Language support for refugee children: a win for daycare centers!

Language support for refugee children: a win for daycare centers!

Supporting children and young people with refugee experience in their language learning processes is a central concern of the university in Vechta. As part of the “Netword reloaded” project of the Center for Teacher Training (ZfLB), a new team has been working since October 1st, supported by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) with a budget of around 300,000 euros. The aim of the project is to provide targeted support to refugee children and young people by students at the University of Vechta, with new emphasis being placed particularly in the area of ​​language support.

A key part of this project is the integration of multilingualism into teacher training. In the coming summer semester of 2026, a module will be continued at the Zwilling-Scholl-Oberschule. In addition to support in the orientation internship, it is also planned to deepen multilingualism in further internships.

New impulses from experienced specialists

Aslı Demircan, who previously worked at the Université Lorraine in Metz/France, joins the team as a new project employee. Your experience in language support, especially with regard to “German as a foreign language/German as a second language”, is considered valuable. In addition, she plans to get to know important local cooperation partners in order to strengthen regional networking.

The challenges are particularly pronounced today. Many daycare centers have long been confronted with an increasing number of children who come from crisis areas such as Syria and are often traumatized. These children often have little knowledge of German, which represents a major hurdle for their integration. It is crucial to create a language-friendly learning environment and to reflect the attitudes of the professionals.

The importance of the first language

A fundamental insight in language development is that children's first language plays an important role in second language acquisition. Appreciating and cultivating this language is crucial for educational success. Nifbe states that attending daycare makes it easier to learn the German language, but the children's self-confidence is also strengthened through trusting relationships with the teachers.

The dialogue about heterogeneity and the resources of all children is necessary in order to understand diversity as an enrichment and to use it in a targeted manner. Open discussions within the team, appreciation for different life stories and the integration of cultural customs into the everyday life of the daycare centers are further measures to create a positive learning environment.

Playful language development

In addition to technical training, the practical implementation of language support is important. Children, who often only have a rudimentary knowledge of the German language, often communicate through games and gestures. Therefore, sensitive communication and creative methods are required. The use of gestures, images and simply structured sentences help to overcome language barriers.

The project is supplemented by various practice-oriented exercises. Methods such as memory games to teach vocabulary, picture-based puzzles or multilingual rituals are useful for actively involving children. Pro-Kita also mentions the inclusion of games from the children's countries of origin as a way to strengthen cultural identity and language.

Overall, the “Netword reloaded” project shows that the combination of professional support, community exchange and an open, respectful approach to multilingualism is enriching for both children with refugee experience and for the entire daycare community.