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Learn French and German better: the cantons of Solothurn and Neuchâtel are teaming up when it comes to foreign languages.
Many Swiss-German cantons teach their primary school students English as their first foreign language. Others, in turn, opted for early French, including Bern, the two Basels and the canton of Solothurn. But compared to the other cantons, which rely on early French, the Solothurn schoolchildren’s knowledge of French is poor. They now want to change that and let the students literally immerse themselves in the French-speaking world.
The canton of Solothurn has signed an agreement with the canton of Neuchâtel that, as a partner, they want to teach foreign languages better. The aim of the agreement: Solothurn promotes French and Neuchâtel German as the first foreign language. And not simply in theory, on the blackboard, each for himself.
French gymnastics
Immersive forms of teaching are planned, for example French in music, or language exchange projects for primary school students. The Neuchâtel primary school pupils learn geography or artistic design in German. The Solothurn children sometimes do gymnastics in French.
Legend:
The government representatives of both cantons present their cooperation to the media in a school in Hägendorf (SO).
Beni Minder/SRF
French or German should be given more weight at all school levels. The pupils, in turn, should be more motivated to learn the new foreign language. The Solothurn schools can voluntarily take part in the projects. So far, eight schools in the two cantons have taken part in school partnerships. They organize class camps, pen pals or even digital meetings.
Learning foreign languages is exhausting, but it should also be fun.
“We realized that we have to improve,” Solothurn’s director of education, Remo Ankli, told SRF. The exchange has so far not taken place enough. The improvements meant a lot of effort, but were important, he said. The French lessons should be taken out of the classroom and made “tangible”, explained Andreas Walter from the Solothurn elementary school authority. “One should enjoy a foreign language.”
The canton of Neuchâtel has had experience with immersive teaching for over ten years. Interest in the project does not only exist among the respective government representatives, but apparently also among the teachers. The teacher training college of the Northwestern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (PH FHNW) has developed an initial further training course on the subject of “immersive teaching”. 13 teachers from the canton of Solothurn have completed the training so far.
You never reach your goal.
There is no need for nationwide solutions, the same projects in all schools, but individual exchange opportunities, said Solothurn’s education director Remo Ankli: “The hurdles should be lowered, one should travel to another language area, or have immersive lessons, a colorful range, as it is for the schools fit». The goal will be achieved if the students speak better French. But: “You never reach your goal, schools are constantly evolving.”