Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

www.mercator-research.euErasmus students at NHL

28 September 2011

Alex Riemersma

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Bilingual Education

• Definition of Bilingual Education• Why bilingual / trilingual education• Mother-tongue & L 2• Models • Didactic approaches

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Mother-tongue

• “Mother-tongue” versus “state language”

• Mother-tongue & father language• L 2 = second language• Foreign language• EU policy: Mother tongue + 2

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Old theory

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New Theory

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Definitions

• Monolingual education: dominant language only

• Bilingual / Trilingual Eduction:two or more languages taught as a subject and used as medium of instruction

• Immersion: use of minority (or: lesser used language) as only medium of instruction – the dominant language taught as a subject

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Why bilingual education?

• Right on education in mother-tongue• Pedagogical development• Cognitive development• Social integration and cohesion• Cultural participation• Language maintenance and

Linguistic Diversity

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Models of bilingual education

• Immersion• Systematic split of time• Systematic split of subjects• One person / one language• [Minority language as a subject only]

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Trilingual education (1)

• Model used:– groep 1-6: 50% Frisian, 50% Dutch– groep 7-8: 40% Frisian, 40% Dutch, 20%

English

• Systematic use of Frisian, Dutch and English as medium of instruction

• Interactive language education

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Trilingual education (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 Nederlands

– Results for English slightly better, but not significantly

– Self conciousness in English better, but not significantly

Trilingual Education (3)

• Developments:• Growth of numbers & percentages:

2008: 28 primary schools2012: 50 primary schools (= 10%)2030: 250 primary schools (= 50%)

• “Early Bird English” (grade 5; gradde 1)• Certification of schools

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Trilingual Education (4)

• Challenges:

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• Conitnuity to secondary education• Quality of teachers in all three target

languages• Equity of Testing of language

command related to level B2 of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)

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Dissertaasje / Thesis

• Co-author:Sikko de Jong

• Promotor:Guus Extra (Tilburg)

• Co-promotor:Roeland van Hout

• Theme: Dutch and Frisian language command at the end of primary school

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Students’ task

• Presentation of observations • Comparative analysis of three

languages: - own mother-tongue (in position of minority language, f.e. in kin state); - Frisian; and: - one weaker language; and / or: - one stronger language

• Power point presentation

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Regional Dossiers

• Series > 40

• Update every 5 year

• Online available

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Mercator’s Activity Area

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Foto fan bern

• Leafst bern yn de klasse

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• Eskerrik asko

• Mange Takk

• Diolch

Tankewol

• Trugarez

• Grazia

• Graciis

• Dankscheen

• Mercé plan

• Kiitos

•Köszönöm

• Multimesc • Thank you

•Hvala

•Dankuwel