a dictionary for the integration of Ukrainian refugees
On the occasion of the visit to classes of adult learners, this Friday, December 16, the Minister of National Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch, presented the Ukrainian-Luxembourgish-French dictionary, co-produced by the Ministry and ASTI.
Between 1uh March and on 31 October 2022, 4,774 Ukrainians applied for temporary protection in Luxembourg. In order to welcome them and help them integrate, the government worked with the ASTI (Association for the support of immigrant workers) to establish a new version of the Ukrainian-Luxembourgish-French dictionary.
Printed in 5,000 copies, it is intended both for refugees who have arrived in Luxembourg since the Russian invasion, and for those who welcome them, work with them, teach them languages, or are simply curious to discover their language.
“It is to be feared that the return to Ukraine will be long overdue, however strong the country’s nostalgia may be,” recalled Claude Meisch, the Minister of National Education. We must therefore help these new inhabitants of Luxembourg to find their place among us. »
Dictionaries for all refugees
For several years, ASTI has taken the initiative to produce elementary dictionaries to help people, forced to leave their country by war or violent internal conflicts, who arrive in Luxembourg.
From 2015, with the massive arrival of Syrian refugees, the idea arose to create a trilingual tool (Arabic-French-Luxembourgish) in the form of a repertoire of words to allow learners to deepen, independently , the material explained in the language course.
As before, the new dictionary was designed in a hurry, thanks to the investment of ASTI volunteers. It was given to high schools welcoming Ukrainian pupils, to adults learning French, to the first-time reception centre, to social offices, as well as to associations in contact with refugees.
A new entry by Luxembourgish
In addition to access to more than 1,500 words in the three languages, it includes a practical chapter, “Expressions of everyday communication”. This short guide facilitates the first contacts between Ukrainian residents and new arrivals.
While previous editions offered only two entries, one in French and one in the target language, with a translation of the terms into Luxembourgish, this one innovates by adding an entry from Luxembourgish. This novelty reinforces the central role of the national language in integration.
Where to get the dictionaries?
The new dictionary as well as the three others can be ordered free of charge from the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth. Adult Education Department 15, rue Léon Hengen in Luxembourg (email: [email protected])