MOOC Frysk
A Massive Open Online Course on the basics of the Frisian Language
From 14 April 2018 onwards, everyone can participate in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about the Frisian language. This four-week online course has been developed by Afûk and Mercator. The MOOC is open and online available for everyone around the world to participate, free of charge.
Research theme: Multilingualism and Language learning
Duration: 01/06/2016 - 01/06/2018
Coordinating partner: Mercator European Research Centre
Mercator staff: Ramziè Krol-Hage, Marlous Visser and Joana Duarte
Funding: Province of Friesland
Collaboration with: Afûk
Project goals
This new Frisian MOOC aims to get people outside of the Netherlands acquainted with the Frisian language. This course has therefore been written in English. Nevertheless, the course is also suitable for people living in the Netherlands who are interested in the country’s second language. Since it is an online course, participants can decide for themselves where and when they follow the course, and how much time they spend on it. The course will remain available online throughout the year.
The MOOC has been developed as a four-week course, and each week different words and themes are centered upon. It focuses on learning the principles of the language, but also includes a taste of Frisian culture and history and some multilingualism and linguistics in the curriculum. Cultural aspects covered include Frisian theater and Frisian as family language.
Products
In 2016, a first Frisian MOOC was made by the the University Of Groningen: a three-week entry course (level A0) to master the fundamentals of the Frisian Language.
The new Frisian MOOC, developed by Afûk and Fryske Akademy/Mercator, can be seen as a follow-up course (level A1/A2).
| MOOC Groningen | MOOC Mercator / Afûk |
Level | A0 | A1/A2 |
Extension of grammar | The conjugation of verbs, word order, personal and possessive pronouns, adjectives, modal verbs and making questions | The verbs ‘hawwe, wêze moatte’. |
Themes (vocabulary) | Work, study, hobbies, eating, living, weather and the time | Introducing yourself, family, hobbies, holidays. |
Structure of each week |
| Introduction video, dialogue video (+transcript), assignments. |
Amount of dialogues |
| 8 dialogues, 2 per week |
Duration | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
Access | 5 weeks (unlimited access possible) | 1 year |
Costs | Free (5 weeks), €54 (unlimited access) | Free |
Events
Launch
The official launch took place on Saturday 14 April 2018 in the pavillion 'MeM - Livingroom of Languages' in Leeuwarden, part of Lân fan taal/ European Capital of Culture 2018. Singer Iris Kroes and theater company Tryater were special guests.
Online
Since it is an online course, participants can decide for themselves where and when they follow the course, and how much time they spend on it. The course will remain available online throughout the year.
You can subscribe for free at https://frisianmooc.com/.
The project also has its own Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/frisianmooc/