Monolingual, Bilingual and Trilingual Education Systems: East and West

1
Monolingual, Bilingual and Trilingual Education
Systems East and West

• Dara Fickes, Ameila DeFosset, Allyson Gaiser

2
Introduction

• The purpose of this presentation is to evaluate
  different models for education in multilingual
  societies using the scheme of non-strong models
  developed by Tove Skutnabb-Kangas.

3
Introduction Cont.

• Outline
• Dara will discuss Frances monolingual policy as
  a weak model for multilingual education.
  
• Amelia will discuss Ukraine, as a bilingual
  society which also offers weak models for
  multilingual education.
  
• Allyson will conclude with a discussion of the
  relative strength of Luxembourgs trilingual
  education system.
  
• Finally we will present comparisons of these
  systems and conclusions on the prospect for
  multilingualism in modern societies.

4
Introduction Cont.

• France and Luxembourg are considered part of
  Western Europe Ukraine is considered part of the
  East.
  
• No clear difference along an East/West boundary.
• Continuum from weak to strong models.

5
Strong vs. Weak Models of Multilingual Education

• Weak models
• Total or partial immersion in majority language.
  
  
• Goal monolingual speakers.
• Promotes negative self-image for minority
  children.
  
• Places minority children at an extreme academic
  disadvantage.

6
Strong vs. Weak Models of Multilingual Education
Cont.

• Strong Models
• Instruction in two or more languages
• Goal High rates of multilingualism
• Strong positive linguistic and cultural identity
• Positive attitude towards majority language and
  culture
  
• Levels academic playing field
• How do France, Ukraine, and Luxembourg measure up?

7
France

• Weak Model
• Monolingual Policy

8
Overview

• Why is France a weak model?
• Encourages ideals of Frenchness, assimilation,
  and monolingual education
  
• The French language is forced upon all realms of
  life official, education, and private.
  
• 1951 Loi Deixonne

9
Frenchness

• Definition Works to uphold French behavior and
  tradition.
  
• Stems from feelings of national pride and
  nostalgia.
  
• Trade Laws
• 1994 Touban Law

10
Assimilation

• Definition Explicit pressure on immigrants to
  adopt French behavior and traditions (a.k.a.
  Frenchness).
  
• Top stories on International News
• Ban of religious symbols
• Race riots
• Effects of French Colonization
• 1980s move towards integrationist policies

11
Debunking the MythFrance Multiculturalist
Society

• Definition Cultures that are trying to respect
  one another.
  
• France prohibits statistics on race or
  ethnicity.
  
• Other countries, like Brazil, have tried this
  multiculturalist approach.

12
Monolingual Education

• The French education system is one of the best in
  the world.
  
• Public versus private education
• Problems with learning French as a second
  language
  
• In the face of a globalizing world, this weak
  model will be forced to change.

13
The UN Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

• FINAL QUESTIONS
• Why did France choose to sign the Charter, but
  not ratify?
  
• Does the Charter pose a threat to the French
  language?
  
• Should France reconsider their decision?

14
Ukraine

• Official Bilingualism,
• but Practical Monolingualism

15
Language in Ukraine, Context

• Under Tsarist rule Ukrainian is seen as a dialect
  of Russian.
  
• Suppression of Ukrainian linguistic or cultural
  identity
  
• Ukraine seen as little Russia
• Under early soviet rule policy of Korenization is
  pursued, Ukrainian is supported and developed.
  
• As of 1930, 90 of population is fluent in
  Ukrainian
  
• After 1930, this policy is abruptly reversed

16
Context Cont.

• Soviets claim to support a peoples right to use
  their own language
  
• Policy reflects aggressive Russification
• Fluency in Russian is a natural step on the road
  to a communist Utopia.
  
• Ukrainian resistance foments in the
  universities.
  
• Agitators arrested and tortured or executed.

17
Context Cont.

• Russification continues through the 1980s.
• 1989 Ukraine language law
• Russian is granted status as the official
  language of intercultural communication.

18
Language in Ukraine Context Cont.

• The law states
• The republican and local state, party, public
  bodies, enterprises, institutions and
  organizations shall provide all citizens with
  conditions required for the study of the
  Ukrainian language and the profound fluency in
  it
• But also that,
• The free choice of the language of education
  shall be an inalienable right of citizens of the
  Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

19
How does Ukraine measure up to multilingual
education models?

• Ukraine fails to achieve goals of
  multilingualism.
  
• Russian language schools replaced by Ukraine
  language schools.
  
• Sparked popular outrage
• Although official rhetoric states otherwise,
  Ukraine also presents an extremely weak model for
  multilingual education.

20
How do France and Ukraine Compare?

• Goal Monolingualism in titular languages
• France is outspoken about monolingual policy,
  Ukraine is rhetorically bilingual.
  
• Ukraines attitudes towards its linguistic
  minorities, mainly Russians, are political and
  historical.
  
• Frances attitudes towards minorities are more
  based on internal ideals of Frenchness.

21
Comparison Cont.

• Some may see France as a unilingual education
  system, and Ukraine as a bilingual education
  system, however..
  
• They both represent extremely weak models for
  achieving multilingualism.
  
• A situation which according to Skutnabb-Kangas,
  constitutes linguistic genocide.

22

• Luxembourgish
• Letzebuergesch, Luxembourgeois, Luxemburgisch

A Trilingual Policy

"We want to remain what we are"
23

• Luxembourg is a Grand Duchy
• National language v. Official Language
• 400,000 Luxembourgish speakers worldwide

24
Luxembourgish

• Franconian language
• In Belgium, France and Germany, Luxembourgish is
  considered a local German dialect
  
• Several dialects of Luxembourgish
• - Standardization slowly being achieved
• Dialect continuum and Mutual Intelligibility
  German and French

25
Linguistic Situation

• Several languages coexist
• Switch to foreign languages
• Attempt to establish Luxembourgish as a written
  language
  
• Influence of World War II, annexation by the
  Third Reich
  
• Regained Sovereignty in 1944

26
Romance/Germanic Border

• Coexistence of two ethnic groups, a Romance and a
  Germanic one
  
• Early Preference for French
• Role of German
• Originally primary school education was limited
  to German
  
• July 26, 1843 law enforcing bilingualism,
  introducing French in primary school
  

27
Languages of Luxembourg

• Grand-ducal decrees of the 1800s allowed free
  choice between German and French
  
• Luxembourgish had no official status
• 1948 Constitutional Revision
• February 24, 1984 Law
• Creation of National and Official Languages of
  Luxembourg
  
• Three official languages French, German and
  Luxembourgish
  
• Each language serves as the primary language in a
  particular sphere
  

28
Languages Cont.

• Luxembourgish used mostly conversationally
• French Intellectual elites
• Most official, written business
• Cultural articles, advertisements and social
  announcements
  
• Legislative Documents
• German Popular classes
• Press and the church
• Printed newspapers are mostly in German
• Police Files
• Public service information is in French and
  German
  

29
Immigrant Populations and Languages

• 36 of Luxembourgs population and 48 of the
  workforce hold foreign passports
  
• Large presence of Portuguese, Spanish and Italian
  
  
• Multilingual texts
• Ads in newspapers written in 5 different
  languages Luxembourgish, French, German,
  Portuguese and Spanish
  

30
Trilingual Education

• Preschool is taught in Luxembourgish
• Students begin primary school with German
• Changes to French in secondary school
• Proficiency in the three official languages is
  required for graduation
  
• Approximately half of all students leave school
  without a certified qualification

31
European Union

• In 1940, the Third Reich annexed Luxembourg
• Post-war Status End to Neutrality and Promotion
  of Inter-Governmental and Supra-Govermental
  Institutions
  
• Advocate of economic, political and military
  integration
  
• Luxembourg is the seat of several European Union
  institutions

32
Conclusion

• Which is the best model?
• Best Model Luxembourg
• However, Luxembourg is a very small country,
  under pressure by the larger countries
  surrounding it. In a larger and more diverse
  country Luxembourgs particular policy may be
  unrealistic.

33
Advantages of a Trilingual Policy

• Trilingual Language Policy provides students with
  a unique opportunity to learn many languages and
  cultures
  
• Multilingualism makes it possible for
  Luxembourgish students to attend foreign
  universities
  
• Central Role in Inter-Governmental Organizations

34
Disadvantages

• A strong model for multilingual education is
  important in creating a multilingual population,
  but it is not the ONLY factor.
  
• Luxembourgish suffers from domain loss
• Immigrant children are particularly
  disadvantaged
  
• Conclusion A stronger model would be a country
  that provides education in the predominant
  immigrant language, as well as the national
  languages, which enables everyone to thrive.

35
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