Russian language in Lithuania
Russian language in Lithuania
Irina Golubeva University of Pannonia (HU)
Raimonda BruneviitLithuanian University of Health Sciences (LT)I
Congreso Internacional sobre Educacin Bilinge: Buenas prcticas en
los cuatro niveles educativos
17-20 de Noviembre de 2015
1outline
AbstractIntro: Lithuanian ContextRussian language in
LithuaniaLanguage Policy in LithuaniaLanguage teaching in
LithuaniaMinority language teachingRussian language in Baltic
countries in post-Soviet timesRussian as language of intercultural
communication in LithuaniaRussian in the context of university
student lifeRussian at Lithuanian universitiesThe case of LUHS
universityResults of the questionnaire surveyExpectations of
students studying Russian languageSummingup initial
findingsConclusionsReferences
Abstract
Lithuanian state guarantees national minorities a series of
rights, including the right to have schooling in their native
languages. National minority schools receive extra 20% of funding
for supporting minority students. Schooling in native languages is
concentrated in secondary education. Position of Russian language
in post-Soviet times has significantly changed in Baltic countries.
Situation in Lithuania is quite different from that in Estonia and
Latvia, because the Russian minority is not as substantial as in
the other two countries. Therefore, language seems to be less
sensitive matter here. In the secondary education level there are
schools with Russian as instruction languages, but in higher
education Russian as language of instruction is not used. On the
other hand, language learning in Lithuania is based on European
multilingual education policy. Due to this, at secondary education
level students must learn at least two foreign languages, choosing
from the list of main European languages (English, German, French),
or others - including Russian language. The main (so-called first)
foreign language studies also are compulsory in many higher
education study programs. In addition, some of higher educational
institutions offer students elective (so-called second) foreign
language courses. According to Eurobarometer Report (2012), in
Lithuania 92 % speak well at least one language, 52% - at least two
languages in addition to their mother tongue; 70 % of them speak
Russian.In our paper we provide a brief overview of language policy
and discuss the situation of Russian language education in
Lithuania, including basic statistic data. In addition, we try to
reveal the contexts in which Russian language is used as lingua
franca in higher education.
Key words: Russian language, lingua franca, Lithuania,
intercultural communication
LithuaniaN Context (1)According to population census of April 6,
2001, in Lithuania live 115 different nationalities; 16,5% of all
citizens. The biggest minority communities: Polish, Russian,
Belorusian, Ukrainian. According to Eurobarometer Report (2012), in
Lithuania 92% speak well at least one language, 52% - at least two
languages in addition to their mother tongue; 70% of them speak
Russian.The ethnical policy is implemented by the Department of
National Minorities and Emigration.Public radio and TV transmit in
minority languages (Russian, Polish etc.), and also newspapers are
published.300 minority NGOs supported by the state budget - are
active in cultural life.> 150 schools for main minorities act in
Lithuania; for small minorities there are additional lessons or
weekend schools.
4Lithuanian context (2)
Language learning in Lithuania is based on European multilingual
education policy. At secondary education level students must learn
at least two foreign languages, choosing from the list of main
European languages (English, German, French), or others - including
Russian language. In the secondary education level there are
schools with Russian as language of instruction.In higher education
Russian as language of instruction is not used. The main (so-called
first) foreign language studies also are compulsory in many higher
education study programs. In addition, some of higher educational
institutions offer students elective (so-called second) FL
courses.
5Language Policy in lithuania
Lithuanian state guarantees national minorities a series of
rights, including the right to have schooling in their native
languages. National minority schools receive extra 20% of funding
for supporting minority students. Schooling in native languages is
concentrated in secondary education.
6Language teaching in lithuania
Lithuanian educational system (in total 12 yrs) includes 1-year
pre-school, 4-year primary school, 6-year lower secondary school,
and 2-year upper secondary school. The first FL - from the 2nd form
of primary school, and compulsory till the 12th form. Pupils can
start learning the second FL (incl. Russian) from the 5th form, and
from the 6th form the second FL is compulsory. After completion of
the 10th form, pupils take the basic education achievement test in
the Lithuanian Language, Mathematics, and an elective basic
education achievement test in Mother Tongue (Belarusian, Polish,
Russian or German).From 2015 the B2 level state exam in first FL is
obligatory for submitting application to a university.
7At secondary school minority language teaching is organised
according to the programme of native language, and other subjects
are instructed in Lithuanian language. Some elective subjects could
be instructed in minority language. In case when secondary school
declares minority language as language of instruction, compulsory
and upper-secondary education is carried in bilingual model: using
both minority and state (Lithuanian) languages. In all such schools
there must be a certain number of subjects instructed in
Lithuanian.In secondary education there are minority schools with
Russian language. According to the State Statistical Department, in
Lithuania in total, Russian is the language of instruction at 73
schools. In higher education Russian is not used as language of
instruction. Minority Language teaching
8Russian language in Baltic countries in post-Soviet
timesPosition of Russian language in post-Soviet times has
significantly changed in Baltic countries. Officially, the
proportion of Russian minority: In Estonia 24%In Latvia 27%In
Lithuania 6% Therefore, Russian language seems to be less sensitive
matter in Lithuania.
9Russian as language of intercultural communication in
LithuaniaRussian is used as lingua franca
withRussians,Russophones,other Baltic citizens.
In Lithuania, older generation (who graduated from secondary
school before 1990) use Russian as lingua franca, but younger
citizens (born after 1986) practically do not use Russian for
intercultural communication.
10Russian in the context of university student lifeAccording to
a survey (Breggin, 2009), Lithuanians are the most open to learning
Russian in comparison to other Baltic states.In the same survey,
Lithuanian university students were the only non-Russophones to
comment extensively on the practical uses of Russian, on one hand
for future business purposes, on the other hand for current social
life. (ibid.)According to one of the respondents, ethnic
Lithuanians who know Russian seem to be able to make friends more
quickly from all sorts of backgrounds, adding that this is also
true about most Russophones as well. (ibid.)
11Russian At Lithuanian universities
Students can apply to programmes in Russian Language &
Culture (in the fields of Linguistics and Teacher Education) at 3
Lithuanian universities.The main (first) FL for special purposes
(SP) is compulsory in many higher education study programmes.
Russian as first language is popular in the group of older students
enroled in parttime study programmes.Some of higher educational
institutions offer students elective language courses. According to
the data of the Statistical Department, in 20152016 academic year
elective Russian is studied in 3 HE institutions.
12The case of LUHSLUHS has seven faculties with 29 Bachelor (I)
and Master (II) degree, 9 doctoral degree, and 72 post-graduate
study programmes. Total number of the students in I and II cycle
programmes is more then 6600. Every year more than 1200 students
enter the first year, and all Bachelor Students have to take
so-called Professional language courses up to 6 ECTS depending on
study programme. In different school years 7-17% of them study
Russian for SP, and in many cases they are part-time Students
(graduated from secondary school longer time before). In 2nd or 3rd
study year, students have to enrol in one of the elective courses:
English, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Danish, or Russian
language (to reach A2 level).Every year 6-10% of students study
elective Russian course.
13
Results of the questionnaire survey (1)In order to reveal main
expectations and reasons to choose Russian Language course, a
questionnaire survey was performed. 69 Ss in 2nd and 3rd year
enroled in elective Russian Language course in 2015-2016 a.y.. In
many cases students chose advanced Russian course.45 Ss (64% of
elective Russian course students) participated in survey, 12 of
them male, 33 female. The age of students - from 19 to 22 years
old.41 of the respondents studied elective Russian Language course
at school; 37 of them for more than a year.
Results of the questionnaire survey (2) Respondents were allowed
to choose several answers
15
expectations of students studying Russian language (1)Category
SubcategoryResponsesRussian language in professional life To learn
or to improve Russian professional terminology To improve Russian
not only for communication, but also for reading professional
literature To learn medical/pharmaceutical terms and use then in my
practice To learn professional terms in Russian To improve
knowledge for reading medical literature in RussianTo master basic
of Russian and to learn terms for further professional activityI
want to kmow medical terms in RussianRussian will help to find job
in the future I hope one more foreign language (Russian) will help
me to find job and communicate with others easierRussian language
will help to get job and communicate with other nationalities
16Category SubcategoryResponsesRussian language for personal
growth Russian for cultural educationImprove my language skillsI
want to learn spoken RussianI would like learn to communicate with
Russianspeaking people To enlarge my Russian knowledge, and reading
skillsTo communicate in Russian fluently, read and understand
professional literature To understand Russianspeaking people and
communicate with themImprove Russian skills for communica-tion with
RussophonesCapability to speak to Russian-speaking peolpe in work
place and in the streetTo improve Russnian for communication in the
street and future work placeI hope to improve my Russian to
communicate in ordinary situationsBe able to communicate in Russian
fluently and enrich my thesaurusImprove knowledge, to learn new
words, communicate fluently expectations of students studying
Russian language (2)
17Category SubcategoryResponses Russian language for everyday
lifeMaster Russian for oral and written com-munication To
communicate in Russian To master basic Russian for communication To
understand Russianspeaking people and a little spoken Russian For
understanding Russianspeaking people To learn spoken Russian To
learn to speak, read, write correctlyTo improve / refresh Russian
knowledge
To improve my Russian language knowledge (N=6)To master Russian
language To refresh spellingTo refresh and enrich my Russian
Refresh and deepen RussianTo improve language skills got at
schoolTo obtain basic knowledge of RussianTo enrich my thesaurusTo
obtain basic knowledgeTo obtain basic skills (N=2)To master Russian
language To master basic Russian language (N=3)
expectations of students studying Russian language (3)
18Summingup initial findings
To Q What is your main reason to choose the elective Russian
course? 1. to communicate with Russophones inside Lithuania,2. to
use Russian to communicate with foreigners,3. to use Russian for
employment.
To Q What are your expectations regarding studing Russian
language? 1. Russian language in professional life; 2. Russian
language for personal growth; 3. Russian language for everyday
life.
Conclusions
Though Russian language lost its official positions in Lithuania
(as in other Baltic States) with the breakup of the Soviet
Union,and Russian language skills have deteriorated significantly
in Lithuania, the role of Russian language as language of
intercultural communication seems to grow and the language itself
seems to be less associated by younger generation with the
historical events of Soviet era. The future of Russian language as
lingua franca in the region is still unclear, but according to the
responses, Russian is seen as important language for personal and
professional growth, and for intercultural communication in
Lithuania.
20ReferencesBreggin, B. (2009), Intercultural Language Trends at
a Quadriethnic English-medium University in the Baltics. Journal of
Intercultural Communication, ISSN 1404-1634, issue 21, Octobre
2009. Accessed November 8, 2015
http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr21/breggin.htm
Languages, culture, globalisation. Articles of 6Th International
Conference ( 2011). Vilnius.
Europeans and their languages. Special Eurobarometer 386 report
(2012). European Commission.
The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Education. Vilnius,
2011-03-17.
The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Minorities. Vilnius,
1991-01-29.
21Thank you for your kind
[email protected]
[email protected]
