Trilingual Education in Europe Partnership for Diversity Conference Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning Fryske Akademy dr. Alex Riemersma Ljouwert / Leeuwarden, 30 October, 2009

Trilingual Education in Europe Inventory of major active regions: Basque Autonomous Community (BAC – Euskara, Spanish, English) Catalonia (Catalan, Spanish, English) Finland (Swedish, Finnish, English) Fryslân (Frisian, Dutch, English) Luxembourg (French, German, Letzeburgish, English)

Trilingual Education (2) Inventory of some smaller active regions: Austria North-Frisia (Germany) Vallee d’Aosta (Italy) Balearic Islands

Common Trends Discrepancy between policy and practices: - time investment varies greatly - use of all three languages unequally Earlier start of English Lack of continuity from primary to secondary education

Results Multilingual students are fluent in the dominant state language Results in terms of Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Language Portfolio: self testimony Fluency and self confidence in English

Challanges Equality of dominant and lesser used languages Continuity from primary to secondary education Quality of teachers: – language command - didactic repertoires Language Use after schooltime

Future perspectives Development of EU language policy: - Mother tongue + 2 > 2 M Growing interest in immigrant languages - Stress on language command only

Future perspectives Catalonia 2015: all primary schools trilingual Catalan – Castillian - English Basque Country: new model – equal time for Basque – English – Castillian Fryslân 2012: towards 50 trilingual primary schools (= 10% of all schools): - differentiation - continuity to secondary education

Future perspectives Development in practise: - Tendency to English “only” - CLIL – Content and Language Integrated Learning - E-Learning – variety of instruments

Holistic Approach Municipality of Dantumadiel: from craddle through health care in cooperation with public library through pre-primary provisions toddlers & play groups day care centres until the end of primary school

Eskerrik asko Mange Takk Diolch Tankewol Trugarez Grazia Graciis Dankscheen Mercé plan Kiitos Dz'akuju so Köszönöm Hvala Multumesc Spassi Ba