How to become an educator for the Frisian language? Is there specialised initial training to prepare pre-service educators for working in a multilingual environment?

Pre-school educators

Students follow a study track at a secondary vocational education institute (MBO), either at level 3 or level 4, to become a teacher for pre-primary education.  At MBO level 4 students train to become specialised pedagogical staff (Dutch: gespecialiseerd pedagogisch medewerker).

The training does not specifically focus on the Frisian language which is why workshops and classes specifically targeting Frisian language education are offered by external organisations, such as those involved in the Taalplan Frysk. SFBO for example, organises in-service training that emphasises Frisian and multilingualism in early childhood education.

Primary school

Pre-service teachers for primary education follow either a bachelor’s
degree in primary education, known as PABO (carried out a HBO  – institution for higher professional education), or an academic teacher training programme (carried out jointly at a HBO and university).

In Fryslân, students attend NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences to train as primary school teachers. The programme includes a course “Frisian as a subject”, which entails language command of all four skills (understanding, speaking, reading, and writing) as well as youth literature and didactics. For non-Frisian speaking students a special course is offered on language acquisition.

Secondary school

Teacher training for secondary education is also carried out a HBO and is divided into two levels. A level-2 programme (4 years) leads to a qualification to teach at pre-vocational secondary schools (VMBO), and the lower secondary grades at general secondary schools (HAVO) and pre-university schools (VWO).

To each at the upper secondary level, students need to enrol in a level-1 programme (2-3 years).

In Fryslân, just as in the case for primary education,  study at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences to teach Frisian as a school subject. The programme follows a similar structure as those of other school language subjects (Dutch, English, German, and French).

However, as Dutch and Frisian are obligatory school subjects in Fryslân that are taught as L1 and L2, the curriculum has tended to integrate Frisian and Dutch both as L1s of the trainee teachers and of the pupils in secondary education and in the teacher training programme for Frisian. The bachelor’s and master’s programmes for Frisian include the improvement of the student’s own language command in all four skills up to C2 level of the CEFR, as well as grammar and syntax, (youth) literature, history of Fryslân, and learning and training of didactic skills.

References

Riemersma, A. (in press). Frisian: The Frisian language in education in the Netherlands (5th edition). Regional Dossier series.