Balancing the amount of typical cultural themes in language learning materials Fryslân is a province in the north of the Netherlands where the two official languages are spoken: Dutch and Frisian. Of the 620,000 inhabitants of Fryslân about 55% consider Frisian as their mother tongue. Frisian language is an obligatory part of the curriculum in primary education and in early secondary education. Afûk is the publisher of educational materials for Frisian language learning in education. They provide coherent packages of subject-related paper based learning materials, but also a digital learning environment. Looking at theme’s within these materials, it is clear that typical cultural themes of the Frisian culture - such as typical sports, the history and the environment - take an important role. On the other hand many themes within the educational materials do not have that specific emphasize on the Frisian culture. In this session the presenters will argue pros and conns of using typical cultural themes for language learning. The dilemma between conserving and passing thru culture versus the use of language that is focused on present and future will be the focus of debate. There will be room for discussion as the presenters are curious about how other regions deal with this and how a balance could be found.   Drs. Willy van der Meer is a language specialist and working as a project coordinator on secondary and adult education within Afûk. Dr. Wim de Boer is an educational specialist and working as a project coordinator on primary and secondary education within Afûk, see www.wimdeboer.nl.

1. Balancing the amount of typical
cultural themes in language learning
materials
dr.WimdeBoer
14.45, October 24, 2013 'It Aljemint'

2. Some facts…
• 620,000 inhabitants: 94% understand,
74% speak, 65% read and 17% write
• 55% Frisian mother tongue
• Schools have curricular autonomy
• Frisian language part of curriculum
• Primary schools: one lesson per week
• 15-20% of schools use Frisian as
medium of instruction in world studies
& arts
• 67% of teachers are qualified to teach it
The Frisian language in education in the Netherlands

3. • Secondary schools
offer the subject in
the lower grades
• In higher grades
possibility as a
subject with exam in
all types of s.e.
• Frisian as instruction
language is
permitted, but rare.
Today: 3-language
schools project…

5. Curriculum
oral language
1. The students develop a positive attitude towards the use of Frisian
by themselves and others .
2. The students learn to acquire information from spoken Frisian
language. Through texts, opinions or instruction on subjects familiar to
them .
3. The pupils learn to process information in Frisian to express
situations in their daily lives.
written language
4. The students learn to acquire information from texts in Frisian in
text types such as leaflets, brochures , articles , webites , lyrics.
5 . The students learn to write about everyday topics with the aim to
be able to communicate with others about those subjects .
Linguistics, including strategies
6. The students acquire a vocabulary of frequently used words and
acquire strategies for understanding unfamiliar words .

6. cultural
themes

7. Available learning materials?

8. Pre primary &
lower primery
education

9. primary
education

10. Themes….
1. celebrations
2. language
3. nature
4. time
5. technology
6. arts
7. surroundings
8. sports

11. Frisian tv and magazine

12. Frisian language
in other subjects
Geography, about:
- Money
- Sports
- The potato
- Eise Eisinga (Planetarium)
- Afsluitdijk (Enclosure Dam)

13. Biology, about:
• Fryslân, land of geeses
• Mudflat
• Eggs and chicks

14. Projects about artists…
- Jopie Huisman
- Dada
- Abe Bonnema

15. History of Fryslân (canon):
• Assingment cards (quests)
• Lessons
• Projects

16. www.zwerfgoed.nl
heritage, cultural
education
through quests
outside of
school, in
cooperation with
museums…

17. Special education

18. Secondary education
• People and encounters
• Family and friends
• Communication
• Animals and nature
• Trends
• School

19. History subject:
• Translation of the most used textbook
• The history of Frylân…

20. Materials based on
news and
students’ interests

21. Programs of the
broadcaster, soap
and theater…

22. So….

23. Curriculum: 3S ……
Society
Subject
Tyler (1949)
Student

24. Balancing the amount of typical cultural
themes in language learning materials?

25. Tipical Frisian cultural
themes
Other themes (own
world of experience,
other themes)
The subject: learning to
listen, read, speak,
write.
Using the language as
instruction and working
language in other
subjects (sciences, arts)

26. Tipical Frisian cultural
themes
Other themes (own
world of experience,
other themes)
The subject: learning to
listen, read, speak,
write.
x
x
Using the language as
instruction and working
language in other
subjects (sciences, arts)
x x

27. Balancing the subject, society & student

28. Frisian language only as a subject…
Student
Society
Subject

29. Frisian language also as instruction
language in other subjects…
Student
Society
Subject
Note: More Learning time

30. Responsibility for the school

31. Ideal?
Student
Society
Subject

32. Offer options and help selecting…

41. Thank you…
W.deboer@afuk.nl