Vernacular languages are sometimes considered a "soft option" at school
and university because of a lack of status and because there is perhaps not
such a literary or philological tradition as in major subjects, meaning that in
theory there is less for a student to learn. Therefore the students are often
not of the best quality or ones who cannot come to terms with a large
department. Conversely though, some students are idealists of very
high calibre. However, one wonders what use some of the students will be to
the language community as, especially in a linguistic minority, much idealism
and personal initiative is required of a teacher. Similarly, if students are
studying a language without prior knowledge, it is most unlikely that they
will be able to learn the language sufficiently to be able to teach it after four
years at university or teacher-training college. However, if these are the only
sources to be culled for teachers, little can be done, unless the authorities are
understanding enough to allow amateur (i.e. unqualified but pedagogically
gifted) native-speakers to teach. In NF the problem of teachers has been
partially solved by persuading Frisian speakers already in the profession to
teach Frisian as well as their own subjects. The school authorities have also
agreed in principle to laymen being allowed to give lessons in their native
tongue (Walker and Wilts, 1979), and the field-workers try to gather information
in the villages about Frisian children scattered through the
various universities of Germany who might be persuaded to return to NF as
teachers. Unfortunately, many move to a different part of Germany following
marriage. In all three instances, though, the individuals will have had
no formal training in Frisian and will require assistance from outside. In
recognition of this fact, a teacher's working group is now planned. Formal
tuition in Frisian is given at the University of Kiel and the Teacher Training
College in Flensburg, and it is hoped that in the near future some students
may become qualified.