Study analyzes Basque language use in children's and youth leisure in Gasteiz

Aztiker's research indicates that leisure time is a key opportunity for Basque, but requires greater awareness.

Children playing in a park, representing leisure activities.
IA

Children playing in a park, representing leisure activities.

The Aztiker research center has analyzed leisure activities and the languages used by children and young people in Gasteiz, assessing the presence of Basque and opportunities for its promotion.

The main objective of the study was to determine what activities children and adolescents in Gasteiz engage in during their extracurricular leisure time, what languages are used in these activities, and specifically, what role Basque plays. This research highlights the importance of non-formal education and leisure in the process of revitalizing the Basque language.
For data collection, two main sources were used. Firstly, the database of the Gasteiz City Council, with information on leisure activities organized by the council and their participants. This provided key characteristics of programming since 2016. Secondly, through educational centers, a survey was conducted with 1,143 students from Primary and Compulsory Secondary Education, obtaining data on the leisure of children and adolescents aged between 6 and 16 years.

"Leisure can be a suitable opportunity to increase the habit of speaking in Basque and integrate Basque into activities among peers."

a research lead
According to the study's leaders, leisure can be an important way to promote the Basque language, but this requires a "significant exercise of awareness and sensitization" from local stakeholders. This implies that leisure actors must actively work to encourage the use of Basque.