6 min. of native language training for an immigrant child in Thuringia

Like Layla and Amirah, around 21% of all children and adolescents in Germany grow up with one or even multiple languages (Federal Statistical Office, 2022). In Thuringia, this includes about 20,000 children and adolescents. They speak languages such as Arabic, Turkish, Ukrainian, or Polish with their parents, grandparents, and siblings. We distinguish between mother or first language (the language learned first as a child, which can also include several languages) and heritage language (the language spoken in the country or region where the family originally comes from). For these children, being able to speak and write their heritage language properly is very important for communication with their families. Improving their heritage language even makes it easier to learn additional languages, whether it's German or another language. When we learn a new language, we can build on existing knowledge that supports us in the language learning process. For example, we can make connections between word meanings if they are similar or understand grammar rules more easily by comparing them to languages we already know. For this to work well, it is important that children are encouraged to use their multilingualism as a resource and incorporate their prior knowledge (Kuhn A., Schnitzer K., 2022). However, it’s not just about communication with others. Children who are supported in their heritage language have better chances of obtaining a higher school diploma. This language competence is also a valuable resource in later life, as foreign language skills are increasingly important in almost all professions. Additionally, the heritage language is an important part of one’s identity. By valuing their multilingualism, immigrant children and adolescents also experience more acceptance for their linguistic and cultural identity (State Integration Council NRW, 2016).