Education: Hope for newcomers in Europe
Ideally, illiterate students are assigned to specific separate courses, and students with a high level of competences acquired in schools in their countries of origin are allocated to preparatory courses in the academically oriented Gymnasium. In principle, competency in the family language can be assessed and accepted as a replacement for a second foreign language that is necessary for acquiring a tertiary education certificate. However, not all schools are making use of this option, and teachers in schools still report cases of students who would be better placed in a different type of course or school (teachers in interviews with Master’s degree student 2017). 3.2.2. Preparatory German classes and interlocking of German-learning and subjects In Bremen, most children – for exceptions see below – must participate in a preparatory German class and have an assigned regular class in which they are supposed to follow some subjects. This partly integrative model is practised in primary schools for up to six months, and for up to one year in lower secondary schools. The idea is to provide early opportunities for initial contact with children and youth socialised in Germany and thus opportunities for improving their German in informal conversations. Decisions on assigning a student to a specific grade, class and course are organised within schools, with students often assigned to a lower grade than their age would indicate. The preparatory German class takes 20 hours per week, while the regular class is allocated 30 hours, so that up to 10 hours can be spent in the regular class. Schools decide when and in what lessons children should attend regular classes. This partly integrative model does not always match well with regular timetables in Bremen schools. While some schools seek individual solutions, others have schematic solutions that do not match well with individual needs. “They have the preparatory German class from the second to the fifth hour. That means that they to go to the regular class in the first and the sixth lesson. That is sometimes very very difficult. In the first and the sixth hour, they do not get real contact with the class, and that is not only because of their German. One day, they experience one of the German lessons and then one in English or in arts, and they often feel very lost and then they cut classes and sit in front of the door of the preparatory German class and wait for the teacher to come. (Headteacher in interview with Master’s degree student, 2017) A member of the school management in an Oberschule explains that 20 hours per week for preparatory German classes for one year is not enough. The school seeks to gain flexibility by integrating some of them earlier and others later in regular classes. (Member of school management in interview with Master’s degree student, 2017) A 19