TY - JOUR

T1 - Identifying pluralistic approaches in language subjects in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden - A comparative curriculum analysis

AU - Drachmann, Natascha

AU - Haukås, Åsta

AU - Lundberg, Adrian

PY - 2023/1

Y1 - 2023/1

N2 - In Scandinavia, where all students learn two or more languages in and outside of school, plurilingualism has been embraced as an important goal in language curricula. However, previous research has shown that teachers struggle to understand what plurilingualism is and how it can be implemented. To address this lack of clarity, we analysed the curricula for the three main language subjects of schooling in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden with the purpose of identifying which pluralistic approaches can be found in the respective countries’ language curricula. We based our analysis on the three main approaches described in The Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches to Languages and Cultures: integrated didactic approach (IDA), intercomprehension between related languages (ICRL) and eveil aux langues/awakening to languages (EAL). We found that there are several similarities across the Scandinavian countries, but also some major differences, showing that plurilingual education in these countries will likely have different learning outcomes for the students. For example, IDA is lacking in the Swedish curriculum, and the goals for ICRL are more ambitious in Denmark than in the other countries. Furthermore, Norway and Sweden include national minority languages in their pluralistic approaches, whereas no attention is given to language diversity in regions with close political bonds to Denmark, such as the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland.

AB - In Scandinavia, where all students learn two or more languages in and outside of school, plurilingualism has been embraced as an important goal in language curricula. However, previous research has shown that teachers struggle to understand what plurilingualism is and how it can be implemented. To address this lack of clarity, we analysed the curricula for the three main language subjects of schooling in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden with the purpose of identifying which pluralistic approaches can be found in the respective countries’ language curricula. We based our analysis on the three main approaches described in The Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches to Languages and Cultures: integrated didactic approach (IDA), intercomprehension between related languages (ICRL) and eveil aux langues/awakening to languages (EAL). We found that there are several similarities across the Scandinavian countries, but also some major differences, showing that plurilingual education in these countries will likely have different learning outcomes for the students. For example, IDA is lacking in the Swedish curriculum, and the goals for ICRL are more ambitious in Denmark than in the other countries. Furthermore, Norway and Sweden include national minority languages in their pluralistic approaches, whereas no attention is given to language diversity in regions with close political bonds to Denmark, such as the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland.

U2 - 10.1080/07908318.2022.2156528

DO - 10.1080/07908318.2022.2156528

M3 - Tidsskriftartikel

VL - 36

SP - 327

EP - 342

JO - Language, Culture and Curriculum

JF - Language, Culture and Curriculum

SN - 0790-8318

IS - 3

ER -