Page 14 - ELG1711 Nov Issue 452

YOUNG LEARNERS .
SPECIAL

How history and politics got

the better of bilingualism

A recent study finds that investment in more language exposure has not had the In safe hands
desired impact on second language learning in the South Tyrol – but the reasons

are highly complex, Claudia Civinini explains

he Italian press have been calling into
question the value of Clil teaching
methods after a leading research
Tcentre released the results of a study
looking at students’ second-language skills.
The research shows that despite investment
in bilingualism and techniques such as Clil, Melanie Butler explains why Devon is her number one destination for
students’ second-language proficiency in the school groups looking for English language courses
Alpine South Tyrol region has worsened since
a previous study in 2007.
But for linguists Chiara Vettori and Andrea y number one destination for not help you deal with the needs of twenty students or agents looking for host families
Abel, the authors of the study, the reality school groups looking for short Italian fifteen-year-olds or a class from a with children of the same age as students
is more complex. Observers must take into English language courses outside Chinese primary school. are likely to be disappointed. Very few young
account the characteristics of the local Mthe school holidays is Devon, a It is definitely the family-run schools families in Devon can afford a house with
context, they say. This is a region where South Tyrol is famous shire county in the south west of England. rather than the chains that have made the spare bedrooms, and most providers choose
history, politics and identity can become for its scenic landscapes My choice has nothing to do with the sandy running. There have been family-run young- to offer homestay when their children leave
stumbling blocks on the road to bilingualism – beaches, stunning national parks or even its learner specialist courses in Sidmouth and home. But this is true in most of England.
and where ‘immersion’ is a taboo word. school, but the study highlighted that fewer as ‘different’ from the other community. warm climate. I would recommend Devon Exeter since the 1970s and in Ilfracombe I can think of individual schools in other
South Tyrol is a region in the north east students attain that level compared to 2007. ‘It’s almost amusing to look at the reasons because of its unique system of safeguarding since the late ’80s. Schools in the ‘English parts of Britain that have real expertise
of Italy with three official languages: Italian, The reason for this, the linguists explains, behind this perception,’ says Dr Vettori. children and the high number of language Riviera’ resorts of Torquay and Paignton teaching under-16s – one in Southampton,
German and Ladin, a romance language. is that this ‘second language’ – either Italian ‘Teenagers say, “We have different mentalities schools that specialise in young learners. have a long tradition of junior summer one in Edinburgh, two in Yorkshire – but
Whatever language children speak at home, or German – is really a ‘foreign language’ for and attitudes,” but in reality the contacts Of course, its famous cream teas are an schools, which they have used to build up Devon has by far the largest specialist
they grow up studying their second language most children. ‘One of the biggest predictors between the two communities can be scarce at added bonus. Devon has long offered local their year-round offering, as have the schools resource.
in school while being surrounded by it in their for L2 proficiency for both groups [Italian- times – so how do they know that they are so language schools the opportunity to have all in the picture-perfect inland town of Totnes. And young learners in Devon can benefit
daily lives, for example on bilingual street and German-speaking] is the use of the L2 different?’ asks Dr Abel. their homestay families vetted by the same In the last ten years, a company has been set not only from its specialist English teaching
signs. With successful trilingual programmes outside of school. But the study shows these When the researchers looked at the service that checks foster families. This level up in Exmouth focusing almost exclusively but from its wealth of family-friendly tourist
introducing English in primary school, the two communities are separated,’ explains Dr correlation between Clil methodology and of child-protection checks is the highest in on closed groups of young learners. offerings, its sandy beaches replete with
region seems to be a perfect lab to develop Vettori. The reasons are historical. During the L2 proficiency, they found ‘no statistically the UK and possibly in the world. Not everything is perfect. water sport facilities, its medieval towns and
multilingual citizens. fascist era, the German language was basically significant difference between students who Crime rates in the region are well below Devon is a wealthy region but, as in most its beautiful countryside. And, the added
But what at first sight looks like a linguist’s outlawed and all German place names in the were taught German through increased national average, even in the larger towns. of the UK, house prices are very high, so bonus, its famous cream teas.
paradise turns into a minefield upon closer region were forcibly Italianised. After the exposure via Clil and students who had been Although tourism is a major industry, most
examination. ‘Compared to other European war, German and Ladin were declared official taught with traditional methodology.’ Dr visitors are from Britain – it’s a classic family
countries and Italian regions, we do have languages alongside Italian. South Tyrol kept Vettori says: ‘This shook the Italian-speaking holiday destination for the English. It also
an advantage,’ says Dr Vettori, who carried the Italian names but adopted bilingual street community, which had embraced Clil as a way has had a low level of immigration, with 95
out the study – known as Kolipsi II – at the signs, which are periodically under attack. to improve their German proficiency. However, per cent of its population British-born, and
Eurac private research centre. ‘We should The region’s linguistic make-up is not results must be seen in context, and we is definitely more ‘typically English’ than
be surprised that proficiency is not higher.’ homogenous. In some valleys, Dr Vettori considered the Clil methodology only as one ‘cosmopolitan’ – young adults in search of a
Students should attain a B2-level in their says, ‘You can’t find an Italian speaker.’ The factor among many: family, socio-economic cool nightlife should head for the university
second language at the end of secondary Italian community, making up 26 per cent of background, attitudes towards the L2.’ cities of Exeter and Plymouth, while the
the population, tends to cluster around the Dr Abel adds, ‘For this particular dataset, we beautiful small coastal towns are perfect for
capital Bolzano-Bozen, whereas the German only looked at Italian-speaking schools as Clil younger learners.
By Sextum (Foto personale) [CC BY-SA 2.5 it via Wikimedia Commons successful L2 learning,’ explains Dr Abel. welcomed Clil, the German-speaking one young learners, which means that it has the
is not as popular in German-speaking schools.’
community – 70 per cent of the population –
The other major advantage to Devon is
that it has long been a hub for year-round
While the Italian-speaking community has
concentrates in other areas.
‘Attitudes are important catalysts for
was always a little reticent about it over
educational infrastructure in place to deal
‘Families have a fundamental role in this.’
with school groups – teachers experienced
widespread fears they could lose their mother
in teaching under-16s, good year-round
tongue – a vestige from the fascist era when
‘There is only so much schools can do,’ says
German was outlawed. ‘“Immersion” quickly
leisure programmes for this age group, and a
Dr Vettori. ‘Both the Italian- and German-
speaking schools are really committed [to
supply of suitable accommodation. With the
became a taboo word,’ explains Dr Abel. ‘Our
supporting bilingualism] but they can’t
other language school in Britain has started
in a bilingual context can’t just happen at
perform miracles. It’s also up to the students,
the families, the institutions, the politicians
to offer courses for closed groups of under-
school: the L2 needs to be relevant in, and for,
16s, but the expertise needed for teaching
students’ daily life.’ It takes a region to raise a
and the media.’ The study also shows that study shows that the learning of a language growth of the school-group market, every
A trilingual road sign young people say they perceive themselves bilingual. businessmen and university students does Devon seaside
14 November 2017 editorial@elgazette.com 15