Irina Golubeva University of Pannonia (HU) Raimonda Brunevičiūtė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LT) I Congreso Internacional sobre Educación Bilingüe: Buenas prácticas en los cuatro niveles educativos de Noviembre de 2015

 Abstract  Intro: Lithuanian Context  Russian language in Lithuania  Language Policy in Lithuania  Language teaching in Lithuania  Minority language teaching  Russian language in Baltic countries in post-Soviet times  Russian as language of intercultural communication in Lithuania  Russian in the context of university student life  Russian at Lithuanian universities  The case of LUHS university  Results of the questionnaire survey  Expectations of students studying Russian language  Summing–up initial findings  Conclusions  References

Lithuanian state guarantees national minorities a series of rights, including the right to have schooling in their native languages. National minority schools receive extra 20% of funding for supporting minority students. Schooling in native languages is concentrated in secondary education. Position of Russian language in post-Soviet times has significantly changed in Baltic countries. Situation in Lithuania is quite different from that in Estonia and Latvia, because the Russian minority is not as substantial as in the other two countries. Therefore, language seems to be less sensitive matter here. In the secondary education level there are schools with Russian as instruction languages, but in higher education Russian as language of instruction is not used. On the other hand, language learning in Lithuania is based on European multilingual education policy. Due to this, at secondary education level students must learn at least two foreign languages, choosing from the list of main European languages (English, German, French), or others - including Russian language. The main (so-called first) foreign language studies also are compulsory in many higher education study programs. In addition, some of higher educational institutions offer students elective (so-called second) foreign language courses. According to Eurobarometer Report (2012), in Lithuania 92 % speak well at least one language, 52% - at least two languages in addition to their mother tongue; 70 % of them speak Russian. In our paper we provide a brief overview of language policy and discuss the situation of Russian language education in Lithuania, including basic statistic data. In addition, we try to reveal the contexts in which Russian language is used as lingua franca in higher education. Key words: Russian language, lingua franca, Lithuania, intercultural communication

 According to population census of April 6, 2001, in Lithuania live 115 different nationalities; 16,5% of all citizens. The biggest minority communities: Polish, Russian, Belorusian, Ukrainian.  According to Eurobarometer Report (2012), in Lithuania 92% speak well at least one language, 52% - at least two languages in addition to their mother tongue; 70% of them speak Russian.  The ethnical policy is implemented by the Department of National Minorities and Emigration.  Public radio and TV transmit in minority languages (Russian, Polish etc.), and also newspapers are published.  300 minority NGOs – supported by the state budget - are active in cultural life.  > 150 schools for main minorities act in Lithuania; for small minorities there are additional lessons or weekend schools.

 Language learning in Lithuania is based on European multilingual education policy.  At secondary education level students must learn at least two foreign languages, choosing from the list of main European languages (English, German, French), or others - including Russian language.  In the secondary education level there are schools with Russian as language of instruction.  In higher education Russian as language of instruction is not used.  The main (so-called first) foreign language studies also are compulsory in many higher education study programs.  In addition, some of higher educational institutions offer students elective (so-called second) FL courses.

 Lithuanian state guarantees national minorities a series of rights, including the right to have schooling in their native languages.  National minority schools receive extra 20% of funding for supporting minority students.  Schooling in native languages is concentrated in secondary education.

 Lithuanian educational system (in total 12 yrs) includes 1- year pre-school, 4-year primary school, 6-year lower secondary school, and 2-year upper secondary school.  The first FL - from the 2nd form of primary school, and compulsory till the 12th form.  Pupils can start learning the second FL (incl. Russian) from the 5th form, and from the 6th form the second FL is compulsory.  After completion of the 10th form, pupils take the basic education achievement test in the Lithuanian Language, Mathematics, and an elective basic education achievement test in Mother Tongue (Belarusian, Polish, Russian or German).  From 2015 the B2 level state exam in first FL is obligatory for submitting application to a university.

 At secondary school minority language teaching is organised according to the programme of native language, and other subjects are instructed in Lithuanian language. Some elective subjects could be instructed in minority language.  In case when secondary school declares minority language as language of instruction, compulsory and upper-secondary education is carried in bilingual model: using both minority and state (Lithuanian) languages. In all such schools there must be a certain number of subjects instructed in Lithuanian.  In secondary education there are minority schools with Russian language. According to the State Statistical Department, in Lithuania in total, Russian is the language of instruction at 73 schools.  In higher education Russian is not used as language of instruction.

 Position of Russian language in post-Soviet times has significantly changed in Baltic countries.  Officially, the proportion of Russian minority:  In Estonia 24%  In Latvia 27%  In Lithuania 6%  Therefore, Russian language seems to be less sensitive matter in Lithuania.

Russian is used as lingua franca with  Russians,  Russophones,  other Baltic citizens. In Lithuania, older generation (who graduated from secondary school before 1990) use Russian as lingua franca, but younger citizens (born after 1986) practically do not use Russian for intercultural communication.

 According to a survey (Breggin, 2009), Lithuanians are „the most open to learning Russian” in comparison to other Baltic states.  In the same survey, Lithuanian university students were the only non-Russophones to comment extensively on the practical uses of Russian, on one hand for future business purposes, on the other hand for current social life. (ibid.)  According to one of the respondents, „ethnic Lithuanians who know Russian seem to be able to make friends more quickly from all sorts of backgrounds, adding that this is also true about most Russophones as well”. (ibid.)

 Students can apply to programmes in Russian Language & Culture (in the fields of Linguistics and Teacher Education) at 3 Lithuanian universities.  The main (first) FL for special purposes (SP) is compulsory in many higher education study programmes.  Russian as first language is popular in the group of older students enroled in part–time study programmes.  Some of higher educational institutions offer students elective language courses. According to the data of the Statistical Department, in 2015–2016 academic year elective Russian is studied in 3 HE institutions.

 LUHS has seven faculties with 29 Bachelor (I) and Master (II) degree, 9 doctoral degree, and 72 post-graduate study programmes.  Total number of the students in I and II cycle programmes is more then  Every year more than 1200 students enter the first year, and all Bachelor Students have to take so-called “Professional language” courses up to 6 ECTS depending on study programme.  In different school years 7-17% of them study Russian for SP, and in many cases they are part-time Students (graduated from secondary school longer time before).  In 2nd or 3rd study year, students have to enrol in one of the elective courses: English, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Danish, or Russian language (to reach A2 level).  Every year 6-10% of students study elective Russian course.

 In order to reveal main expectations and reasons to choose Russian Language course, a questionnaire survey was performed.  69 Ss in 2 nd and 3 rd year enroled in elective Russian Language course in a.y.. In many cases students chose advanced Russian course.  45 Ss (64% of elective Russian course students) participated in survey, 12 of them male, 33 – female. The age of students - from 19 to 22 years old.  41 of the respondents studied elective Russian Language course at school; 37 of them – for more than a year.

Respondents were allowed to choose several answers

CategorySubcategoryResponses Russian language in professional life To learn or to improve Russian professional terminology “To improve Russian not only for communication, but also for reading professional literature” “To learn medical/pharmaceutical terms and use then in my practice” “To learn professional terms in Russian” “To improve knowledge for reading medical literature in Russian” “To master basic of Russian and to learn terms for further professional activity” “I want to kmow medical terms in Russian” Russian will help to find job in the future “I hope one more foreign language (Russian) will help me to find job and communicate with others easier” “Russian language will help to get job and communicate with other nationalities”

CategorySubcategoryResponses Russian language for personal growth Russian for cultural education „Improve my language skills” „I want to learn spoken Russian” „I would like learn to communicate with Russian–speaking people” „To enlarge my Russian knowledge, and reading skills” „To communicate in Russian fluently, read and understand professional literature” „To understand Russian–speaking people and communicate with them” Improve Russian skills for communica- tion with Russophones „Capability to speak to Russian-speaking peolpe in work place and in the street” „To improve Russnian for communication in the street and future work place” „I hope to improve my Russian to communicate in ordinary situations” „Be able to communicate in Russian fluently and enrich my thesaurus” „Improve knowledge, to learn new words, communicate fluently”

CategorySubcategoryResponses Russian language for everyday life Master Russian for oral and written com- munication „To communicate in Russian” „To master basic Russian for communication” „To understand Russian–speaking people and a little spoken Russian” „For understanding Russian–speaking people” „To learn spoken Russian” „To learn to speak, read, write correctly” To improve / refresh Russian knowledge „To improve my Russian language knowledge” (N=6) „To master Russian language” „To refresh spelling” „To refresh and enrich my Russian” „Refresh and deepen Russian” „To improve language skills got at school” To obtain basic knowledge of Russian „To enrich my thesaurus” „To obtain basic knowledge” „To obtain basic skills” (N=2) „To master Russian language” „To master basic Russian language” (N=3)

 To Q “What is your main reason to choose the elective Russian course?” 1. to communicate with Russophones inside Lithuania, 2. to use Russian to communicate with foreigners, 3. to use Russian for employment.  To Q “What are your expectations regarding studing Russian language?” 1. Russian language in professional life; 2. Russian language for personal growth; 3. Russian language for everyday life.

Though - Russian language lost its official positions in Lithuania (as in other Baltic States) with the breakup of the Soviet Union, - and Russian language skills have deteriorated significantly in Lithuania, the role of Russian language as language of intercultural communication seems to grow and the language itself seems to be less associated by younger generation with the historical events of Soviet era. The future of Russian language as lingua franca in the region is still unclear, but according to the responses, Russian is seen as important language for personal and professional growth, and for intercultural communication in Lithuania.

 Breggin, B. (2009), Intercultural Language Trends at a Quadriethnic English-medium University in the Baltics. Journal of Intercultural Communication, ISSN , issue 21, Octobre Accessed November 8,  Languages, culture, globalisation. Articles of 6 Th International Conference ( 2011). Vilnius.  Europeans and their languages. Special Eurobarometer 386 report (2012). European Commission.  The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Education. Vilnius,  The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Minorities. Vilnius,