Stadt Münster, Learning German – without forgetting your native language
Welcome to Münster in Westphalia
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Learning German – without forgetting your native language
Münster is an international city with a multicultural population. Around 50,000 people of foreign descent currently live in the city. There are numerous cultural centres and free advisory and communication services. Schooling and further training / education are extremely important issues in terms of integration. In addition to classes designed specifically for foreign pupils, the city of Münster also offers newcomers afternoon language courses, native language teaching and Islamic studies. The creation of a multicultural society also includes the maintenance of international contacts and encounters, such as via international school exchange programmes.
www.muenster.de/stadt/schulamt/international.html
Native language teaching
Many parents would like their children to learn German, but believe that this should not be at the expense of their native language. Native language teaching, which also includes regional studies, helps maintain the children’s knowledge of and feel for their own languages. Trained foreign teachers provide lessons in the afternoons, which are usually held over three hours a week. In Münster, native language teaching is currently offered in Arabic, Bosnian, Farsi, Italian, Croatian, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Turkish. Pupils can find out about, and register themselves for native language teaching at their respective schools.
Schulamt der Stadt (Municipal School Office), Petra Zimmermann, Klemensstraße 10
ph. 02 51 / 4 92-40 69
Zimmermann@stadt-muenster.de
www.muenster.de/stadt/schulamt/international_foerderung.html
German as a foreign language
The adult education centre ("Volkshochschule") offers over 120 courses in “German as a foreign language” for teenagers and adults, beginners and more advanced students per year. Pupils can also learn German, or improve their knowledge of the language, by attending "Club D". Children and teenagers meet at the adult education centre twice a week for two hours, and practise grammar, spelling and vocabulary. Here, the emphasis is placed on speaking and understanding. At present, pupils are divided into three levels of ability and two age groups for teaching purposes. "Club D" is free of charge – only materials have to be paid for. An initial assessment is obligatory.
Volkshochschule Münster (Münster Adult Education Centre), Aegidiimarkt 3
ph. 02 51 / 4 92-43 21 (service desk)
vhs@stadt-muenster.de
vhs.muenster.de/programm/fachbereiche-sprachen-und-laender-sprachberatung
Family education centres also offer German language courses (see section IV.4, “Additional further education establishments“). The city is also home to a range of private language schools.
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