Ana Bobrova is from Lithuania, but lives and works in Stord. Now she will learn Nynorsk. – It is difficult, but I think it is important to learn Nynorsk. It is the language we use in Stord, and it is more similar to the dialect here. But at Bobrova’s level, there is only one book in Nynorsk. Most Bokmål both on paper and online The politicians at Stord decided in 2015 that the pupils in adult education should learn Nynorsk instead of Bokmål. The teachers were skeptical because there were few teaching aids in Nynorsk. Things have improved a little, but they are still frustrated by how little they can choose from. Headmaster Steinar Rosset says they have to be creative in order to facilitate Nynorsk training. This poster only came in Bokmål, and has been redone with marker. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Principal Steinar Rosset points to a poster, which he believes shows the problem. A publisher only sends out the poster in Bokmål, and the teachers have had to translate it into Nynorsk with marker. He explains the situation with an image of a train platform full of teachers: – First, one lightning train after another came to take all the Bokmål teachers. Before long, there will be a tired diesel locomotive where the Nynorsk teachers can sit. All trains have the same terminus, but it goes without saying that the journey is different. Rosset believes that it is completely natural that Nynorsk municipalities provide education in Nynorsk to immigrants and refugees as well. – But the situation must improve. We must have access to the same good teaching materials as they have in Bokmål. This is the only textbook available in Nynorsk at level B1 in adult education for immigrants. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Municipality refuses due to few books Adult immigrants learn Nynorsk in 38 of the more than 90 Nynorsk municipalities in the country, shows an overview prepared by Norges Mållag. Most Nynorsk municipalities only have Bokmål teaching. One of them is Bømlo, the neighboring municipality of Stord. They have discussed switching to Nynorsk several times, but have concluded that it is best to continue with Bokmål. One of the arguments is the lack of learning materials in Nynorsk. No requirement for both target forms – Several municipalities say the same. It shows that something needs to be done, says leader of Norges Mållag, Peder Lofnes Hauge. – This is important for both the integration and the inclusion of the immigrants. Many of them have children who learn Nynorsk at school. Then the adults also have to learn Nynorsk. In primary and secondary school, all teaching materials must be in both Nynorsk and Bokmål at the same time. This requirement does not apply to the education adult immigrants receive. The Directorate for Higher Education and Competence is responsible for developing learning resources for both target forms in Norwegian education according to the Integration Act. They receive feedback that indicates that the supply of teaching materials is too low, and that what is available may be out of date. Together with the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion, they assess whether measures are needed. The students at Stord adult education learn both Nynorsk and dialect in the lessons. Most Nynorsk municipalities provide education in Bokmål. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news – Immigrants will live in Nynorsk municipalities Nynorsk forum requests that in the state budget for 2024 at least NOK 4 million be allocated for teaching materials in Nynorsk for adult education. It has been eight years since funds were last authorized from the state budget. – The immigrants deserve better teaching materials, says Svein Olav Langåker, who is the day-to-day leader of the National Association of Nynorsk municipalities (LNK). A survey by LNK shows that more immigrants live in municipalities that provide Norwegian education in Nynorsk. 67 percent will live in these municipalities, while 55 percent will live in the municipalities that provide teaching in Bokmål. A new report from the Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (Imdi) also shows that more immigrants settled in the districts now than before. Daily leader Svein Olav Langåker of the Landssamanlutninga for Nynorsk municipalities hopes that the government will come up with at least NOK 4 million in the state budget. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Publishers promise improvement The Norwegian Publishers’ Association believes that it is fundamentally important to have teaching materials in their own target format, and that it most likely provides the best learning as well. The publisher has no financial support schemes when they create Nynorsk versions of learning material for teaching adult immigrants. – We don’t spend money on making New Norwegian versions, says Trond Petter Hinrichsen, who is the publishing manager at Fagbokforlaget. – Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the books and works I bring forward must come in both target forms at the same time. Fagbokforlaget is publishing a new learning work for adult immigrants next autumn, and it will be in both Bokmål and Nynorsk.
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– We don’t have money to make New Norwegian versions – news Vestland
