On Monday afternoon, 26 September, the Europeesk Buro foar Lytse Talen (EBLT) and the Mercator European Research Centre for Multilingualism will celebrate the European Day of Languages with a special focus on a multilingual learning environment. Poet of Fryslân Sigrid Kingma and troubadour Jan Henk de Groot will let their languages resound with poetry and music.

Multilingual learning environment

Speakers Hilda Heyde of the RUTU Foundation and Janke Singelsma of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences will talk about the inclusion of linguistic diversity in (primary) schools. Heyde will explain the RUTU Foundation's 'Language Friendly Schools' project and Singelsma will discuss the recently published book 'Language-Aware Teaching: Getting started with linguistic diversity in primary education'.

Dichter fan Fryslân and Groningen music

In the afternoon, linguistic diversity can also be heard in poetry and music. Sigrid Kingma, the Dichter fan Fryslân, has written a poem especially for the European Day of Languages, which she will of course recite. Groningen troubadour Jan Henk de Groot will provide the music.

European Day of Languages

European Day of Languages, an initiative of the Council of Europe, has been celebrated every year since 2001 and is dedicated to multilingualism and language learning. There are more than 200 European languages and of these - in addition to the official languages - about 79 languages are recognised from a total of 204 minority groups, such as Frisian, Sorbian, or German which is recognised in several countries from Armenia to Denmark.

EBLT and Mercator European Research Centre

The afternoon is organised by the Europeesk Buro foar Lytse Talen (EBLT) and the Mercator European Research Centre for Multilingualism and Language Learning (part of the Fryske Akademy). The EBLT is an umbrella body dedicated to the promotion and protection of minority languages in the Netherlands. More than 20 organisations are affiliated to the EBLT that work for the position of Frisian, Low Saxon, Bildts or Papiamentu. Mercator European Research Centre for Multilingualism and Language Learning researches multilingual education and language learning in Europe.

Welcome

The event is public and free of charge. Registration is at 15:00 and the programme will start at 15:30. The afternoon will end with snacks and drinks.

Location and registration:

Gysbert Japicxseal, Tresoar.
Boterhoek 1, Leeuwarden (NL)

Please register by filling in this form: https://forms.gle/3dhgZhgTDd1wnw867