The language crisis of the Viennese table class: Where is the German?

The language crisis of the Viennese table class: Where is the German?

In Vienna, an alarming picture emerges in the education sector. Almost half of the first graders have difficulties with the German language, which severely affects their participation in class. City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) recently commented on the reasons: An increase in refugees from Ukraine and Syria, the CoV pandemic, and the increased use of smartphones are leading to this worrying situation. Elementary school teacher Kerstin Nichtenberger confirmed these assessments in a conversation and added that even children from German-speaking families are often unable to handle everyday tasks independently. “These are children who often don’t even know how to tie their shoes or change for physical education class,” says Nichtenberger ORF reports.

Language and Identity: A Pressing Problem

However, the challenges are not limited to language acquisition. The Berlin surgeon Nani Rostamian, who came to Germany with her family when she was seven, talks about the difficulties of communicating with her parents about her medical knowledge. "I can't talk to them about medicine. When I want to explain something, I often have to use pen and paper." These language barriers not only cause communication problems, but also endanger cultural identity: “For us it was a gradual process of integrating or forgetting our own roots,” says Rostamian. Members of Arab and Turkish families in Germany are often worried that their children will lose their own language and thus also access to their cultural roots. Mirvat Adwan, a Syrian journalist in Berlin, founded an institute to keep the Arabic language alive for her children. “The majority of Arab parents are worried that their children will lose the language,” reports Adwan Deutschlandfunk Kultur noted.

To solve these problems, linguists emphasize the need to actively promote the native language, as solid language acquisition is crucial for the development of German skills. Another aspect is the appreciation of all cultural backgrounds in the education system, which not only strengthens the children's self-esteem but also improves their integration.