Alphabetization / initial literacy

1. Alphabetization/initial literacy Alfie, Oslo meeting, Oct. 2011

2. Outline • Norwegian immigrant population • GoverningofNorwegianlanguagetraining and social studies • The roleof Vox • Laws and regulations • Curriculum • National tests • Plan for quality • Focus areas • Alphabetization • Continuingeducation and furthereducation Endres i topp-/bunntekst

3. Immigrant population • Norway’spopulationnearly 5 million • 600 000 immigrants = 12,2 % ofwholepopulation • Oslo: largest immigrant population, 28 % ofthecapital’spopulation • Almost 50 % come from Asia, Africa and Latin-America Endres i topp-/bunntekst

4. BLD GoverningofNorwegianlanguagetraining and social studies 19 Fylkesmanns- embeter Tilskuddsforvaltning, tilsyn og etterutdanningskurs Vox Faglig og pedagogisk ansvar IMDi Implementering av introduksjonsloven IMDisSeks regionkontorer 430 municipalities Responsible for providingNorwegainlanguagetraining and social studies aAccording to laws and regulations Vox, høsten 2011

5. Vox – role in developingthefield:CurriculaNational testsDocumentation and analysisMethodsdevelopment and Continuingeducation and furthereducationMethodsLearning material Endres i topp-/bunntekst

6. The IntroductionAct • Purpose: increasethepossibility for participation in working and sociallifewiththe goal offinancialsufficiency • Dependingon type ofresidencepermit: right and / or obligation to completeNorwegianlanguagetraining and social studies • Completionoftherequiredlessonsconditions for beingeligible for permanent residencepermit and Norwegiancitizenship • Funding: Earmarked per capita grant basedonnationalbackgroundofparticipants (Western/ non-Western) and the passing ofnational tests Endres i topp-/bunntekst

7. Intoductoryprogramme • Mandatory for certaingroupsofimmmigrants • Trainingscheme to provide: • basicNorwegianlanguage skilles • basicinsightintoNorwegiansociety • preparation for workinglife and/or education • Full year and fulltime programme • Annualintroductionbenefit (17 065 euros, 2011) Endres i topp-/bunntekst

8. Norwegian language training and social studies for immigrants • At least 300 lessons*) of Norwegian and social studies • 50 lessons of social studies in a language that the immigrant understands well • 250 lessons of Norwegian language training • Extra tuition, up to a total of 3000 lessons if required  *) 600 lessons from next year • Appr 35 - 40.000 participants pr year Endres i topp-/bunntekst

9. The curriculum: Vox is responsible for development and implementation • Covers level A1 to B2 • Based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching and assessment (CEFR) • Five skills • Reading, writing, listening, speaking & communicating • Four domains • Personal life, society, education and working life • Three tracks • Track 1: participants with no formal education or formal education at a very low level • Track 2: participants with medium high education or with higher education with a L1 belonging to a language group typologically different from the Norwegian language • Track 3: participants with higher education and with a L1 belonging to a language group typologically closer to the Norwegian language

10. Second language training for immigrants • Participants: • 2005: appr. 24 000 • 2010: appr. 43 000 • 2009–2010 Kilde: NIR Vox, høsten 2011

11. Track 1-learners • ¼ oftheparticipants , a majorityarewomen • May get up to 3000 lessonsofNorwegianlanguageinstruction and social studies. • = 20 lessons per week for 3,9 years • This has to be takenwithinfiveyearsafterregistration in a national system • Most arebeingtaughthow to read and write in Norwegian, not theirmothertongue, althoughthecurruculumopens ut to thispossibility. • The goal: Level B1 oral, level A2 written. Veryfeware taking anyofthese tests, less are passing them. • Realistic goals? Endres i topp-/bunntekst

12. Official language tests: will become mandatory to take, but not to pass • Local language test at level A1:diagnostic and formative function • National language tests: Norwegian Test2 and Norwegian Test 3, at level A2 and B1 • Immigrants get one of these tests for free • Tests are not mandatory at the moment, but will be very soon • National goals for 2010: 65 % pass on written exam, 90 % on oral exam • Test results for 2010: 61 % pass on N2 and 53 % on N3 (written exam) 92 % pass on N2 and 78 % on N3 (oral exam) • Norwegian test, higher level: B2/C1 • The candidate has to pay a fee • For university and college entry

13. Social studies • New immigrant in Norway • History, Geography and wayof living • Family and lifecycle • Health • Education and competence/qualification • Work, employment and thelabour market • Democracy and thewelfaresociety A mandatory test is about to come. Mandatory to take it, not to pass it. Vox, høsten 2011

14. Someofourfocus areas 2011-2013 • Reading /”thesecondliteracy” • Workrelatedlanguagetraining • Violence in closerelations • Alphabetization, aimed at Track 1 - Oral beginnertraining - Initial literacy - Inter-generationallearning (familylearning) Assessment: summative and formative Vox, høsten 2011

15. Alphabetization • Is more thanlearningthe letters…. Endres i topp-/bunntekst

16. Alphabetization/ initial literacy. First steps: • Oral language, (L2/ L1?) • Vocabulary • Phonologicalawareness • Phonem – graphem • Letter identification, letter formation • Decoding / sightwordrecognition • Spelling • Readingfrequentwords, everydaytexts Endres i topp-/bunntekst

17. Oral language • For communication • A base for learninghow to read and write Endres i topp-/bunntekst

18. Teachers’ competence • Continuingeducation • 2-days courses in all thecounties (18). For all teachers and leaders in thefield. • 1-day coursesofdifferenttopics, ofwhichthecountiesmaychose:grammar, pronunciation, pedagogy for adult learners, oral beginnertraining etc. • Furthereducation • Norwegian as a seconlanguage, netbasedstudyprogrammePRISME, University of Bergen: «It ought to be mandatory for all teachersofNorwegian as a secondlanguage” • former student • Study programmes in basic skills, University of Stavanger and Vestfold College: net-supportedprogrammescombinedwithsomegatherings per semeseter. • Scholarships • Eligible for master students for thepasttwoyears. Will be continued. • For providersoftraining in relation to Program for Competence in Workinglife (Basiskompetanse i arbeidslivet, BKA) • Gatherings for leadersofeducationalcentres for adult learning Vox, høsten 2011

19. Teachertraining • Trainingofteachers to carryoutin-training • Countybasedcourses (18) Furthereducation: • Alfarådet: AlphabetizationCouncil • Description ofneededcompetences • Future: an inter-Nordiceducation? Endres i topp-/bunntekst

20. Alfarådet, LESLLA Alfarådet= inter-Nordic Alphabetization Council Low Educated Second Language And Literacy Acquisition for Adults Endres i topp-/bunntekst

21. . LESLLA brings together researchers and practitioners with backgrounds in linguistics, psycho-linguistics, psychology and education to establish an international and multi-target-language research agenda. During annual workshops and information sharing throughout the year (www.leslla.com) , LESLLA participants will increase the body of knowledge and outline the areas of research that require investigation for low-educated second language learners Endres i topp-/bunntekst

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