New Faroese language tuition plan in the pipeline

The Ministry of Culture and Foreign Affairs is in the final stages of preparing a new Faroese as a second language syllabus.

It has been agreed that all future teaching of Faroese as a second language will be based on the Common European Framework of references for Languages (CEFR).

The CEFR is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language. This makes it easy for anyone involved in language teaching and testing to see the level of different qualifications. It also means that employers and educational institutions can easily compare a person’s qualifications to other exams in their country.

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The proposed syllabus consists of three courses (FSA1, FSA2 and FSA3).

• FSA1 is aimed at foreign nationals who have had little or no education in their native country and who are unfamiliar with the Latin alphabet.
• FSA2: is aimed at foreign nationals with a basic level of education from their native country, roughly equivalent to seven years of public school in the Faroe Islands. FSA2 seeks to enable the student to complete a short academic course in the Faroes.
• FSA3 is aimed at foreign nationals who have completed a higher education in their native country and who seek to acquire a level of Faroese language mastery required for higher education in the Faroe Islands.

These courses will be further subdivided into six levels of language ability.

 >> SEE ALSO Reception classes planned for non-Faroese pupils

In addition to learning the Faroese language, students will also be given an insight into Faroese culture and society.

Further details will be available after the 1 June consultation deadline.

Translated by prosa.fo