Antillean toddler project - “More languages, more opportunities”
The municipality of Leeuwarden has granted the Mercator Research Centre subsidies for the Papiamentu – Dutch language developments project “More languages, more opportunities”. This project for the improvement of bilingual language development is meant for young Antillean mothers and their child (2-4 years). The subsidies will be used to finance the pilot project, which will run for six months in Ljouwert / Leeuwarden. During that period materials as books in Dutch and Papiamentu and an interactive website and the training for the languages coaches will be developed. The goal is to build more self-confidence with the mothers as well as the children and to stimulate the language development in both languages.
“More languages, more opportunities” has an active part and a research part. During the active part there will be an intervention with te toddlers and their parents/caretakers. This intervention consists of handing out 12 books, a website that goes with the books, a hand puppet and a game.
In the scientific part there will be examined in what matter the project has an effect on language development of young children in both languages: Dutch and Papiamentu. Very important in the intervention are the language coaches who are specially trained to carry out this project. Over a period of two years there will be two weekly house calls and two weekly group meetings, to support the parents in using the materials that are offered. The effects in language development and social-emotional development will be examined during the research part. The expactation is that the language and social-emotional development of the toddlers has been improved in such a matter that this will mean a better start in school. In other words: the research part will show if the title of this project holds true for Antillean toddlers. Do more languages really offer more opportunities?
The start of the project is in September 2009. There will be a thorough evaluation during and after the pilot period to examine the quality and appropriateness of the materials and training. This is necessary because there have been no comparable projects for the Antillean target group. After the evaluation the Mercator Research Centre will continue the project in Ljouwert / Leeuwarden and also wants to start in other Dutch cities with an Antillean community. The duration of the project per location is two years.
“More languages, more opportunities” has an active part and a research part. During the active part there will be an intervention with te toddlers and their parents/caretakers. This intervention consists of handing out 12 books, a website that goes with the books, a hand puppet and a game.
In the scientific part there will be examined in what matter the project has an effect on language development of young children in both languages: Dutch and Papiamentu. Very important in the intervention are the language coaches who are specially trained to carry out this project. Over a period of two years there will be two weekly house calls and two weekly group meetings, to support the parents in using the materials that are offered. The effects in language development and social-emotional development will be examined during the research part. The expactation is that the language and social-emotional development of the toddlers has been improved in such a matter that this will mean a better start in school. In other words: the research part will show if the title of this project holds true for Antillean toddlers. Do more languages really offer more opportunities?
The start of the project is in September 2009. There will be a thorough evaluation during and after the pilot period to examine the quality and appropriateness of the materials and training. This is necessary because there have been no comparable projects for the Antillean target group. After the evaluation the Mercator Research Centre will continue the project in Ljouwert / Leeuwarden and also wants to start in other Dutch cities with an Antillean community. The duration of the project per location is two years.