UPDATED NOV. 4, 2014
(To be added to; please advise if you know of other resources not listed here)
(To be added to; please advise if you know of other resources not listed here)
Available primers/reading curriculae
In Germany, a few years ago in 2007-2009, a Roma (Sinti) couple
was using a primer (i liil an maro rakepen, 2007, with a teacher's guide
written in German) to teach regular classes in a few schools, for Sinti
children. The primer was adapted by U. Peter from a primer that was written
for Roma children and adults in Romania by Georghe Sarau and Camelia Stanescu
(Manual de alfabetizare in limba rromani pentru copii, tineri si adulti). The Romanian primer was prepared in a 'standardized' form of Romani, which is not spoken by any particular group, but it is
being used (although to what extent and with what results is not currently clear) in schools in Romania to teach Roma children in the regular school system.
On the website www.romanibible.org there is information (under Educational Materials) about another primer: Sirpustik amare chibaqiri A basic primer of Romani by Marcel Kurtiàde, with illustrations by Ferdinand Koçi. It has a Teacher's manual available in Albania, English, French, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, and Spanish. There is an address in France where you can order this. I am not sure which dialect/language this is exactly and where it is spoken. (The website lists the following dialects/languages: Kalderash, Lovari, Ursari, Baltic, Servy, Sinti, Balkan, Pan Rromani.)
On the website www.romanibible.org there is information (under Educational Materials) about another primer: Sirpustik amare chibaqiri A basic primer of Romani by Marcel Kurtiàde, with illustrations by Ferdinand Koçi. It has a Teacher's manual available in Albania, English, French, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, and Spanish. There is an address in France where you can order this. I am not sure which dialect/language this is exactly and where it is spoken. (The website lists the following dialects/languages: Kalderash, Lovari, Ursari, Baltic, Servy, Sinti, Balkan, Pan Rromani.)
Christian Missions/NGO's
There are quite a number of Christian NGO's and missions
from Western European countries who are involved in helping Roma children with
education. Many have Kindergarten projects or projects for helping Roma
children with homework or extra work so that they can better function in the
regular schools. Examples: http://www.osce.org/kosovo/57517 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKmokWIdfx0
However, I have not yet come across any that teach Roma
children by using the Romani language as language of education. Roma parents
want their children to be taught in the national language so that they can have
better chances at continued education and employment. One exception to this is
a school in Pécs, Hungary, the Ghandi School, which you can read about on
romanibible.org, under 'schools'.
UNA Club
The Roma Bible Union works with Bayash Roma in Croatia,
Serbia and Hungary. The UNA Club is a Roma Children's Bible and Literacy
movement designed to take the Gospel of Jesus into Roma villages. http://www.unaclub.com/
Council of Europe:
'The key to a better future lies in the education of Roma children'.
The Council of Europe has a comprehensive approach to Roma
and Traveller issues. It stresses the importance of maintaining linguistic and
cultural diversity, and encourages language learning as a means of preserving
linguistic and cultural identity, improving communication and mutual
understanding, and combating intolerance and xenophobia. The Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was developed by the Language
Policy Division of the Council of Europe to provide a common basis for all
languages in regard to curriculum guidelines, examinations, textbooks etc.
across Europe.
As part of this, the Curriculum Framework for
Romani was developed. It takes account of the needs of three age groups:
3–6 years, 7–10 years, 11–14 years; and it is designed to accommodate three
different sociolinguistic situations: the teaching of Romani to (i) children
who do not speak Romani at home, (ii) children who are not fluent in Romani,
though they may hear their parents and grandparents speak the language, and
(iii) children who are fluent in Romani but who need to develop their skill in
using the language as an instrument of formal learning (Romani as language of
education). The Framework also takes account of a significant difference between
the learning of Romani by Roma children and the learning of foreign languages
in general education. In the latter case a new language draws the learner into
a new culture, whereas the teaching of Romani aims to give learners linguistic access to a culture that is
already familiar to them and in this way to deepen their sense of their Roma
identity.
For more information, see http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Romani_doc_EN.asp The
document Curriculum Framework for Romani 2008 can be downloaded on this page in
English as well as Kalderash or Usari.
See also: http://www.romaninet.com/?sec=home
European Language Portfolio (ELP)
The European Union has come up with a way to acknowledge and
support the teaching of minority languages, including Romani, and encourage
plurilingualism, by developing the European Language Portfolio. This is an
'instrument which promotes and supports the learning of languages and the
exchange of intercultural experiences at all levels.' See: http://elp.ecml.at/UsingtheELP/Understandingtheportfolio/tabid/2745/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
The Romani ELP is a tool to to help bilingual speakers of
Romani to keep a record and portfolio of their knowledge of the Romani
language. A pdf of the Romani ELP is
found here: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Source/Rom_LowerSecELP08_EN.pdf
Davar, a curriculum being developed for Roma children or
adults wanting to learn
A series of
activities and games that teach necessary skills to children or adults who are
learning to read, write, and do math in the regular school system of the
country they reside in (provided, of course, they can function well in the
language of instruction). The goal is to attract students to the learning
process through these activities and games and help them discover that academic
learning is easier and more fun than they (might have) previously thought or
experienced.
Some things should be taught first because some practice
is needed to develop the sequential part of the brain necessary to be able to
easily learn school subjects. (For more explanation about this see
http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/HumanBody/NervousSystem/BrainHemispheres.htm#BrainHemispheres.) The program is simple and fun to do. It can be done with very few materials. Since students succeed in it, it is also affirming for them. Davar may be part of a Sunday school, Bible club, or other regular meeting. Students should meet at least once a week. A Davar activity takes about 5 minutes. The entire cycle can be done in about 6 months.
http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/HumanBody/NervousSystem/BrainHemispheres.htm#BrainHemispheres.) The program is simple and fun to do. It can be done with very few materials. Since students succeed in it, it is also affirming for them. Davar may be part of a Sunday school, Bible club, or other regular meeting. Students should meet at least once a week. A Davar activity takes about 5 minutes. The entire cycle can be done in about 6 months.
The activities are being developed in Dutch/English and will need to be
adapted/translated to the language spoken where they will be used.
Contact
person: Mary van Rheenen (holmesvr at online dot nl).
SIL Personnel
A literacy
team has just allocated in Romania and is learning Romanian right now.
Marianne
Fast
SIL Literacy Consultant
marianne_fast at sil.org
SIL Literacy Consultant
marianne_fast at sil.org
