 mercator@fryske-akademy. nl Spasiba Mersi dit Thank you Danke Tak Haristo Köszönöm Dzãczi Hvala Tige tank Teşekkür ederim Ful toank