Successful 'Sprekend Erfgoed' project combines museum visit with language lessons
The 'Sprekend Erfgoed' (Speaking Heritage) project of Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland, in which adult language learners are taught in museums, has been successfully completed and can count on a follow-up. Museums, language teachers and students are enthusiastic: “Teacher, I won’t be in class next week because I’m going to the museum again!”
“Teacher, I won’t be in class next week because I’m going to the museum again!”
With the Sprekend Erfgoed project, Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland organised language lessons in twenty museums in South Holland in 2023 and 2024. A total of around 300 'inburgeraars' and people with low literacy took part in the project. The language lessons were part of the regular lessons, which language trainers and museum educators could design together. They were given the freedom to determine the content, frequency and duration, which meant that the lessons were well-suited to the needs of the participants.
The museums welcomed the language learners hospitably, and special conversations were held about feelings, family and the differences and similarities between the Netherlands and other countries. Some participants became volunteers at the museum they visited.
Lower threshold
Although there is plenty to see in museums, a visit is not self-evident for many people. This also applies to people who do not yet speak Dutch, or have difficulty reading and writing. And yet museums are places where stories are told and cultural exchange is made possible.
Sprekend Erfgoed lowers the threshold for a museum visit and stimulates this exchange. Museums and heritage locations are ideal for language education, with an abundance of language at different levels, such as on information boards and in-room texts. The visual elements present contribute to the learning process.
Enthusiastic participants
The participants in Sprekend Erfgoed were enthusiastic. One of the students stated afterwards: “Teacher, I won’t be in class next week because I’m going to the museum again!” And an NT1 student who took lessons in Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden: “That I can still experience this at my age; I never thought I would set foot in a museum”
Although the project has now been completed, the language lessons continue in various museums. The museum lessons are included in the fixed programme of the NLtraining language school in the municipalities of Gouda, Krimpenerwaard, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Waddinxveen and Goeree-Overflakkee. The municipality of Leiden is also continuing the project.
Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland is developing a toolkit together with Probiblio for volunteers of language centres in libraries to stimulate visits to museums and heritage locations.
