November 11, 2023
To view more videos from the conference, scroll down.
The Forum of Heritage Language Coalitions in Europe (FOHLC Europe) offers an opportunity for those involved with heritage language education – running programs otherwise known as mother tongue lessons or weekend schools – to come together to exchange ideas. The 3rd annual FOHLC Europe conference took place online on Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11, 2022, free of charge.
The organizers are proud to report that there was an overwhelming positive response to the conference. Because people working in this field are often on the margins, they cherish the chance to connect with others with similar experiences -- across countries and languages -- to stay motivated and get expert advice.
THEME
The theme of the 2023 conference was “Harvesting support for HL education: How to seek and maximize resources.” Over two days, attendees received practical tips and examples of how to how to find funding, lesson materials, partners, volunteers, and other means of sustaining HL educational programs.
AUDIENCE
The conference program included structured networking opportunities designed for professionals in the field of HL education: teachers, coordinators, and volunteers at HL programs as well as for leaders of HL umbrella associations, coalitions, and networks. Parents, academics, or policy makers interested in the topic of HL education were also welcome.
PROGRAM
Thirteen presenters over two days! Topics ranging from theater techniques in the class, to grant-writing to the benefits of joining a coalition. The full conference program and slides can be found on the event description page.
ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE
There were over 200 registrations for the conference, from over 40 countries around the world, supporting more than 50 heritage languages.
There was overwhelming enthusiasm about the warm and supportive atmosphere of the conference and the usefulness of the information shared. All of the respondents to our conference feedback survey plan to share with their colleagues the ideas sparked during the event.
The atmosphere of high-level professionalism combined with the spirit of collaboration and learning is very energizing.
I liked the networking in breakout rooms as well as the wealth and depth of information shared by the workshop leaders and participants.
I learned a lot to keep me motivated and enthusiastic to continue creating more projects for our multilingual communities!
I liked the warm welcome to all, professional delivery, kept on time, had an opportunity to explore, made materials available quickly, encouraged collaboration related to topic.
The conference was absolutely amazing.
Many thanks to everyone who made this a fruitful and inviting event!
MORE VIDEOS FROM THE CONFERENCE
FOHLC Europe is a collaboration between several groups involved with heritage language (HL) education with the purpose of organizing an annual conference and other regular online gatherings for the teachers and managers of HL programs in Europe, as well as for the leaders of coalitions and networks of HL programs. The goal of is provide a European platform for the exchange of ideas about how to promote HL education, improve the quality and professionalism of HL education, and to map the situation of HL programs in Europe. FOHLC Europe offers professional development and networking opportunities to professionals in the field of HL education. FOHLC Europe 2023 was organized by M Móðurmál – the Association on Bilingualism, Heritage Language Education Network, Association pour la Promotion et l'Avancement du Multilinguisme - A.P.A.M (Multilingual Café), Association for the Promotion of Polish Language Abroad (APPLA), the Czech and Slovak School Okénko in London, Agnieszka Pędrak, an independent researcher at Trinity College in Dublin, and Sabine Little, a researcher at the University of Sheffield. See www.hlenet.org/fohlc-europe or email fohlceurope@gmail.com for more information.
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