Trilingual schools in Friesland Cor van der Mercator

Tri-lingual schools in Friesland Cor van der Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning www. mercator-research. eu Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Overview · Frisian language · Frisian in education · Trilingual schooling Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Frisian in the Netherlands · West-Germanic language, related to English and German · Related to North-Frisian and Sater-Frisian in Germany Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Frisian language command · 54 % Mothertongue · 94 % Understanding · 74 % Speaking · 65 % Reading · 26 % Writing Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Legal position of Frisian · No article in Constitution · No Frisian Language Act · Patchwork of Legal provisions · Framework Convention (2005) · European Charter RMLs (1996) Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Charter for Regional or Minority Languages · 1992: Netherlands signed the Charter · 1996: Netherlands ratified the Charter and signed 48 undertakings from part III · 1998: Charter into force; key words: “to protect & to promote” Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

History Frisian education 1907: outside school hours only 1937: allowed in Dutch lessons 1955: allowed lower grades 1980: obligatory subject 1997: trilingual schools Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

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 Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Trilingual Schools Start of project on 7 schools Grades 1 – 5 (4 – 9 years old) 50% Frisian / 50% Dutch Grades 6 – 8 (10 - 12 years old) 40% Frisian, 40% Dutch + 20% English Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Results Trilingual School Results pupils: - much better skills on Frisian - equal results on Dutch - more flair on using English Teachers: - more motivated, more competent - proud of their schools Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Advantages Trilingual Education - awareness of multilingualism minority language has full respect clear distinction between different languages visibility of languages more feeling for other cultures Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Developments Trilingual schools · Developments towards: - Extending network of tri-lingual schools - Early English” (grade 5) - Trilingual secondary education - Strengthening relationship of teacher training and schooling Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Teacher Training · Education in Fryslân · Training for Frisian at Primary School · Training for Frisian at Secondary School Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Foto fan bern · Leafst bern boartsjend of yn kombinaasje mei heit en mem en / of plaatsje mei TOMKE Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

From ‘Neuropsychologia, Febr 2007: · Canadian scientists have found astonishing evidence that the lifelong use of two languages can help delay the onset of dementia symptoms by four years compared to people who are monolingual. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

Thank you / Tankewol Cor van der Meer cvdmeer@fa. knaw. nl Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning www. mercator-research. eu Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009