The most important task is to help the children to actively participate in lessons. This is intended to prevent children from dropping out of school due to poor language skills and lay the foundations for successful integration.
The children's social skills are also promoted.
The new language support program "MITsprache" has now been presented at a launch event for the language support program in Salzgitter at the Kranichdammschule in Lebenstedt.
How is the program being implemented in Salzgitter?
The language support program is implemented at three elementary school in Lebenstedt:
Am See elementary school, Kranichdamm school and Dürerring elementary school.
Three providers of family centers/daycare centers/learning and play groups are also taking part in the pilot project: Familienzentrum St. Elisabeth, Kita Friedenkirche and AWO are providing the specialist who coordinates the MITsprache program within the play and learning groups.
In total, at least 70 children in Salzgitter will learn German with the help of MITsprache. The plan is for each of the five MITsprache locations in Salzgitter to set up at least two support groups with seven children each, which will start after the fall vacations. Until then, the language level, i.e. the specific support needs of each individual child, will be recorded. A total of 40 educational specialists, who are currently undergoing appropriate training, will be responsible for their care.
"In our elementary school in Salzgitter," says city councillor Dr. Dirk Härdrich, "many classes consist almost exclusively of pupils whose first language is not German. That is a major challenge". Härdrich emphasizes that language in particular is a gateway to education and society. Therefore, the acquisition of the German language is indispensable!
What is the MITsprache language support program?
The aim of "MITsprache" is to give socially disadvantaged children, and in particular children with a migration background, access to education through the acquisition of the German language, thereby promoting their integration.
The project is designed to provide support over several years, from nursery to elementary school. The program can be divided into three components:
- Tried and tested, practical and diagnosis-based support material
- Further training and coaching for nursery and primary school teachers
- socio-educational work with parents
Evaluation by LMU Munich confirms: MITsprache works!
MITsprache was independently evaluated by the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich from August 2011 to January 2015. The results at the end of the third year of the project show that MITsprache has a clearly positive effect on the children's language acquisition. In contrast to children in a comparison group without additional support, children who received support showed significantly higher growth in their language skills.
Statements from the two supporting foundations in Salzgitter
The Volkswagen Employee Foundation has taken over the financing of the support measures in Salzgitter. The Fairchance Foundation is responsible for the development and implementation of the program.
Both the Volkswagen Employee Foundation and the Fairchance Foundation emphasize how important language and education are for the integration and equal opportunities of children with a migration background.
Angela Kaspar, CEO of the Volkswagen Employee Foundation, explains the launch of MITsprache in Salzgitter: "As the Volkswagen Employee Foundation, we support the MITsprache language support program because we firmly believe that every child deserves a fair chance. Through the targeted promotion of language skills, MITsprache creates the basis for better educational and integration opportunities for children with difficult starting conditions. This commitment is in line with our goal of improving the living conditions of children and young people worldwide and giving them a better future."
Alexander Wolf, Managing Director of the Fairchance Foundation: "Education is the most important prerequisite for the integration of children in their new home country and their later participation in professional and social life. This is not possible without learning German. This is why the Fairchance Foundation has launched the MITsprache language support program. The constantly growing waiting list of schools shows just how great the need is in this area. In the new school year alone, we will be including 35 new educational establishments across Germany in the support program."
