German-Polish daycare project: Children learn the neighboring language through play!

German-Polish daycare project: Children learn the neighboring language through play!

At the AWO “Klinikzwerge” daycare center in Pasewalk, the children’s curiosity bubbles up as they learn the Polish language in a playful way. Teachers like Iwona Frankowska from Szczecin not only teach the little ones vocabulary, but also make language learning exciting and lively through games, songs and everyday activities. " NDR " reports that when cooking applesauce together, "Smacznego!" (Bon Appetit) is sung - a fun way to anchor the new words.

The “Kids of our neighbors” project aims to break down the language barriers between German and Polish children. A total of 937,000 euros are being invested in this educational approach, which not only works in the AWO daycare center, but also in three daycare centers in the Polish municipality of Police, where children learn German. Joint excursions and online meetings are also planned to further consolidate intercultural skills. Over a period of three years, the children should learn around 200 terms and be able to communicate in everyday situations.

A common goal

The daycare center director Susanne Wegner reports on the great enthusiasm of the children, who want to actively participate and learn more about their neighbors in distant Poland. This curiosity is precisely the key to overcoming linguistic, mental and cultural barriers that have long separated the young inhabitants of the Euroregion Pomerania. The need for systematic neighboring language acquisition was already identified in 2014/2015 and has steadily gained in importance since then, as shown by the “Neighboring language acquisition from daycare to school leaving” initiative, in which over 3,165 students from 53 institutions are involved, including 24 from Szczecin and 29 from Germany. This initiative is supported by the Interreg V-A program, which has invested a total of 2.2 million euros in the development of bilingual educational offerings. Loud Polish is close These programs are specifically tailored to the needs of children and young people.

“The challenges that come with learning a neighboring language should not be underestimated,” emphasizes Iwona. Nevertheless, she is convinced that learning a language builds bridges between people. A very central aspect is the promotion of openness and acceptance towards foreign cultures, which is also supported by the collaboration of over 321 educators and teachers from the region.

A look into the future

The project focuses not only on language acquisition, but also on increasing awareness of the German-Polish neighborhood through encounters and joint activities. Not only do the children benefit directly from the educational institutions, but also society as a whole. A qualified workforce is created that can better cope with future intercultural challenges.

In summary, the “Kids of our neighbors” initiative is a shining example of how language support not only supports individual learning, but also lays the foundation for better coexistence in cross-border areas. If you would like to find out more about the various language projects, you have the opportunity to do so in the podcast “MV in Focus”, where further exciting insights and information are provided.