Centre of Multilingual Education
Narva College hosts the Centre of Multilingual Education, which gathers and connects all the activities related to multilingualism and multiculturalism.
Beginning from the academic year 2016/2017 the Center incorporates the following:
Work group on Multiculturalism: Study of Cultural Factors and Their Impact on Learning and Teaching (supported by the European Social Fund) (link)
Center of Education activities (supported by the Ministry of Education and Research) (link)
Supporting Russian Language Kindergartens and schools
Community-oriented activities
Research and Development activities (studies, surveys, publishing of educational magazine)
Work Group of Multiculturalism
Background
Europe is a truly multilingual and multicultural continent, yet the traditional school education has dominantly remained monolingual. With the increased movement of people within EU as well as immigration from outside of the EU, Europe’s multilingualism and multiculturalism is becoming more permanent and more prominent than ever before. Next to the traditional demands to include minority and immigrant populations’ languages into education, the role of English as lingua franca has increased dramatically in past decades. Demands to recognise linguistic and cultural diversity sets new challenges to the basic education system where traditionally homogenization objectives have been pursued. Furthermore, questions of educational attainment levels, social capital and social skills of linguistic or ethnic minority pupils have become a focus of educational policy debates. While the research has shown that multilingual education does not interfere with general academic achievements levels of pupils, there are indicators in some countries, for example in Estonia, the minority schools are underperforming in developing the social capital of their pupils that is one of the success indicators in the labour market. The debated question is whether the diversity should be built between the schools (majority and minority schools) or within a school (integrated schools for majority and minority pupils). The challenge is to combine the cultural and linguistic rights of minority communities with high academic attainment levels, social skills and social networks that form social capital needed for career advancement. How to build a basic education system that reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the local communities, be it either historical or immigrant minorities? How to integrated minority and majority schools or opt for integrated schools instead? Last but not least, what factors contribute to or inhibit the socialization and social capital development of pupils of minority schools or minority pupils in majority schools?
The team is working on the issue of multicultural education from October 2016 to September 2018 and will conduct a study about:
1) how the Russian language / multilingual schools are doing in the development of general competences and other principles of contemporary approach towards studying and learning,
2) how general competences are being developed in the schools.
The study seeks to answer the question whether the general competences in multilingual schools are developing in the same way as in Estonian schools – with the same pace and direction.
In 2017 interviews are carried out with the headmasters of Estonian and Russian high schools and a questionnaire is developed to assess the general competences of students in Estonian and Russian high school. Analysis, including recommendations for changes in curricula, training courses, etc. will be finalized in 2018.
The work group is led by Mai-Liis Palginõmm, MA, mai-Liis.palginomm [ät] ut.ee.
Members of the group are researchers Kristina Kallas, PhD, and the pressure of time, PhD and lecturer Aet Kiisla, MA.
The team hosted an international research seminar on 26.01.2017. The aim of the research workshop was to discuss the state of art in the research on minority multilingual and multicultural education. The workshop brought together researchers from European countries conducting research on minority education, on multilingual and multicultural curriculums and on majority-minority educations systems. Agenda
The work group on multiculturalism (T1.4) is working in the frames of an ESF project "Development of Pedagogicum Center of Excellence of Teacher Education of the University of Tartu". It is financed by European Social Fund and Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.
Ida-Virumaa Centre for Multilingual Education (Centre for Education)
Publication of an educational magazine Multilingual Education
The first issue was published in August 2017 and it contains articles that can be written in English, Estonian or Russian. The articles are not translated, thus a general level of these languages is required for understanding the whole content.
Issues:
No 1. August 2017. Models of Multilingual Education
Survey of the Estonian United Gymnasiums
In 2017, we survey the nine Estonian United Gymnasiums to understand how the school, the teachers and pupils, have adapted.
Support for Kindergartens and Schools
We organise different activities: workshops, trainings, study trips etc. to support regional kindergartens and schools.
Our library also acquires the newest Estonian Education literature, textbooks, workbooks, etc., which is made available to all local teachers.
In 2016/2017, we initiated a club for junior teachers that unites pedagogues who have just started their career in schools. The aim is to support each other, share their experiences and listen to guest speakers to learn new practices and methods.
Community Oriented Activities
We organize a lot different activities for the local community. We have the Pre-College for local high-school students, and Parent’s Club to discuss pedagogy and educational issues. Literature Club organises meetings with authors, and a Quiz Club than meets in college café.