Language as the Foundation
Salzgitter's MITsprache Project Transforms Children's German Skills Through Play
In his welcoming remarks, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel stated: "Strong German language skills are the key to better educational and developmental opportunities—whether for children whose first language is German or those who speak other languages at home. Early language support in daycare centers and primary schools is crucial, as it enables children to participate more actively in lessons and strengthens social cohesion in the classroom. For this reason, I extend my deepest gratitude to all the schools, daycare centers, and learning groups involved in the MITsprache project for their dedicated and vital work."
Anna Koch-Söchting, acting head of the Education Department, added: "MITsprache is an excellent complementary tool for daycare centers and schools. The approach—boosting language and communication skills in small groups through a variety of language-learning games—has proven highly effective."
School principals and daycare leaders in attendance reported significant progress in children's German language acquisition, noticeably greater engagement in both social interactions and classroom activities, and high levels of enthusiasm among participants. The program, built around interactive language games, has been met with great excitement by the children involved.
Funding Makes It Possible
Language support is structured in two to three small groups (per school or daycare) of up to seven children each, meeting up to four times a week. The pedagogical staff leading the sessions receive prior training, and participating institutions are provided with comprehensive materials. A key focus lies on socio-educational outreach to parents.
MITsprache is funded through grants from three foundations—the Fairchance Foundation, the Volkswagen Employee Foundation, and the Heidehof Foundation—totaling over €130,000, along with contributions from school budgets and the Startchancen program (Pillar II) of the Braunschweig Regional Office for Schools and Education (RLSB). The city of Salzgitter, as the school authority, covers a portion of the material costs at select school locations.
Launched in Salzgitter in 2024 with five pilot sites, the program targets all children—regardless of migration background—who require additional support in German. Seven more institutions (six primary schools and one daycare center) have since joined. Currently, MITsprache is helping around 300 children in Salzgitter develop their language skills.
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