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Thematic seminar Raising awareness on cultural and linguistic diversity and language learning

Thematic seminar Raising awareness on cultural and linguistic diversity and language learning. Vienna, Austria 6-8th of July 2009. Formal education in Belgium (Flanders). Federal state: 3 communities – 3 languages NL - FR – DE Organisation education = in scope of communities.

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Thematic seminar Raising awareness on cultural and linguistic diversity and language learning

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  1. Thematic seminarRaising awareness on cultural and linguistic diversity and language learning Vienna, Austria 6-8th of July 2009 Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  2. Formal education in Belgium (Flanders) • Federal state: 3 communities – 3 languages NL - FR – DE • Organisation education = in scope of communities Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  3. Formal education in Belgium (Flanders) • 3 school systems: • State education (Flemish community) • (Subsidised) Official education (municipalities, cities and provinces) • (Subsidised) Independent private education, mainly catholic • Education is compulsary from 6 to 18 years Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  4. Formal language education in Flanders Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  5. Language education in Flanders Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  6. Language education in Flanders(primary & secundary education) • Language as a tool for mutual understanding and social cohesion • Importance of good knowledge of school language for all – equal chances • OKAN: extra courses Dutch for foreign language new-comers in primary + secondary education • Foreign languages at an early age: possibility of (playful) French language initiation in Kindergarten + at 8-9 years • District of Brussels: 1st foreign language (FR or NL) from 6 years on (obligatory from 8 years) Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  7. % of Belgians claiming to speak NL, FR, EN, DE in Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels Eurobarometer 2006. Calculations: Jonathan Van Parys & Sven Wauters, FUSL Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  8. Formal language education in Flanders • Generally good English skills • French less popular: 43% of pupils don’t like French courses but 85% do think French is important and useful • Learning process traditionally strongly guided by the teacher and rather theoretical approach • ICT usage frequency rather low, depending on teacher • Emphasis often too much on language material, instead of on the student • => too little attention to guidance of students, remedial teaching and differentiated language education • => language education often too little challenging for pupils at attitudinal and cognitive levels Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  9. Non-compulsory language initiatives in formal education • School collaboration projects • Carolingua, e.g. tandem learning in Euregio Meuse-Rhine (3 languages, 5 cultures) • Exchanges • Klavertje Drie: collaborative program between schools from the three Belgian Communities • CLIL – Immersion • French- and German-speaking communities Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  10. Language education in Flanders Higher education & lifelong learning • Decrease of credits/contact hours for languages • Evolution towards Blended learning • Language courses not continuously included in the entire course of higher education career • Decrease of student participation in Erasmus exchange program • Rather high participation rate language training in permanent education Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  11. Non-formal language education • Language learning through Internet • Language centres • Governmental initiatives to boost language competence • Language camps • Sport and language camps • Other Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  12. Language learning through the Internet • On-line language contests e.g. ‘Tournoi Mondial de Français par Internet’ (BP) Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  13. Language learning through the Internet • Language learning websiteswith usage of multimedia, e.g.Taalblad: on-line immersion Dutch: news articles with translation of difficult words, grammar, exercises, image stories • Collaborative learning through the internet, e.g. Tandem learning • E-Zines, e.g. ActuaPress Mag of Centre d’Animation en Langues Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  14. E-zines Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  15. Language centers • Centre d’animation en Langues – Animation Center for languages (BP) • “Niouzz de Flandre”: youth news Walloon national television: video clips on neighbouring Flemish community, Dutch spoken, subtitled in French Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  16. Governmental initiatives: Dutch for foreign language new-comers • Non-profit organisations “Houses of Dutch”: demand-oriented Dutch courses (language and culture) • Dutch with CLIL for children of foreign-language new-comers: “The Horizon” (BP) • Non-profit organisation “De Rand” - Brussels (BP) • Language promotion and sports • Language promotion and youth Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  17. Football dictionary for sport clubs in Brussels and their non-Dutch native speakers Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  18. Language camps • Roeland: language animation and theater for youth • Ceran (q): residential language camps • Wiams (q): languages and sports, recreational activities Sport and language camps • Language activities, games, sport, music Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  19. Other • Storytelling festival of Alden Biesen (BP): valorisation of passive knowledge Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  20. Informal language learning • Leisure time • Working and studying in a foreign language environment • Volunteer work • Exchange programs • Serviceclubs • Workshops for children (Child museum in Brussels) • Youth associations Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  21. Leisure time • Film • Offer of anglophone cinema • All foreign films distributed in Flanders are subtitled (NL + FR), not dubbed • Television and radio • Offer of anglophone television series (subtitled) and music • Migrant (or other) associations • Cultural, sport, gastronomic, touristic activities • Tourism • Foreign language destination countries Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  22. Working or studying in a foreign language environment Immersion: • Volunteer work (in underprivileged countries) • Exchanges organised by serviceclubs; e.g. Rotary (q) • Exchanges for students: AIESEC • Au-pair in a foreign country Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  23. Workshops for children • Child museum in Brussels: playful bilingual workshops NL-FR (e.g. game on emotions, a journey through China, improvisation theater, storytelling, cooking, etc.) Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  24. Youth associations • International youth meeting Taizé • World youth day Catholic youth • Scout organisations Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  25. Recommendations from educational sector • Stress importance of languages and cultures for economic reasons • Stress importance of languages and cultures for personal reasons (broadening the horizon, a challenge) • Stress importance of languages other than English • Importance of language initiation at a young age • Attention to school language (when not mother tongue of children) • Frequent and authentic contacts with foreign language and culture (also teachers) through exchanges, collaboration projects, extra-curricular language activities • Schools organising such initiatives or participating in European projects should be encouraged/rewarded Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  26. Recommendations from educational sector • School direction should support languages: material and ICT infrastructure, collaboration over disciplines • Presence of foreign language in media: music, internet, film, television: no dubbing • Communicative approach to language teaching: • communication is important, not grammatical correctness; • pushing youngsters to communicate actively – task-oriented education • when final attainment levels are aligned to CEFR, handbooks should be adapted and teachers can evolve accordingly • Pupils can be motivated through tools that stimulate a playful and creative use of the language (dialogues, stories, songs…) • Create platforms for sharing of existing innovative and creative material (available but not known sufficiently by teachers) Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  27. Conclusions from interviews in Flanders • Language is seen as a way of communicating, not as an end in itself • Challenge youngsters to actively express themselves in the foreign language using material and methods adapted to their fields of interests and needs • Valorise passive knowledge: “you know more than you think!” • Allow them to build up confidence • Use of modern media (internet, movie clips, radio-popular music, youth TV, social networking sites) • Activities in small and multicultural groups Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  28. Conclusions from interviews in Flanders • Immersion in native speaker environment; adapt language usage to competence level of youngsters • Provide activities that require different levels of competence • Involve youngsters in choice of activities • Use of language in daily life, in informal contexts, no pressure of “learning” and “correctness” • Sensitize and involve parents in language learning • Formulas with competition element, games • Stimulate teamwork Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

  29. Thank you for your attention This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project number 143337-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-KA2-KA2NM Grant agreement number 2008-4283/001-001

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