An Innovative Initiative for Language
Doctor Ferran Suay, expert in Psychology and Professor of Psychobiology at the University of Valencia, will be the first speaker in the Linguistic Sustainability Workshops, an initiative promoted by Alcoi City Council through the Department of Linguistic Policy.
Exploring the Reasons for Using Spanish
With the title ‘Why don’t we speak (more) in Valencian?’, his conference will open a debate on the causes that lead Alcoyians to prefer Spanish. This activity, despite being designed for primary school teachers, will also be accessible to the general public.
A Space for Reflection
Suay seeks to create an atmosphere of reflection that allows identifying the factors that influence the decline in the use of Valencian, especially among the new generations. In addition, it will offer practical advice to encourage more assertive communication in multilingual environments.
A Program for Teacher Training
These workshops are not only a response to the linguistic crisis affecting Valencian, but also include training sessions by professionals such as Gemma Sanginés, Ricard Chulià and Tere Sellés. The aim is to train teachers with theoretical and practical tools to deal with the issue of linguistic assertiveness.
A Practical Approach
The participants will have the opportunity to experiment with various dynamics and intervention strategies, with the aim of addressing the prejudices that perpetuate the decrease in the use of Valencian and prevent this situation from becoming irreversible.
Understand the Social and Psychological Implications
Another purpose of the workshops is to provide teachers with a deep understanding of how identification with a minority language and culture can influence students’ cognitive development and learning opportunities.
Impact on the Future of the Community
This understanding is essential, as the loss of the use of Valencian can have significant consequences for the future of local society. Raül Llopis, councilor for Linguistic Policy, has highlighted the importance of these workshops as the first edition of a continuous project that seeks to provide resources to teachers to face current challenges.
Conference details
The inaugural conference will take place on September 3 at the Ágora, marking the beginning of a series of activities that aim to revitalize the use of Valencian in the community.
