1. Family Outreach – Listening to Parents’ Voices

Workshop description

Purpose

To raise awareness of families’ lived experiences with heritage language education, and to co-create ideas on how schools and organizations can better include parents as partners in supporting children’s heritage languages.
Objectives

Participants will:

1. Understand the family perspective and emotional dimension of heritage language learning.
2. Reflect on challenges parents face when navigating systems and schools.
3. Identify concrete actions to strengthen cooperation between families and professionals.

Instructors

Yvette Ahonen and Elina Helmanen (Familia ry, Helsinki)

Workshop language

English

2. Görsellerle Düşünmek: Karikatür, İllüstrasyon ve Fotoğraflarla Dil ve Düşünceyi Geliştirme Atölyesi [Visual interpretation]

Workshop description

Bu atölye çalışması, karikatürler, illüstrasyonlar, resimler ve fotoğraflar aracılığıyla öğrencilerin görsel okuma, düşünme, sorgulama ve ifade etme becerilerini geliştirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Etkinlikler, çocukların duygu ve düşüncelerini sözlü / yazılı olarak paylaşmalarına fırsat tanır, dili doğal bir akış içinde öğrenmelerini ve kullanmalarını destekler.
Atölye sürecinde öğrenciler yalnızca görselleri yorumlamakla kalmaz; empati, eleştirel düşünme, yaratıcılık ve dilsel farkındalık gibi birçok önemli beceriyi de geliştirirler. Bu yönüyle atölye, öğrenme sürecini hem eğlenceli hem de kalıcı hale getirir.
[It's an activity aimed at developing students' thinking, perception, and verbal and written interpretation skills, accompanied by visuals like photographs, illustrations, etc. I also uploaded it to the system during the project because it's a work that can be adapted to different language levels and age groups, teaching students imagination, vocabulary, metaphorical expressions, cultural values, abstract thinking, and social learning in a practical way.]

Instructor:

Tuba Araman (Multicultural education services / Espoo municipality, Finland)

Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı öğretmeniyim. 2024-2025 eğitim-öğretim döneminde “Your Language Counts!” projesine ortaokul öğrenci grubumla katıldım. / I studied Turkish language and literature. I have nearly 20 years of experience teaching Turkish. I participated in the "Your Language Counts" project with my middle school students from Finland during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Workshop language

Turkish

3. Integrating Heritage Languages Through Artificial Intelligence

Workshop description

This workshop will evaluate the extent to which ChatGPT can support the integration of heritage languages. Current limitations of large language models will be demonstrated, and possibilities to strengthen the reproductive and transformative potential of data-based AI will be considered. By using a customized GPT, we will test the elicitation of linguistically relevant items and the design of teaching materials. (Note: It would be helpful if you had a free ChatGPT account to test the application.)

Instructor

Dr. Christian Koch (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

I conduct research in the didactics of Romance languages, focusing on the integration of heritage languages into foreign language classrooms through structural approaches such as phonetic skills, lexical knowledge, and grammatical similarity. Recent advancements in AI have introduced new possibilities for exploring this topic.

Workshop language

English

4. HLE in the Netherlands & case study Fryslan

Workshop description

Across Europe, heritage language education is gaining momentum as a strategy to support the integration, well-being, and academic success of newly arrived students. In the Netherlands, Stichting Taal naar Keuze through the EU-funded project Your Language Counts!, has piloted the model for home language education within the ISK (Internationale SchakelKlas) as well as in regular lower secondary classes. In this presentation, we share insights from the pilot's implementation and evaluation in Frisia, focusing on students' increased learning motivation, sense of belonging, and metalinguistic awareness. We present the way the program can be organized within ISK schools in the future, and how language learning that considers students' motivation, well-being, and cognitive skills can be embedded into their ongoing education.
Additionally, we connect the findings to the next stage in the students' education: their transition to regular secondary education. Taal naar Keuze's modern language programs allow students to take formal examinations in their home languages, thus validating their linguistic assets and supporting their long-term academic prospects.

Instructors

Dr. Karijn Helsloot (director Stichting Taal naar Keuze, Amsterdam) and Marsha Olyerhoek (schoolleader Piter Jelles, Leeuwarden)

Workshop language

English

5. Language and Culture: Teaching Somali Through Stories and Oral Traditions

Workshop description

This workshop explores how Somali stories and oral traditions can be used as powerful tools for teaching language and culture. Participants will learn practical ways to integrate folktales, poems, and proverbs into Somali language lessons. The session aims to inspire teachers to make learning more engaging, meaningful, and culturally connected.

Instructors

The following three Somali language teachers from Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden will conduct the workshop together:    Abdi Omer (Municipality of Espoo, Finland), Abdullahi Ahmed (Municipality EFF, Uppsala, Sweden), Magan Tahir (Municipality of Leeuwarden, Holland). We all work in the above cities and teach the Somali language.

Workshop language

English

6. Home language teaching organisational framework in Finland

Workshop description

Instruction of home languages was first introduced in Finland in the 1970s. Since that time quite some changes were made in the organisational structure of HL teaching. At the moment about 60 different home languages are being taught in almost 90 municipalities of Finland. 
During the workshop main characteristics of the HL teaching framework in Finland will be presented and explained.

Instructor

Larissa Aksinovits

Larissa Aksinovits is a chairperson of the Finnish Association of Home/Heritage Language Teachers (Oman äidinkielen opettajat).

Workshop language

English

7. Organisation of HLE in Uppsala, Sweden

Workshop description

Join us for an engaging workshop where we explore the vital role of multilingual education in shaping inclusive and equitable learning environments. 
The workshop will showcase the work of the Unit for Multilingualism (EFF) in Uppsala, highlighting its coordination of mother tongue education (HLE) and study guidance across over 57 languages.
Discover how EFF supports thousands of students through strategic development, remote learning, and collaboration with schools, guardians, and municipal departments. Learn about the challenges faced in recruitment, scheduling, and recognition of mother tongue instruction, and how EFF addresses these through innovation and quality development.
Be inspired by EFF’s commitment to making multilingual education accessible and effective for all!

Instructors

Marianna Aivazova (manager at EFF Uppsala), Camilla Hollmén (deputy manager)

Workshop language

English

8. Persian Echoes: A Linguistic Journey Across Continents

Workshop description

This workshop explores the overlooked influence of the Persian language on global vocabulary, with a special focus on European languages such as English. Participants will discover how trade, science, literature, and historical contact spread Persian words and concepts across continents. Through examples, discussion, and short interactive activities, attendees will trace Persian linguistic footprints in familiar modern terms. The goal is to highlight the cultural and linguistic value of mother tongues and their lasting impact on world languages.

Instructors

Faraz Roshanizand (Porvoo Community College, Finlan), Shahla Edalatian (Uppsala, Sweden), Wakil Nabizada (Leeuwarden, Netherlands)
Faraz Roshanizand has a background in chemical and civil engineering and holds Master’s degrees in Educational Sciences (University of Jyväskylä) and Changing Education (University of Helsinki), along with a teacher qualification. He worked as a Persian language teacher last year and now teaches work-life skills at Porvoo Community College, supporting newcomers and jobseekers with international backgrounds.
Shahla Edalatian is originally from Tehran, Iran, and has worked as a mother-tongue teacher in Uppsala since 2008. She holds 425 university credits, a BA in Iranian Languages from Uppsala University, and 90 credits in mother-tongue education from Malmö University.
Wakil Nabizada holds a degree in English Literature and has taught English for ten years, including at a university in the English Literature Department and at the ISK school in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He is currently teaching Persian (Farsi) at the ISK school.

Workshop language

English. Question can be answered in English, Finnish, Dutch, Swedish, and Persian.

9. Kreativer Sprachgebrauch durch Kunst im Herkunftssprachenunterricht [Creative language use through art in heritage language teaching]

Workshop description

Anhand der Einheiten des Projektes Sprache durch Kunst umgesetzt in dem HSU-Polnisch/Russisch/Türkisch wird in dem Workshop die Verbindung von sprachlichem Lernen mit Formen der ästhetischen Bildung vorgestellt. Den Lehrkräften werden methodische Zugänge zu Bildern und Kunstwerken präsentiert, in denen deutlich wird, wie die unterschiedlichen sprachlichen Kompetenzen und Sprachlernerfahrungen der Schüler*innen in den Sprachunterricht einbezogen werden können.
In ausgewählten Übungen erproben die Lehrkräfte selbst verschiedene methodische Annäherungen an die Kunstwerke, in denen sie eigene Ausdrucksformen für ihre Wahrnehmungen und Erfahrungen suchen: sei durch gestalterische Arbeit im Umgang mit unterschiedlichen Materialien oder durch kreatives Schreiben.
[Using units from the Sprache durch Kunst (Language through Art) project implemented in heritage-language Polish, Russian, and Turkish classes, the workshop shows how language learning can be linked with forms of aesthetic education. It presents methodological approaches to images and artworks that integrate students’ diverse linguistic competencies and learning experiences into instruction.]

Instructor

Dr. Dorota Okońska (Universität Duisburg-Essen)
Dr. Dorota Okońska ist wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Institut für Deutsch als Zweit- und Fremdsprache an der Universität Duisburg-Essen. Sie lehrt im Teilstudiengang „Deutsch für Schülerinnen und Schüler mit Zuwanderungsgeschichte“ (DSSZ), ihre Forschungsschwerpunkte liegen im Bereich der Mehrsprachigkeits- und Herkunftssprachendidaktik, dem sprachlich-ästhetisches Lernen (insbesondere am Lernort Museum) sowie der Suggestopädie.

Workshop language

German

10. Teacher Education

Workshop description

The Pilot Plan developed and trialled through the project provide the foundation for this workshop. The aim of the workshop is to reflect upon the possibilities of transnational in-service training of heritage language teachers. The approaches adopted during the project will be presented and opened to discussion. Together we will explore future directions for the Teacher education of Heritage language teachers.

Instructor

Simeon Oxley (Uppsala University)
Simeon Oxley is an Adjunct lecturer in didactics, Uppsala University and heritage language teacher, Uppsala municipality, coordinator of WP3 in Your language counts!

Workshop language

English