Diwan (school)
Encyclopedia
Diwan is a federation of Breton language
-medium schools in Brittany
(France
).
was inspired by the Gaelscoileanna movement in Ireland, Ikastolak movement in the Basque Country
and the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
movement in Wales
however as Diwan educates up to age 18 its schools are more like Welsh medium education
schools in Wales.
From ages 2–6, Breton is the sole language of instruction. At the age of 7 and a half, French is introduced during 2 out of 26 school hours. When the students are 10, French (6 hours out of 23) is taught at the same level as Breton. This remains the same when they reach middle school, but English and a choice of Spanish or German are taught in addition.
(Breton: Lambaol-Gwitalmeze) near Brest
, because the centralized French state schools were unwilling to offer the Breton language in the curriculum. The initial nursery school was followed by the first primary school in 1980, the first collège in 1988 and the first lycée in 1994.
In 2008, Diwan schools celebrated their 30th anniversary and organizing Ar Redadeg
, a non-stop race through Brittany in support of Breton language learning in schools, which has little support from French central government.
In 2011-2012, 3.528 pupils attended Diwan schools throughout Brittany at all levels from preschool to the Baccalaureat
. A Diwan preschool opened in Paris
in September 2004. The network included 35 primary-level schools as of the start of the academic year 2007.
• May 1977 : Opening of the first class with just 5 children at Lambaol-Gwitalmeze (Denez Abernot as the first teacher)
• September 1977 : Opening of Diwan school in Kemper (Quimper fr.)
• September 1980 : Opening of first "primary school" class.
• September 1988 : Opening of first "secondary school" class. skolaj Diwan kentañ e Brest with 8 pupils this relocated two years later to a larger site near Brest in Releg-Kerhuon.
• September 1994 : Opening of first "upper secondary school" lise Diwan at Releg-Kerhuon.
• September 1995 : Opening of the second "secondary school" at Plijidi in the department of Aodoù an Arvor (Cotes d'Armor fr.) Soon followed by another at Kemper and one at Plañvour (relocated now to Wened (Vannes fr.). Further units were also formed at Treglonoù and Wiseni .
• 1997 : Founding of a Lycee Lise Diwan at Karaez in central Brittany
• September 2006 : Schools formed at Louaneg and ar Chapel-Nevez.
• October 2007 : Opening of Diwan school in Kastellin
• September 2008 : Opening of first "secondary school" in "Loire Atlantique fr. Liger-Atlantel (at Sant-Ervlan) and schools at Lokournan and Magoer, near to Roazhon. (Rennes fr.)
• September 2009 : Opening of two Diwan schools in Rianteg in Bro-Wened (Historical region around Vannes with its own distinct Breton dialect and at Savenneg e Bro-Naoned. (Pays de Nantes)
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
-medium schools in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
).
Concept
The Diwan concept, which allows children to learn French and Breton through immersionLanguage immersion
Language immersion is a method of teaching a second language in which the target language is used as the means of instruction. Unlike more traditional language courses, where the target language is simply the subject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool,...
was inspired by the Gaelscoileanna movement in Ireland, Ikastolak movement in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
and the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin is a movement for the formation and support of Welsh Medium Nursery groups. These voluntary groups are often crucial in the subsequent establishment of a Welsh Medium primary school in the area. The movement is particularly active in anglicized areas of Wales and has had...
movement in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
however as Diwan educates up to age 18 its schools are more like Welsh medium education
Welsh medium education
Education delivered through the medium of the Welsh language is known as Welsh medium education .Welsh medium education should be distinguished from the teaching of Welsh as an academic subject. Welsh as a subject is taught as first language in Welsh medium schools...
schools in Wales.
From ages 2–6, Breton is the sole language of instruction. At the age of 7 and a half, French is introduced during 2 out of 26 school hours. When the students are 10, French (6 hours out of 23) is taught at the same level as Breton. This remains the same when they reach middle school, but English and a choice of Spanish or German are taught in addition.
History
The first Diwan school was created by a few parents in 1977 at Lampaul-PloudalmézeauLampaul-Ploudalmézeau
Lampaul-Ploudalmézeau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Lampaul-Ploudalmézeau are called in French Lampaulais.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
(Breton: Lambaol-Gwitalmeze) near Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, because the centralized French state schools were unwilling to offer the Breton language in the curriculum. The initial nursery school was followed by the first primary school in 1980, the first collège in 1988 and the first lycée in 1994.
In 2008, Diwan schools celebrated their 30th anniversary and organizing Ar Redadeg
Ar Redadeg
Ar Redadeg is a relay race modelled on the Basque Korrika. It takes place around Brittany over three days and three nights from Naoned to Karaez...
, a non-stop race through Brittany in support of Breton language learning in schools, which has little support from French central government.
In 2011-2012, 3.528 pupils attended Diwan schools throughout Brittany at all levels from preschool to the Baccalaureat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
. A Diwan preschool opened in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in September 2004. The network included 35 primary-level schools as of the start of the academic year 2007.
Schools Formed
• 1977 Formation of Diwan. Gweltaz ar Fur as first chairman.• May 1977 : Opening of the first class with just 5 children at Lambaol-Gwitalmeze (Denez Abernot as the first teacher)
• September 1977 : Opening of Diwan school in Kemper (Quimper fr.)
• September 1980 : Opening of first "primary school" class.
• September 1988 : Opening of first "secondary school" class. skolaj Diwan kentañ e Brest with 8 pupils this relocated two years later to a larger site near Brest in Releg-Kerhuon.
• September 1994 : Opening of first "upper secondary school" lise Diwan at Releg-Kerhuon.
• September 1995 : Opening of the second "secondary school" at Plijidi in the department of Aodoù an Arvor (Cotes d'Armor fr.) Soon followed by another at Kemper and one at Plañvour (relocated now to Wened (Vannes fr.). Further units were also formed at Treglonoù and Wiseni .
• 1997 : Founding of a Lycee Lise Diwan at Karaez in central Brittany
• September 2006 : Schools formed at Louaneg and ar Chapel-Nevez.
• October 2007 : Opening of Diwan school in Kastellin
• September 2008 : Opening of first "secondary school" in "Loire Atlantique fr. Liger-Atlantel (at Sant-Ervlan) and schools at Lokournan and Magoer, near to Roazhon. (Rennes fr.)
• September 2009 : Opening of two Diwan schools in Rianteg in Bro-Wened (Historical region around Vannes with its own distinct Breton dialect and at Savenneg e Bro-Naoned. (Pays de Nantes)
See also
- Gaelscoileanna - comparable Irish-medium education
- Ikastolak - comparable Basque-medium education
- Ysgolion MeithrinYsgolion MeithrinYsgolion Meithrin is a movement for the formation and support of Welsh Medium Nursery groups. These voluntary groups are often crucial in the subsequent establishment of a Welsh Medium primary school in the area. The movement is particularly active in Anglicized areas of Wales and has had major...
- comparable Welsh-medium education
External links
Diwan web site- Map of Diwan schools
- Learning the real local lingo can be child's play, Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2006