Post on 31-Dec-2015
description
Activities and Projects on Multilingualism with a focus on
Regional and Minority Languages
Cor van der Meer Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
London, 15 & 16 April 2010
Overview
• Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning
• Activities & Research
• Projects
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.
Fryske Akademy
Mercator Research CentreObjectives
• Scientific research
• Information centre
• Platform function
• Goals: creation, dissemination and application of knowledge
• Education
Mercator’s activities
• Research
• Publications & databases
• Network of Schools
• Network of Teacher Trainings Institutes
• Conferences & seminars
• Q&A service
• Research reports
• Articles
• Newsletters
• Regional dossiers series
- 40 language descriptions
- Update every 5-7 years
- Online available
Publications
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 (due 2010)
www.networkofschools.eu
Network of Schools
• > 90 members
• > 30 language communities
• 15 EU member states
• News bulletins
• Website:
- teaching materials
- projects
• 18-20 May: Mercator Network conference: “Media Convergence and Linguistic Diversity: How can the creative industries contribute to language vitality in a multiplatform environment?”, Aberystwyth
• 3-4 June: “Added Value of Multilingualism and Multilingual Education”, Ljouwert, organised in cooperation with the Basque Ministry of Education, Leeuwarden
• 18-19 November: conference of European Universities Network on Multilingualism (EUNoM), Leeuwarden
Conferences in 2010
Fields of research
• Added value of multilingualism and multilingual education
• Informal learning and promotion of reading in families & households.
• Effectiveness of educational policy in Fryslân
• Language acquisition
Projects
• Mercator Network of Language Diversity Centres (a)
• MELT: Multilingual Early Language Transmission (b)
• EUNoM: 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
(a) The Mercator Network of Language Diversity Centres (LLP)
Aims
• Facilitate structured exchange and discussion of
best practice in the EU
• Awareness raising for greater public → Benefits
of multilingualism for Europe
• What needs to be improved and how can it be
improved best?
• Transferability to other language communities:
including immigrant or signing communities
Expected Results
Yearly reports to:
• Summarise Gathered knowledge / Detected Knowledge gaps
• Give people opportunity to use and expand on this knowledge
• Give recommendation for future research agenda for EU and policy actions
(b) MELT project (LLP)
• Project partners:
• Mercator / Fryske Akademy (Fryslân, Netherlands)
• Folkhalsen (Finland)
• Welsh Language Board (Wales, UK)
• Conseil Régional de Bretagne (Brittany, France)
MELT project (2009-2011)
• Research activities• Development schemes & materials• Seminar & evaluation workshop• Local events• Closing conference (Brussels, 2011)
MELT Aims
• Development of teaching methodology and language transmission process
• Raise of parents’ awareness about multilingualism
• Encouraging practitioners on how to foster language learning
• Raise policy awareness across Europe
MELT Pedagogical materials 1
• Toolkit for practitioners full of “best practices” – to start with extending the best practices in the book of Lillemor Gammelgard, Language Strategy. (“learning through playing”)
• Topics of special interest:- visibility of the language in the rooms, - songs and music, dance;- thematic work;- exposure to rich language expressions of good quality.
MELT Pedagogical materials 2
• Information for parents in mixed-language families.
• Toolkit for practitioners how to cope with every new generation of parents and their concerns.
• Toolkit for practitioners and the teachers & school board of primary school together, aimed at the “informed choice”
• Training schemes
(c) EUNoM: The European Universities’ Network on Multilingualism (LLP)
• November 2009 – October 2012• EACEA Reference: 504763-2009-LLP-ES-KA-KA2NW • Consortium members:
– U.O.C. (lead partner; Miquel Strubell)
– Erasmushogeschool Brussel (June Eyckmans)
– Mercator Research Centre / Fryske Akademy (Alex Riemersma)
– Research Centre Wales (Glyn Williams)
– Queens University Belfast (Eugene McKendry)
– University Primorska, Koper, SI (Lucija Čok)
Co-funded under the
Aims
• Multilingualism in the context of globalisation, the information society and the knowledge economy from various perspectives (including that of ‘regional’ or ‘minority’ languages), in five areas, each with on-line discussions leading up to five symposia and a final conference.
• Analyses of the changing paradigm, examples of good practice, policy recommendations and avenues for future research will be sought.
Co-funded under the
Targeted stakeholders
• Educationalists, • Language teacher organisations,• Educational policy-makers, • ICT specialists, • Teacher trainers • Parents’ organisations, • Business and employers’ organisations• Universities, • Trades unions…
Co-funded under the
Area 1
Language teachers: Training for a New Paradigm
Co-funded under the
On-line discussion leading up to European Symposium to be held in Udine (Friuli, IT), hosted by University of Udine - International Centre on Plurilingualism, on 7-8 September 2010.
For more information: famschiavi@iol.it
Area 2
Higher Education and Research on Multilingualism
Co-funded under the
On-line discussion leading up to European Symposium to be held in Ljouwert (Leeuwarden), Friesland, NL, organised by Mercator / Fryske Akademy, on 18 -19 November 2010.
For more information: ariemersma@fryske-akademy.nl
Area 3
Managing multilingual and multiethnic societies and institutions
Co-funded under the
On-line discussion leading up to European Symposium to be held in Koper (Slovenia), hosted by U. Primorska (Faculty of Human Studies), on 20-21 June 2011.
For more information: lucija.cok@upr.si
Area 4
Multilingualism in the knowledge economy: labour markets revisited, and corporate social responsibility
Co-funded under the
On-line discussion leading up to European Symposium to be held in Belfast (Northern Ireland), hosted by Queens’ University, on 14-15 November 2011.
For more information: e.mckendry@qub.ac.uk
Area 5
ICT, e-Learning and languages
Co-funded under the
On-line discussion leading up to European Symposium to be held in Barcelona (Catalonia ES), hosted by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 14-15 May 2012.
For more information: mstrubell@uoc.edu
Final conference
Globalisation, Modernity and Knowledge: New Perspectives on Language in education
Co-funded under the
On-line discussion leading up to European Conference to be held in Brussels (venue to be decided), organised by Erasmushogeschool Brussel or Mercator / Fryske Akademy, on October 29 2012.
For more information: june.eyckmans@telenet.be
• Other work packages:– Management
– Quality assurance and evaluation
– Project dissemination
– Exploitation: Working towards a sustainable network
• More information: http://www.uoc.edu/portal/english/la_universitat/sala_de_premsa/noticies/2009/noticia_168.htmlhttp://www.uoc.edu/portal/english/la_universitat/sala_de_premsa/noticies/2009/noticia_168.html
Co-funded under the
(d) More languages, more opportunities
Informal learning and promotion of reading in families & households
A Papiamentu – Dutch language development project
Aims
• Promotion of toddlers bilingual development in Papiamentu and Dutch
• Promotion of a better socio-emotional development
• Promotion of a more positive interaction between mother and child
(e) Added Value of Multilingualism and multilingual education
A joint research project of the Basque
Autonomous Community and Fryslân
University of the Basque Country / Ikerbasque, Donostia
Mercator Research Centre / Fryske Akademy, Ljouwert
• Analyse bilingualism and multilingualism as a resource for the individual and society
• Analyse bilingualism and multilingualism as a resource at school
Aims
www.mercator-research.euwww.mercator-research.eumercator@fryske-akademy.nl
Köszönöm
Haristo
Mersi dit
Mange TakDanke
HvalaTeşekkür ederim
Dzãczi
Thank you
Tige tank
Ful toank
Diolch
Rak-Mit
cvdmeer@fryske-akademy.nl