Original scientific paper

Language Learning and Roma Pupils – the Case of Slovenia

Sasa Jazbec ; Faculty of Arts University of Maribor
Branka Čagran ; Faculty of Education University of Maribor
Alja Lipavic Oštir ; Faculty of Arts University of Maribor

Abstract

The paper comprises a theoretical discussion and an empirical investigation of how Roma pupils position, perceive and assess Slovene as a language, and how successfully they learn Slovene as the official language and the language of the environment, as well as foreign languages (German and English) compared to non-Roma students. In the first part of the paper, theoretical considerations on the current (foreign) language learning tendencies, on the official status of both Slovene and Romani in Slovenia, and on the influential didactic (foreign) language-learning concept are presented and substantiated by an extensive quantitative empirical study, which includes a third of all Roma pupils in Slovenia. The study yielded both the expected results and highly interesting additional findings, which will require a thorough analysis by experts and education providers alike, and consequently may lead to certain fundamental changes in (foreign) language learning concepts.

Keywords

children in Slovenia; empirical study; (foreign) language learning; Roma pupils

Hrčak ID:

109273

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/109273

Publication date:

24.9.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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