MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS: FOREIGN SCHOOLS IN A COUNTRY

The concept of education has changed frequently from its first appearance to the present day. It contains many questions and answers in itself, such as being innovative, primitive, hosting technological infrastructure, involving artificial intelligence, being out-of-school, being lifelong, and in all areas. The concept of out-of-school education, for example, museum education, actually opens the door to a different impression for all age groups. Currently, the debate on how education and learning, such as generation X, generation Y, and generation Z, differ intergenerational is still ongoing. As a linguist, the subject I want to emphasize is "foreign languages". It is a highlighted information that the earlier you start learning in foreign language, the more you are constantly emphasized that you have made progress. In fact, it is important that the person get exposed to the target language, regardless of age group. So, if the concept we call lifelong learning covers the content of the museum definition, how is education provided in the museum in foreign language museum education? Let's not think of it as learning only "language", for example I educated at a foreign school in Turkey. I am a graduate of French High School and speaking Turkish in such schools is prohibited -outside Turkish lessons-, you also testify to other education and culture parallel to the education of your own country, your professors accompanying you on your trips are also foreigners (Madame bla bla, Monsieur bla bla). In your out-of-school learning environments, these rules would be acted upon. "The need to create an environment where students can be exposed to target language". Because only in this way can you have a second mother tongue, by being exposed to the language and constantly using that language. Museum education in Turkey, including museum education kits or workshops, I do not see a language option other than English. However, I had the chance to examine a study of museum education programs in different languages at Ca'Foscari University in Venice: "Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) Museum Programming".

Cover photograph: Pinterest  

Briefly mentioned as CLIL, the program is for students studying foreign languages different from the Italian mother tongue in Italy or whose native language is different. It included museum education programs in Spanish, French and English. It is a fact that the main effect of establishing intercultural dialogue and internationalization in museums is "language". Currently in Turkey, I cannot even see most of the time on exhibition masthead labels any translator or translation department names... And I cannot get a clear answer when I ask the curator or collection specialist why. The reason for this, missing of translation department in museums and not working with a professional linguist or translator as well. Because if one of the curators or any department in the museum staff knows at least B2 level in target language, the translations are being advanced with this staff, unfortunately, this creates an environment in the field where professionals, like me, are constantly exposed and see errors. It is perhaps a very utopian thought to expect developments in museum education in different languages without seating this basic information yet. However, the foreign language options I have seen in the museum education staff in the museums consist only of English and Turkish languages. For example, can't work on the museum education kit be done "for students studying in foreign schools" of a country? It should be done. 

For example: Museu Picasso

As a result, besides the curriculum in the country, there are students studying in a different language curriculum too. This is not an education system or curriculum to be ignored. These students' exams, daily dialogues, educational programs include a different culture and different terminologies. The concept of multilingualism now leaves its place to the concept of internationalization. Moving museums to the online environment, making their collections and shares accessible to everyone is an important part of internationalization. Because the borders are being lifted. In this case, "lingua franca", that is, "English" content is produced as "common language" where everyone can benefit from the content, or English translations are necessarily added as an additional language. However, this is not enough anymore. We can see workshops and contents for different language options in museums, including museum education programs. Wish to see museum professionals with different foreign languages in the museum in Turkey and also museum education programs in different foreign language options...

P.S. I have expressed this issue to my professor, who is one of the pioneers of museum education, she told me "while there are so many missing in Turkey, they will not be bent on this issue", but also as an expert on this subject asked me to do an academic study on it. As a result, I will be presenting to you my academic work on this subject recently :)

Meet The Museologist: Destina Hande Cil 

Founder of ART & TOWN, Museologist, Translation Studies Specialist