1. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Tri-lingual schools in Friesland Cor van der Meer Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning www.mercator-research.eu

2. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Overview  Frisian language  Frisian in education  Trilingual schooling

3. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Frisian in the Netherlands  West-Germanic language, related to English and German  Related to North-Frisian and Sater-Frisian in Germany

4. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Frisian language command  54 % Mothertongue  94 % Understanding  74 % Speaking  65 % Reading  26 % Writing

5. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Legal position of Frisian  No article in Constitution  No Frisian Language Act  Patchwork of Legal provisions  Framework Convention (2005)  European Charter RMLs (1996)

6. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Charter for Regional or Minority Languages  1992: Netherlands signed the Charter  1996: Netherlands ratified the Charter and signed 48 undertakings from part III  1998: Charter into force; key words: “to protect & to promote”

7. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 History Frisian education 1907: outside school hours only 1937: allowed in Dutch lessons 1955: allowed lower grades 1980: obligatory subject 1997: trilingual schools

8. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Frisian in education  Primary school and secondary education: obligatory subject, optional use medium of instruction  No prescribed time  Weak in teacher training  Weak position in inspection

9. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

11. Trilingual Schools Start of project on 7 schools Grades 1 – 5 (4 – 9 years old) 50% Frisian / 50% Dutch Grades 6 – 8 (10 - 12 years old) 40% Frisian, 40% Dutch + 20% English

12. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009

13. Results Trilingual School Results pupils: - much better skills on Frisian - equal results on Dutch - more flair on using English Teachers: - more motivated, more competent - proud of their schools

14. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Advantages Trilingual Education - awareness of multilingualism - minority language has full respect - clear distinction between different languages - visibility of languages - more feeling for languages - more feeling for other cultures

15. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Developments Trilingual schools  Developments towards: - Extending network of tri-lingual schools - Early English” (grade 5) - Trilingual secondary education - Strengthening relationship of teacher training and schooling

16. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Teacher Training  Education in Fryslân  Training for Frisian at Primary School  Training for Frisian at Secondary School

17. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Foto fan bern  Leafst bern boartsjend of yn kombinaasje mei heit en mem en / of plaatsje mei TOMKE

18. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 From ‘Neuropsychologia, Febr 2007:  Canadian scientists have found astonishing evidence that the lifelong use of two languages can help delay the onset of dementia symptoms by four years compared to people who are monolingual.

19. Kyrgyzstan, 2 november 2009 Thank you / Tankewol Cor van der Meer cvdmeer@fa.knaw.nl Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning www.mercator-research.eu