190 likes | 327 Views
Multilingual Early Language Transmission MELT Project www.meltproject.eu dr. Alex Riemersma Brussels, 27 October, 2010. MELT project (2009-2011). Initiated by NPLD Grant by European Commission (Comenius) Research activities Development schemes & materials
E N D
Multilingual Early Language Transmission MELT Projectwww.meltproject.eu dr. Alex RiemersmaBrussels, 27 October, 2010
MELT project (2009-2011) • Initiated by NPLD • Grant by European Commission(Comenius) • Research activities • Development schemes & materials • Expert seminar & evaluation workshop • Local events • Closing conference (Brussels, 2011)
MELT project partnerss • Mercator / Fryske Akademy & SFBO (Fryslân, Netherlands) • Folkhälsen (Swedish community Finland) • Welsh Language Board & MYM (Wales, UK) • Conseil Régional de Bretagne & • Divskouarn (Brittany, France)
MELT affiliated project partners • Project partners co-operate with affiliated partners in carrying out various tasks, including local events:- half day event for parents- one day event for practitioners • Financing by sub-contracting for special tasks
MELT associate partners • All NPLD members c.q. partners linked to NPLD through their regional authorities and NGO’s • Associate partners to attend: - expert seminar (Fryslân, April 2010)- conference (Brussels, October 2011)
MELT Goals Goals (quoted from the EU application): 1) Development of teaching methodology and language transmission process 2) Raising parents’ awareness about multilingualism 3) Encouraging practitioners to foster language learning 4) Raising policy awareness across Europe
MELT further goals • Language is not merely a tool of communication, but also a value. • Mother tongue and father tongue are of equal value for the child.
Pursued results • EITHER: “full bilingualism, full bi-literacy” (Joshua Fishman) / additive bilingualism = command of two languages at mother-tongue level • OR: subtractive bilingualism (oral bilingualism, mono-literacy)
MELT Research 1 • Summary of relevant scientific research on early language acquisition: “state of the art” regarding bi- and plurilingual language acquisition at an early age. • Summary of theories on sequential language acquisition versus bilingualism at the same time, and the critical period of second language awareness and acquisition.
MELT Research 2 • Inventory of teaching methods applied in the various pre-school sectors: total immersion, various bilingual approaches • Inventory of teacher-training schemes (initial training, in-service training) and qualifications (and certification) • Inventory of qualification / certification systems of day care provisions, and strategies towards the improvement of the quality
MELT Pedagogical materials 1 (Folkhälsan) • Toolkit for practitioners full of “best practices” – to start with extending the best practices of Lillemor Gammelgård, Language Strategy.NB: stress on “learning through playing”; • Topics of special interest:- visibility of the language in the classroom - songs and music, dance- thematic work- exposure to rich language expressions of good quality
MELT Local Events • Toolkit for practitioners: how to inform young parents (in mixed-language families) and how to guide them regarding their concerns. • Toolkit for pre-school practitioners and primary school teachers together, aimed towards the “informed choice” on multilingual / immersion education.
MELT Quality Plan & Dissemination (Welsh Language Board) • “Marketing” of the concept of multilingual early language transmission; c.q. various models of early immersion / bilingual teaching • Dissemination by means of:- project flyer & NPLD website - seminar & conference & local events- publications in scientific journals and pedagogical journals like “Parents Today”, “Journal of Bilingual Families”
MELT Expert seminar(Mercator, 15-16 April 2010) • Themes: models of teaching • Preparation of toolkits:- practitioners’ own work- parents’ “informed choice”- enhancing parents’ support for the child’s development linguistically
MELT Awareness Raising & Closing Conference (Conseil Régional de Bretagne) • Conference (Brussels, October 2011)hopefully in co-operation with the EUPlatform Civil Society on Multilingualism • Presentation of Toolkit in 8 languages • Presentation of research results • Recommendations on methodology, materials and immersion training
Eskerrik asko Tankewol Köszönöm • Grazia • Mercé plan • Dankscheen • Graciis • Kiitos • Diolch • Dz'akuju so • Hvala • Spassi Ba • Mange Takk • Trugarez • Multumesc