English
MELT Research paper, summary of relevant literature on early multilingual learning, related to European smaller state and regional & minority language communities. Authors: I. Bangma MSc and Dr. A.M.J. Riemersma
The Multilingual Early Language Transmission (MELT) Project is a partnership between four language communities – Breton in Brittany, the Frisian language in Friesland, the Swedish language community in Finland, and the Welsh language in Wales. The Project is funded by the European Commission, and will run between 01 November 2009 and 31 October 2011.
It is widely accepted that the early years is an advantageous time to acquire language skills simultaneously in more languages. The promotion of regional and less widely used languages from an early age is crucial for their long term future, particularly in an age of ever increasing globalisation.
Individuals who work in pre-school settings require the correct skills and expertise to introduce language to young children. The level of understanding and awareness of language immersion methodology varies amongst organisations and practitioners working to introduce these less widely used languages with children from 6 months to 5 years old.
The MELT project aims to address this issue.
• To identify best practice in language immersion methodology
• to increase the skills of early years practitioners
• to provide young children with a strong educational foundation, enabling them to go on and continue to progress with their multilingual skills
• to provide information to parents on multilingualism
• to strengthen language communities and promote cultural and linguistic diversity.
• By researching the early years provision in the four language communities, looking at approaches to language immersion and the resources currently available to parents and practitioners.
• by providing information to parents on the benefits of multilingual pre-school education.
• by developing a practical guide for early years practitioners, including teaching tools and resources.
• by employing an individual to work with practitioners and children in a number of early years settings in the four language communities.
• by holding a final conference in Brussels in October 2011, in order to share the messages of the Project with a wider audience.
• By co-operation between agencies concerning language transmission, for example: In Feanwâlden, the municipality Dantumadiel in the Province of Fryslân, all preschool and school authorities work together to create an optimal language development for the youngest children from birth until the end of primary school (0-12 years). The municipality of Dantumadiel, where more than 80% of the children have the minority language Frisian as their mother-tongue, has developed a holistic approach for the upbringing of children. In 2010, a special DVD “Troch mei Talen” (=Growing with languages) on this language policy of the municipality was presented at the expert seminar Damwâld / Damwoude, which was hosted by Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning/ Fryske Akademy during the MELT project:
The special characteristic of this holistic language transmission approach is a good example of a near co-operation of the institutes in the school sector, the health care sector and the pedagogical sector, including the public library.
For further information on the MELT project visit the project website – www.meltproject.eu
The Frisian/ Dutch version of the Brochure for parents “Multilingualism in everyday life”
The Welsh/ English version of the Brochure for parents “Multilingualism in everyday life”
The Breton/ French version of the Brochure for parents “Multilingualism in everyday life”
The Swedish/ Finnish version of the Brochure for parents “Multilingualism in everyday life”
The Frisian/ Dutch version of the Guide “Multilingualism for children’s everyday life”
The Welsh/ English version of the Guide “Multilingualism for children’s everyday life”
The Breton/ French version of the Guide “Multilingualism for children’s everyday life”
The Swedish/ Finnish version of the Guide “Multilingualism for children’s everyday life”
2011
2010
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The products of the MELT project reflect 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.
