Promoting Languages at Primary Level

During one academic term, students in provide language support classes for groups of children in different elementary schools in the region of Eichstätt. Those children are usually immigrants or come from refugee families that speak German as a second language. The students are intensively supervised and advised by the lecturer, and they reflect on their work and experiences individually and as a group.

 

From: 2023 (April).

Continues

 

Context. Although Germany is a country with high rates of immigration and refugees, the schools lack sufficient resources (personnel, time, money) for the language support of children with German as a second language. This results in educational inequality and reduced opportunities for social participation for these children.

 

Solidarity action: The main community service objective is to support local schools in times of teacher shortages: increasing the school’s provision of language support for students with German as a second language with the aim of enhancing the social participation of this population group.

Learning: Professionalization of one’s own teaching actions and/or gaining fundamental insights into language support instruction in the subject of German, assuming social responsibility, raising awareness of school-related challenges, and engaging with the field of German as a second language.

 

Direct beneficiaries of the solidarity action: Children (0-11 years old) and adolescents in vulnerable contexts, refugees and migrants at educational risk, and individuals subject to discrimination and violence.

 

Type of service: Exclusively in the field.

Twenty-eight students and 3 professors participate in the project.

 

Main activities carried out by students: Preparation, lesson implementation, and reflection of language support classes for small groups of children with German as a second language at the elementary school level, with close supervision and guidance from the lecturer. Each student teaches lessons of approx. 45-90min/each week plus participation in the subject-specific didactic accompanying seminar.

 

Number of weekly hours that students dedicate to the project: 30 hours during a semester

 

Mandatory nature: It’s mandatory for some students but voluntary for others

 

A. Students: Professionalization of one’s own teaching actions and gaining fundamental insights into language support classes in the subject of German; assuming social responsibility and engagement with the whole society in general.

B. Community: Some children were able to improve their grades in German and participate much more effectively in regular classroom activities through their participation. This significantly increases their chances of academic success and societal participation. Their parents often consider the necessity of learning the German language more important when they perceive the positive attitudes and learning achievements of their children.

 

Audiovisual material and further information:  https://www.ku.de/news/uniservitate-foerdert-das-projekt-service-learning-sprachfoerderung-an-der-grundschule