Learning German - without forgetting your native language
Mastering German is essential for a good education. A wide range of language support options for children of all ages is available in Münster.
In day-care, small children learn German through play. Language development will be evaluated by nursery nurses. You have a right to specific language support for your child where needed. Some nurseries also offer complementary language support for parents.
Nurseries support, monitor and document the linguistic development of all children in their care. If you as a parent do not want the nursery to document your child’s development in this way, he or she will need to take a language test at the age of four. Children who do not attend day-care also take this test. Children who are identified as requiring language support have to attend a language course. Any questions:
- Andreas Wildemann, ph. 02 51/ 4 92-51 33
wildemann(at)stadt-muenster.de
All schools are able to provide children from abroad with support in learning German. Some schools are specialised in this area.
Lessons in the child's first language
Many immigrant children grow up speaking more than one language. To ensure that they retain and continue to develop their first language, additional lessons in other languages, e.g. Arabic, Bosnian, Italian, Croatian, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish or Turkish are available.
Bildungsberatung (Education Advisory Service)
Stadthaus I, Klemensstraße 10, 48143 Münster
- Esther Bückmann, ph. 02 51/4 92 - 40 49
Bueckmanne(at)stadt-muenster.de - Christine Czepok, Tel. 02 51/4 92 - 40 42
Czepok(at)stadt-muenster.de - Jasmina Schäfer, Tel. 02 51/4 92 - 40 47
SchaeferJ(at)stadt-muenster.de - Monika Spöhle, Tel. 02 51/4 92 - 40 76
Spoehle(at)stadt-muenster.de
German as a foreign language
The adult education centre (“Volkshochschule Münster”) offers a wide variety of more than 120 courses for German as a foreign language to students from all over the world. It offers all levels from basic to advanced (A1-C2) with the possibility for students to take the respective internationally recognized telc or Goethe-Institute examinations.
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 groups according to their levels of ability (A1-B1) and age. "Club D" is free of charge – only materials have to be paid for. An initial assessment is obligatory.
- Volkshochschule (Münster Adult Education Centre), Aegidiimarkt 3
ph. 02 51 / 4 92-43 21 (service desk)
vhs(at)stadt-muenster.de - vhs.stadt-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.