„Arabic Language and Culture 3.0“
As part of our project, which ran from 01.07.2021 to 20.12.2021 over 24 weeks with a total of 4 teaching units per week, we gave children and young people aged 8 to 16 the opportunity to intensively nurture their mother tongue, Arabic, and to stay connected to their cultural identity. The aim was not only to support the participants linguistically, but also to preserve and strengthen their cultural values.
The children and young people were divided into homogeneous groups based on their individual language level, which was assessed at the beginning of the project during an introductory session. A deliberate emphasis was placed on a flexible learning environment in which the children were met where they stood linguistically and culturally, without being forced into a rigidly predefined framework. The participants were supervised by an experienced pedagogical specialist, supported by volunteer helpers who were not only available as language contacts but also fostered social interaction through playful and communal activities. The project was coordinated by a project leader who brought extensive experience in working with children and young people as well as in organizing cultural projects.
Particularly valuable was the involvement of specialists with an Arabic migration background. They not only created a trusting and authentic learning atmosphere but also enabled a special connection between the children and their cultural roots.
In addition to language support, creative activities such as rehearsing and performing theatre plays were at the forefront, in order to strengthen the children's creativity and self-confidence. The project helped the participants not only to preserve their mother tongue but also to further develop it in a new home, and to look toward their future with a strengthened cultural self-confidence. We would like to sincerely thank the Landschaftsverband Westfalen Lippe (LWL), whose funding made the realization of this valuable project possible.