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16.04.2008
Background
Latvia is a distinctly multi-ethnic society. Integration of its various ethnic communities is an essential pre-requisite for the country's stability and prosperity. Societal integration is built on fostering understanding and respect among different ethnic communities. In Latvia, this also involves the willingness and readiness to learn the Latvian language. Knowledge of Latvian helps non-Latvians integrate socially, culturally, economically and politically and contributes to their competitiveness in the labour market.
Knowledge of Latvian is one of the preconditions for obtaining Latvian citizenship.
General aspects
In 1995 a steering group was established for the project of a National Programme for Latvian Language Training, duly approved by the Government of Latvia. Its aim was to assist with the teaching of Latvian as a second language to non-Latvian-speaking adults and students in minority schools. On 12 October, 2004 the name of the language training programme was changed to the National Agency for Latvian Language Training (NALLT). Latvian is taught in the context of real-life situations. The teaching methodology employed is based on contemporary techniques of second language acquisition which are widely accepted internationally.
The NALLT focuses on four main areas: - Provision of successive learning of Latvian language from preschool till lifelong education;
- Creation of study and teaching literature and creation of other modern study aid material, using IT;
- Perfection of professional skills of Latvian language teachers;
- Creating of a development system for Latvian language learning in the Diaspora;
- Promotion of public integration processes;
- Development of an international professional cooperation network in the area of learning methodology of a second language and bilingual education.
The NALLT steering unit
The NALLT steering unit (http://www.lvava.gov.lv) is headed by Dace Dalbina. The NALLT is based in Riga and has its regional offices in Liepaja and Daugavpils and regional co-ordination centres in Ludza, Kraslava, Preili, Jelgava, Ventspils and Rezekne.
Supervision of the Agency
During its first four years, the NALLT was co-ordinated by the UNDP; since January 2001, the Ministry of Education and Science has taken over the administrative supervision of the Agency.
Implementing projects
Methodology and continued education of teachers
The NALLT values a graded learning process, the fostering of motivation and creation of an environment conducive to language acquisition. Consequently, its main emphasis is placed on methodology training for LAT2 (Latvian as a second language) teachers. With the help of international experts in second language teaching, the NALLT has established a group of local specialists to train teachers in LAT2 methodology. Teachers having received training at the NALLT LAT2 methodology training courses since 1996 are currently putting their knowledge into practice with students and adults.
Acquisition of Latvian as a Second Language (LAT2)
In response to significant public interest and the language policy implemented in Latvia which requires that persons employed in certain professions must be proficient in Latvian, the NALLT has since 1997 been providing language courses tailored to the needs of specific professional groups. These courses are based on the premise that a language is usually learned for practical use in everyday life, not just for passing examinations. The NALLT employs teachers who have received LAT2 methodology training to conduct the courses all over Latvia.
In 2004 NALLT devoted special attention to a new target audience – parents of the children attending national minority schools. LAT2 courses are in much demand among this social group; they not only help learn the language, but also provide the parents with a deeper understanding of the educational reforms being carried out in the country and draw them closer to the school and their children who already have comparatively good language skills. In last years more financial resources had been allocated to provide LAT 2 courses to the parents of children attending these schools.
Teaching and methodological literature
NALLT teaching materials emphasise that Latvian is a modern language that can be used in any situation. The NALLT is developing LAT2 teaching materials for three distinct audiences:
Schools (grades 1-9): teaching materials include a textbook, student workbook, teacher handbook and audio and video materials. A variety of teaching aids are currently being developed for bilingual education. - Teachers and professional groups: a handbook for schoolteachers and a variety of methodological aids and books of recommendations for teachers of adult groups.
- The general public: textbooks accompanied by video materials, dictionaries, workbooks and audiocassettes.
Developing links with society and fostering political dialogue
The NALLT organises a range of activities to promote language acquisition in an informal environment. These include youth summer camps, interschool projects and media events. The NALLT supports "Latvian language clubs" in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, and other cities throughout Latvia. The NALLT also regularly publishes a newsletter entitled Tagad (Now) in Latvian, English, and Russian languages for those interested in issues related to the Latvian language, teaching methodology, and societal integration (available on http://www.lvava.gov.lv).
Since February 2005, the NALLT also publishes a newspaper entitled "Atslēgas" ("Keys"), which provides information on the adopted government decisions in both Latvian and Russian thus helping in the language learning process. The newspaper is published bi-weekly and is available free of charge in almost every post office in Latvia. Starting in August 2005, due to high demand, circulation of the newspaper was increased to 50,000 thus increasing the original issue by 20,000 more copies.
Involvement of international donors
International donors have made a significant contribution to the promotion of societal integration in Latvia through their support for the NALLT. For the period from 1996 till 2004 the multi-donor programme was administered by the UNDP.
International Donor Support 1996-2004
|
Country/Source of Funds |
Total (USD) |
|
Government of Denmark |
814,757 |
|
Government of Finland |
856,015 |
|
Government of France |
17,847 |
|
Government of the Netherlands |
840,709 |
|
Government of Norway |
767,998 |
|
Government of Sweden |
2,446,665 |
|
Government of Switzerland |
7,849 |
|
Government of Canada |
663,466 |
|
The United Kingdom |
231,194 |
|
United States of America |
370,000 |
|
UNDP |
765,819 |
|
Total |
7,590,149 |
|
European Commission |
EUR |
|
PHARE Programme 1996 - 2002 |
3,706,348.40 |
The PHARE Programme continues to support post 2004 NALLT activities following the 2002/2003 programme and according to project targets.
Presently, a project entitled "Learning Latvian as the state language at secondary education level" is being implemented within the European Union Structural Funds National Programme "Learning the Latvian language".
The objective of the project is to ensure methodological support to secondary school teachers for an integrated acquisition of teaching contents and of the Latvian language, thus facilitating teachers' mobility and career opportunities
Main directions of the project's activities:
Further education – development of further education programmes, training of educators, courses for further education, seminars, methodological consultations
Teachers' co-operation – models for school co-operation, partnership camps
Teaching and methodological aids - thematic plans, methodological literature for teachers, educational materials for students, DVD disks, the purchase of sets of textbooks/course books and reference literature for schools.
Latvian Government support
The key to the sustainability of the Agency is the support provided by the Latvian government. The Government has co-financed the NALLT since 2001. The allocation of USD 690,000, along with the transfer of project co-ordination responsibility from the UNDP to the Ministry of Education and Science has significantly increased the government's involvement in the Agency's work. The government has allocated about the same amount to the Agency in 2002 and 2003 as in the 2001 National budget. In 2004 the NALLT received LVL 391,685.00 from the National budget, in 2005 the National budget together with the EU PHARE project funding allocated LVL 692,172.00 and in 2006 for NALLT work. In 2006 the NALLT received LVL 409,795.00 from the National budget.
Since 1999 the Government has provided additional funds as supplementary support to teachers who teach their subjects in Latvian or bilingually in national minority schools. These payments increase regularly. In 2002 LVL 808,368.00 were allocated for this purpose (EUR 1,283,123.00), in 2003, LVL 888,364.00 (EUR 1,410,100.00), in 2004, LVL 1,220,598.00 (EUR 1,794,998.00). In 2005 the amount for the bonuses was LVL 1,403,680.00 (EUR 2,034,319.00). As of 2006, responsibility for the payment of additional bonuses has been transferred to the competence of local governments, thus providing an opportunity to support specialists of bilingual education at the regional level.
International Evaluation of NALLT
The fact that the Agency now serves as a model for other countries beginning to address the issue of state language acquisition in a multi-ethnic society attests to the professionalism of its implementation and its success. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, has on numerous occasions praised the Agency for Latvian Language Training for the very successful co-operation in implementing projects of societal integration and has emphasised that the Latvian experience in the area of social integration may be used as a model by other countries. Latvian experts have to date very successfully worked in OSCE projects in Georgia, Moldova and countries in Central Asia. Similar co-operation is also planned in the future.
Results of the Programme
Due to a successful language policy and educational reform, the knowledge of the Latvian language by the public has improved. The annual studies of the Baltic Social Science Institute Valoda (Language) indicate that at the end of the 1990s around 40% of respondents replied that their knowledge of the Latvian language is good, whereas in 2004 65% of respondents considered their knowledge of the Latvian language as well mastered. In 2007, as many as 74% of respondents considered that their Latvian proficiency was at a good level. In 2007, several other positive tendencies could be observed, namely, not only the number of persons having command of Latvian has increased, but also the usage of Latvian has become more widespread. Moreover, the attitude of people of non-Latvian origin towards speaking Latvian has become more positive.
Sociological polls show that since 1996 the ability of non-Latvian speakers to use Latvian has increased steadily, and this is related to the increasing interest to learn Latvian. If in 1996 non-Latvians indicated that they mostly interfaced withLatvian on television, in 2002 polling results show a change of attitude towards the language, especially emphasising the motivation of usefulness. Thus, the language is being learned in order to keep jobs, to increase opportunities in the labour market, to pass the language test to obtain Latvian citizenship, and to help children with their school work and to motivate them to learn Latvian by their example.
These indicators reflect the increasing use of the Latvian language as a means of communication throughout society. The Latvian Language Training Agency will therefore remain one of most important means for promoting the integration of Latvia's ethnic minorities in the years to come.
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