Case Studies

The project’s target groups include parents with a migration background, who can speak two or more languages but have little education, as well as communities and migrants’ associations, who want to offer a wider range of language courses for children.
The project builds on the idea that in offering language training to the parents, they can support their children's language learning in a multilingual and multicultural context. Children should learn German while still cultivating their mothertongue. That would lead to a better integration of children in the education system and, thus, help them get a good basis for further career development.

The main aim of the project is to train parents in supporting their children’s early language learning, stimulating children’s plurilingualism. This implies the parents’ supporting their children – as well as possible - in the development of language competences in two / several languages.
The language policy dimension of the programme targets a good acquisition of the country language while maintaining and continuing to develop competences in the mother tongue/ the family’s language/the language of origin. The project, thus, aims not only to improve the educational integration opportunities of children with a migration background, but also to maintain, cultivate and improve multilingualism in society at large.

The project’s innovative aspects are reflected in the range of workshops offered, which promote plurilingualism, as well as in the contents of the Brochure „Sprich mit mir und hör mir zu“ and in the multilingual Parents’ Handbook. The parents receive an induction into story-reading to children and storytelling, developing a better understanding of how to use and integrate picture books, books in general, how to develop the children’s competences in oral expression, tips for discussion, for dealing with everyday topics, etc. In addition, there are presentations of games appropriate for various age groups, and parents have the opportunity to try them out, to get confidence in implementing them with their children. An important part of the training consists in the use of everyday topics and materials, ready-at-hand, such as the participants’ own experiences, stories, songs, etc.

The main project deliverables include the publication of a Brochure publication (i.e. Handbook for Parents by 'okay.zusammen leben'), designing the concept and content of how to train parents, as well as a Database containing important topics, opinions, background knowledge about multilingualism. Additional results included the setting up and consolidation of trainer teams and multiplier teams, which involved also professional development and additional qualifications for all those concerned and involved in project activities. Am important deliverable was also the conducting of 4 summer courses in the local environment in Nenzing, Bludenz, Dornbirn, Götzis (in 2010), as well as the planning of 6 further courses for 2010.

The project's multiple dimensions, which address the development of plurilingualism in childrem, promoting multilingualism in local communities and society, in general, while educating parents and contributing to their developing pedagogical skills, so as to support their children be better integrated in the school system and then have better career opportunities for life.

Development of a data base with important background knowledge, opinions, ideas on multilingualism, addressing both the development of language competences in the country language and the consolidation of language skills for languages less widely taught (the children's/families' original languages)
Course offer for parents speakers of Chechen and of Portuguese.

Further development of the course offer, according to local requirements, as well as valorisation of the educational concept and materials.

• enhancement of quality of language teaching
• focus on evaluation of performance of language teaching and learning
• focus on teacher training
• promotion of new approaches to language teaching and learning
• promotion of multilingualism
• promotion of recognition and validation of language skills acquired through non formal and informal education
• promotion of the development of teaching material for the learning of less widely spoken languages

In particular, the ”Talk and Listen to Me – Training Parents to Support their Children’s Early Language Learning in a Multilingual Context” project has been chosen because of its consistency with the following priorities:
- supporting parents by widening their pedagogical background and helping them through targeted, life-long learning/education
- educating parents in view of their using everyday ideas, materials, events in support of their children's language learning and plurilingualism
- promoting positive attitudes to multilingualism and diversity in society.

Promoting lifelong learning for parents and children with migrant background, developing self-help mechanisms for successful integration in the school system, while encouraging multilingualism and positive attitudes to education, plurilingualism and the respect for diversity in society, going hand-in-hand with integration.