The study shows that for half of all children (51%), French is the only language spoken at home. While in 46% of families, another language is spoken and 3% at least other two. The investigation doesn’t reveal exactly which are the other languages spoken, but other studies carried out within the adult population show that it is mainly English and Dutch. According to Perrine Humblet, sociologist and doctor in Public Health Sciences at the ULB, follow “Arabic, Spanish and Italian, followed by other languages of the world”.

The sociologist continues stating that this multilingualism is a new norm that institutions should take into account. This new situation must be taken into consideration in nurseries and schools. In fact, the researcher stresses the importance of valuing all mother tongues. “Institutions are not aware that these children are full of skills. If a child speaks English at home, it is positive, but if he speaks Arabic or Lingala, plurilingualism is likely to be considered an obstacle”. According to her, is, therefore, necessary to use these mother languages, whatever they are, as a teaching tool to value all languages.

The post In Brussels 50% of children grow up in a family where several languages are spoken appeared first on Brussels Express.

The MR party proposed a bill to introduce 4 hours of compulsory Dutch classes in French-speaking primary schools. The proposal was signed by 20 MR politicians.

However, there seems to be a shortage of Dutch teachers in French-speaking institutions. Inevitably this would require hiring additional teachers.

Geoffroy Coomans, MP of Brachène stated that,  « Bilingualism is clearly an asset for job security. By offering a higher salary, teachers will dare to act faster and this is important for the future of students. »

Others such as Alain Destexhe of MR have added that, « The problem does not lie in teaching hours, but rather in teaching methods. »

The post Will Dutch classes become compulsory in French-speaking primary schools in Brussels? appeared first on Brussels Express.

Are you familiar with the ‘communes with linguistic facilities? This is definitely a Belgian concept. Those communes address the issue of multilingualism in Belgium. For decades, the residents of those communes have had the right to communicate with the public services in another official Belgian language.

There are 27 communes with linguistic facilities across Belgium.

But from a Brussels perspective, the most significant ones are located in the Flemish cities around the Brussels-capital region: Drogenbos, Kraainem, Linkebeek, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Wemmel and Wezembeek-Oppem. Although Dutch is the official language there, as they’re situated in Flanders, the French-speaking residents have the right to use French for different services. The nationalist Flemish citizens are regularly concerned about the rights of the French speakers in those communes.

 

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They might be even more concerned about the recent ruling from the Cour de cassation (Federal Supreme Court). The Court has made it possible for French speakers to ask only once to get the official documents in their language. Although the former rule was not that constraining, as this request had to be made every 4 years so far, the new ruling will definitely make the French speakers’ life easier around the Brussels-capital region.

But don’t be confused, Dutch remains and will remain the official language in those communes.

The post French-speaking citizens: easier life in some Flemish communes? appeared first on Brussels Express.

Ilke Adam, who is a Research Professor at the Institute for European Studies (VUB) delivered a lecture at BOZAR named ’From integration to equality policy. A plea for a radical Brussels approach’. After one and a half decade work in Social Sciences, the Professor aims to foster more equality and create more progressive policies that finalise the so called ’deconolising the minds’.

Who is responsible?

All authorities on all levels with a specific weight on linguistic communities. ’’What we have are policies on paper, but the individual discrimination remains. Unfortunately, convictions concerning discrimination are very hard to prove,’’ she says.

Two policies for Brussels (2>1 = none)

Civic integration and language courses are compulsory in Flanders and Wallonia but Brussels is a distinct case because it accommodates both Dutch-speaking and French-speaking policies which allow people to choose their path of integration. “And because of that, very often people choose none.’’ However, there has been an agreement from the last policy change between Flemish and French communities. From 2020 newcomers will be obliged to choose either language and attend compulsory courses.

Policy definitions of ‘integration’ in Brussels

Flemish community: self-sufficiency, proportional participation, active and shared citizenship

French Community Commission: social cohesion – equal opportunities to allow active participation and recognition.

EU: Dynamic two-way process of mutual accommodation by immigrants and residents

But does it have any meaning to speak of ‘integration’ in a city where more than half the population have their roots elsewhere? The majority of residents of Brussels have immigrant origins (57%) (FL-17%, WL-18%). People from North Africa remain the highest percentage of immigrants (25%).

’’People from minorities are targeted by certain policies. Policies which do not reduce ethno-racial inequalities – they only target new immigrants of colour and the poor. But nobody asks Westerners to integrate,’’ says Prof. Adam

Another outlined problem is that the Brussels-Capital Residents are denied the right to vote (region+federal)

The 1Bru1Vote Manifesto reminds that 1 in 3 Brussels-Capital residents – or 310,000 people are denied the right to vote, and are prevented from taking an active political role, because they are non-Belgian. These 220,000 European Union citizens and 90,000 citizens with other nationalities are second-class citizens in this city-region, since they are excluded from the democratic process. And yet, they are Brussels residents like everyone else – who live, work, study, pay taxes and contribute in so many ways to make Brussels-Capital a better home for everyone.

How to decrease the high ethno-racial inequality in education or at work? Policies can speak loudly – but the equality comes mainly from the personal interactions.

The post How does the integration policy for migrants work in Brussels? appeared first on Brussels Express.

One of the main reasons behind the decline seems to be the particular demography of Brussels. Since 2000, 2.25 million people have arrived in the capital, including 1.87 foreigners who spoke little to no Dutch, and who rarely decide to learn Dutch.

However, if the knowledge of Dutch decreases, then its utility increases such as in the workplace.

Francophone education is also responsible for this impoverishment of Dutch practice in the capital. The new barometer further showed that knowledge of Dutch among young people who attend French-institutions is also decreasing.  Only 7.8% of 18 year-olds who studied at a French-language school consider that they speak Dutch.

 

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Since 2001, the barometer has been mapping the linguistic knowledge of the inhabitants of Brussels by using a sample of 2,500 individuals.

The post Number of Dutch-speaking people in Brussels goes down appeared first on Brussels Express.

“La pomme que j’ai mangée.”

The rules of the French language make this sentence right, while “La pomme que j’ai mangé” is considered wrong. Students and French-speaking people have questioned this rule for decades, as there is basically no need to attach a suffix to a past participle with the auxiliary “avoir” in a basic sentence (“J’ai mangé une pomme”). However, when the accusative object comes before the verb, the suffix needs to be attached to the past participle.

Two Belgian teachers found this rule inadequate, both in terms of historical perspective and practicality. The French language, which includes thousands of exceptions, is indeed difficult to manage. Several rules are unknown to French-speakers, and all those who are learning French, face unexpected and sometimes inexplicable difficulties.

The two teachers have therefore set up a play (‘La Convivialité’) to denounce the difficulties of the French grammar and spelling. While both the French and Belgian newspapers have recently mentioned the play and a potential update of some linguistic rules, the Belgian linguistic bodies have underlined the need to make the language harmonized at a global level.

There will therefore be no reform unless it is conducted “in an International framework,” a Wallonia-Brussels Federation official announced last Saturday. “There is no will to work on this issue on a short-term perspective,” Eric Etienne, the spokesperson for the ministry of education, confirmed.

The French linguistic bodies do, however, not seem keen to work on that as of right now.

Do you think French should be simplified?

The post Is it time for an international reform of the French language? appeared first on Brussels Express.

The project utilises technology to simplify the process of many crucial things that could individually be difficult. Offering a website and app that is available in four languages, it aims to aid expats to have an easier time in their new home. The site acts as a central information database for all the needs an expat may have; providing information and contact details for localised services like trash disposal, schools, cultural events; Dutch language courses, social services and even offers representatives in one-to-one meetings for additional support.

Flemish minister of the periphery around Brussels, Ben Weyts, outlined the importance of this pilot project for expats. « we want to give expats a welcoming place to settle; where they aren’t so overwhelmed with the challenges of moving to a new place. We are hoping that initiatives like this encourage people to live in these areas as this shows our efforts to accommodate their needs. But we want to go a step further. On the website, we deliberately offer Dutch courses to help integrate the expats into our community, so they are no longer just expats, but locals themselves »

“The international composition of our population is undoubtedly an asset for our municipality, providing it goes hand in hand with integration and respect for the Flemish nature of Tervuren. Knowledge of Dutch, integration and participation in the local community life are the key stepping stones. They can be facilitated by a municipal administration through a strengthened reception policy that warmly welcomes newcomers and guides them through our municipality, together with a well thought out language policy. The project Expat op Pad provides an important contribution in this area,” says the Mayor of Tervuren Jan Spooren (N-VA).

Mike Chambers, creator of Facebook group « Whats happening Belgium« , thought the initiative was a great step forward « Expats have been crying out for this type of thing for years. Usually, you would have to go to various websites to get information that you need; making it quite a bother, not to mention much of the information was only in Dutch. »

Expat op Pad is supported by the non-profit organisation De Rand, the province of Flemish Brabant and the Flemish Agency for Integration and Civic Integration (Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering), and hopes that efforts like this will bridge the gap for expats in the area, allowing full integration, and to lead the way in creating expat friendly neighbourhoods for areas around Brussels and Belgium. Minister of the Flemish Periphery Ben Weyts (N-VA) supports this initiative with a project subsidy of 60,000 euros, distributed over a period of three years.

“I believe in well-directed investments in initiatives that create momentum in the peripheral municipalities surrounding Brussels. Dutch is the binding working language of the Flemish Periphery. Thanks to our pleasant melting pot with a wide range of projects like this one we can attract newcomers, and therefore also expats”, says Minister Weyts.

The post Expat op Pad: Three municipalities around Brussels launch project to welcome expats appeared first on Brussels Express.

This funny scene from “Love Actually” demonstrates the Filipino romantic concept of kilig.

Unfortunately, both words have no equivalent in English or perhaps, in any other language. Sometimes there is just no way to translate or articulate the breadth, depth, and nuances of what we feel. It can be a challenge to our search for true emotional intelligence which begins with the ability to identify and define our emotions. 

If you can’t find the words to match exactly how you feel, fret not. What you’re looking for might exist in another language. Here’s a sample of European words that might help you navigate the wonderfully complex world of human emotions.

1. The Collywobbles (English)

You have a project deadline coming up and you start panicking like crazy. You can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t think straight. You’re getting what the British call “the collywobbles” which usually occurs at night. Some will say there’s a cure for this, and it’s called alcohol. But it is best to adhere to that advice only after you’ve completed all the requirements for your project.

Maria from “The Sound of Music” expresses a sense of dépaysement as she faces the challenge of becoming a governess. 

2. Dépaysement (French)

You probably felt this when you moved to Brussels or to another place outside your country. It’s a feeling of fear combined with wild excitement in the face of something new, different, and unfamiliar. Dépaysement is a disorienting yet stimulating sensation. Let’s hope this is what you felt the first time you learned that there are as many ways of conjugating French verbs as there are brands of Belgian beer.

3. Dolce far niente (Italian)

Ever wallowed in the pleasure of being totally unproductive and useless? Yes, we all know that delicious state. It’s called dolce far niente or the joy of doing nothing. It may also describe what some politicians and bureaucrats feel.

A feeling of duende sweeps over Harry Potter and his classmates the first time they see the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

4. Duende (Spanish)

It’s that overwhelming sense of awe that washes over you when you witness a thing of immense beauty, like the green paradise at Bois de la Cambre or a Bruegel painting at the Royal Fine Arts Museum of Belgium. It’s that powerful force that makes you go oooh and aaah while admiring historic buildings and landmarks around Brussels. Duende can also grip you as you listen to a sensational piece of music such as the last movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, also known as the anthem of the European Union.

5. Empalagar (Spanish)

If you binge on Belgian chocolates or waffles, you might afterwards feel nauseated. That’s empalagar or when something excessively sweet starts to make you sick. You might also get that feeling when you see couples engaging in mushy public displays of affection.

This unforgettable song from the 1939 classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” carries tones of fernweh.

6. Fremdschämen (German)

This is the word you’re looking for when you feel embarrassed for somebody who is in an awkward or humiliating situation. It is similar to what the Spanish call verguenza ajena or the agony of seeing another person making a fool of themself. It applies to the popular sentiment that arises from watching or listening to the president of the United  States.

Treat yourself to a big dose of fremdschämen.

7. Hygge (Danish)

It sounds like “hug” and it feels like it too. Hygge is a blissful sense of warmth and coziness like the delight of having a hot cup of coffee or cocoa by the fireside after braving the winter cold outdoors. It also conveys joyful feelings of intimacy in the company of family and friends. It is said that only Scandinavians will truly understand the essence of hygge since this distinct concept of warmth and comfort can only be appreciated by those who have to endure extremely cold temperatures.

Olaf dreams of the warmth and coziness of summer in the hit animation film, Frozen.

8. Kaapshljmurslis (Latvian)

This word refers to that claustrophobic sensation you get when you’re stuck in an overcrowded bus or tram. The next time you take public transport during rush hour in Brussels, you know what to call the discomfort that may await you.

Base jumping is a fun way of responding to l’appel du vide.

9. L’appel du vide (French)

If there is such a thing as fear of heights or acrophobia, there is also l’appel du vide or “the call of the void” in English. The phrase signifies a visceral urge to jump from a high place as an effect of gravitational pull. 

Alexander Dumas’ « The Count of Monte Cristo » is a story of litost.

10. Litost (Czech)

In the words of Czech-born French writer Milan Kundera, litost is “a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s misery,” particularly the resentment one feels after being insulted or shamed by another. This devastating sense of being wronged can evoke a thirst for revenge.

“The Walking Dead” can satisfy pangs of morbo.

11. Pronoia (from the Greek word pronia)

If paranoia is the irrational belief that other people are out to destroy you, pronoia is the exact opposite. The next time you are bothered by a sneaking suspicion that everyone is out to help you or make life better for you, it’s called pronoia. Apparently, the idea of too much goodness can be terrifying for some people.

12. Ruinenlust (German)

As the word suggests, ruinenlust is the irresistible attraction to ruined structures and places such as dilapidated houses and decaying buildings. It may explain why some tourists gravitate towards any place called “the ruins” in every country they visit.

The fado music of Portugal gives voice to saudade.

13. Saudade (Portuguese)

The word is synonymous to nostalgia or a deep longing for someone or something that is lost and gone forever. But saudade conveys sorrowful yearning mingled with joyful reminiscences of things past. The word may bear a special  significance for a country that has lost the glory it once held as a mighty empire in Europe. Saudade can be heard and felt in the tristful melodies of Portuguese fado music.

14. Schadenfreude (German)

We can thank the Germans for coming up with names for the kind of emotions we may be too ashamed to acknowledge. Schadenfreude is the satisfaction you get from witnessing someone else’s misfortune. In less evil form, it’s a sense of relief that something unfortunate happened to somebody else instead of you.

British TV host Sharon Osbourne forgets the name of the artist she’s supposed to introduce in a 2016 episode of The X Factor. Classic case of tartle.

15. Tartle (Scottish)

You bump into someone you know and just when you’re about to greet them, uh-oh, you can’t remember their name. Or you’re about to introduce a person whose name you suddenly forgot. Tartle is the awkward feeling that temporarily consumes you while you rack your brain trying to recall that person’s name. Once it comes to you, the situation can be quickly remedied by saying, “pardon my tartle.”

16. Toska (Russian)

Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov described it as “a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, a vague restless.” Toska is the anguish of desperately searching for something yet nothing in particular.

Madonna’s 80s hit song, “Holiday” is an overload of voorpret: “It would be, it would be so nice.”

17. Voorpret (Dutch)

The giddiness you feel ahead of a much-anticipated event is called voorpret which translates to « pre-fun » in English. It’s a sense of enjoyment for something that is yet to come. You usually get that feeling when you’re about to go on a holiday vacation. 

« Learning new and unusual words for emotions will help attune us to the more finely grained aspects of our inner lives, » says British historian Tiffany Watt Smith who authored « The Book of Human Emotions. »

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