Multilingual Early Language Transmission (MELT) - Mercator ...

of 180 study points whereof 20 are studies (6 courses) in languages (Swedish, Finnish and a
foreign language), scientific writing and IT. Another 25 points are foundations of education:
foundations of early childhood education, history and philosophy of early childhood
education, sociological foundations of early childhood, child development and socialization,
a course in how children learn and a practice period I.
Thereafter follow 40 points in general early childhood and research related courses:
multilingualism, the role of play, special education, educational planning, theory and
teaching in preschool education, childhood psychology, socio-emotional development and
family dynamics, qualitative and quantitative research methods, thesis seminar and thesis.
The courses required for preschool teaching certification include media culture and media
education, social interaction and belonging in a multicultural society, language development
and stimulation, drama, mathematics, environment and natural sciences, religion and ethics,
children’s literature, art, crafts, music, movement and health as well as practice periods II
and III.
In addition, students need to choose a minor consisting of 25 points. This could be, for
example, in-depth didactic studies in literature, music or sports. Finally they can take 10
points of whatever they like and these university courses do not need to be related to their
teaching certificate.
Since this program is a collaboration between two universities each university is responsible
for the teaching and the costs of the teaching of half of the courses. The practical work is led
by a steering group of three people from each of the universities.
Themes of the program
The program has three foci – multilingual education, identity and diversity, and esthetic
education. The three themes are evident through separate courses but most importantly the
intention is that they are incorporated in all the courses where it is appropriate. Hence, a
course in play or drama also deals with how play or drama can be language stimulating as
well as culturally sensitive at the same time. These foci are directly related to the position of
the Swedish speaking population in southern Finland and in particular in the Helsinki
metropolitan area. Unlike older generations the children and youth of today are frequently
growing up in Finnish-Swedish bilingual families as well as in mostly Finnish speaking
communities. Unfortunately no current statistics exist about the number of children in
Swedish daycare centers coming from bilingual families, but of all children registered as
Swedish speaking in municipalities with less than 19% Swedish speakers (such as those in the
Helsinki metropolitan region) in 2005 were over 65% from bilingual families (Finnäs, 2010).
In additional many Finnish speaking families place their children in Swedish daycare in order
for the children to become bilingual. For the Finnish speaking children there are also socalled
‘language baths’ or language immersion programs where the children quickly become
functionally bilingual and can later continue their schooling in Swedish immersion schools
(Harju-Luukkainen, 2007).
115