French children get West Flemish at school

The young people in L’école Roger Selengro in Wormhout don’t speak a word of Dutch or West Flemish, but there are still some songs that they completely understand. “One, two, three. There was a monkey on a stick…behind my mothers kitchen doors“, it sounds in unison. They are taught the old regional language, which is very closely related to West Flemish.

Flemish is lost

The Flemish that used to be spoken here is in danger of being completely lost. For example, they no longer know the origin of words that they use a lot, such as a kot or kotje. But the West Flemish lessons do appeal to the students: “That way we can express ourselves better. If people speak Flemish, we can talk to them.”

West Flemish is recognized in France as a regional language and the Academy of Lille wants to include the lessons in official education in French Flanders. “When they are looking for work, it is important to speak Flemish for our young people who come from across the border. And then there is also the thriving tourism in our region,” says Valérie Cabuil, rector of the Académie de Lille.