Bilingualism

Many of our children grow up with more than one language due to their diverse family backgrounds. In such cases, we speak of bilingualism or multilingualism.

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Immersion Approach

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Our team is made up of native German and native Chinese speakers. In each group, at least one German-speaking and one Chinese-speaking educator work together, each consistently communicating with the children in their mother tongue. This method is known as the immersion approach — widely regarded as one of the most effective methods for language acquisition. Following the principle of “One Person – One Language,” our activities take place in German and/or Chinese.

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Language Learning in Everyday Situations

 

We sing songs in both German and Chinese, do crafts, play, and explore the world together. Language is primarily acquired through daily routines and reinforced through songs, music, movement, and creative projects. Children learn best when they experience and hear the language naturally throughout their day. That’s why we focus on integrating language learning into daily life, making use of the many language-rich moments that naturally occur in a kita setting.

 

Our goal is to ensure that all children are well-prepared for entering primary school in Germany. Unlike in China, where children often begin learning written characters at a very young age, we introduce Chinese writing in a playful and creative way — for example through calligraphy or labeling familiar objects.

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Daily Story Time

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We place great value on regular — ideally daily — reading time with the children. Our kita offers a wide selection of freely accessible books in both German and Chinese. In both groups, we also use a storytelling theater (Kamishibai) to bring stories to life. The older group visits the public library regularly. We believe it’s important that children become familiar with both spoken and written language, and we actively support the development of early literacy skills to ensure a smooth transition into primary school.

 

Educators as Language Role Models

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Our educators are key language role models and provide meaningful impulses for learning. We are aware of this responsibility and engage with the children in a sensitive and attentive manner. We take into account their needs, interests, and topics, and we value their perspectives in our daily communication.