The Canton of Thurgau, the deficiency made the German language skills of preschool children for the national theme. With the initiative of the Canton required an Amendment to the Federal Constitution, parents have taken care of prior to school entry, too little Integration of their children should pay for their English lessons yourself.

Basel-city goes the other way. And the test of time. Also there is the same story as in other cantons during years: children were enrolled in Kindergarten and not understand a word. In 2013 was launched a pilot project for the German education of young children. Since 2016 this measure in the school act.

A letter for every family

was The “Early English promotion of Basel,” an ingenious System, says head of Susann Täschler. In January, all parents of children to be written, the one and a half years prior to kindergarten entry. 2019 there were 1721 families.

The parents received a questionnaire in which you assess the English skills of your child – this is available in twelve languages. It is, for example, asked whether the child can designate specific activities to English. Is provided with images, such as of an eating or a running child. The question is: “Can name your child the activities in German? This is confirmed with a cross or denied. A child grows up in English, parents can confirm this on the questionnaire and do not have to answer the other questions. The questionnaire will be evaluated by the University of Basel. So, it is determined that a child is in need of funding.

38 week of two and a half days

All parents need to fill out the questionnaire and to the Department of Education to send back. “The return is fantastic,” says Täschler. After two weeks, the Department of elementary schools at education Department get 50 percent. Overall, the return rate is 99.8 percent. However, about 15 percent of the parents need to be reminded. If that’s not enough, you will be warned, and if you do not respond still, you will be fined. “Every year there are one or two families, where the questionnaire comes back only after a buses,” says Täschler.

40 percent of children of the relevant age group were obliged to 2018 for the German promotion – about 670 children. And the trend is rising. This promotion is no training in the classical sense. It would hardly be fair if three-year-old would have to sit in a course. However, parents are obliged to send your child during 38 school weeks in a minimum of two half days per week in a German speaking play group or another English-speaking Institution, such as a daycare center. Two-thirds of the parents opt for a game group. The parents send their child in one of the 40 language support-play groups in Basel, the parents ‘ contributions by the Canton. Cost per child per year to around 3500 Swiss francs.

Language progress

“We have different feedback received from the teachers,” says Täschler. A large part of judging the development of the so-prepared children is very positive. Others would not have disappointed the high expectations of the Early German support and that the children at the Kindergarten-entry can be better English. “The Optimum we can reach with a maximum of 76 Visit in a group,” says the project Manager. Nevertheless, the child could be much more than if it were not for the Early support in German. The children then to be understood, for example, simple instructions.

In a study of the University of Basel children with a migration background attending a such care facility, a significantly better knowledge of German than the, which is not visited. In an Evaluation, the University of applied Sciences northwestern Switzerland, comes to the same conclusion. In the course of a year will observed in almost all children with significant linguistic progress. They would occur with stronger communicative-pragmatic competence in the Kindergarten.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 16.02.2019, 07:36 PM