Common language — a common future

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Objectives: The largest barrier in the common region of Bavaria-Bohemian, which is already well networked in many ways in many areas, is still the language. The project “Common Future through Language” aims to teach the neighbouring language at primary and secondary schools in the border area through subject-specific, intensive language teaching and to provide the basis for orientation on the German-Czech labour market for pupils. The language lessons are complemented and meaningfully expanded by a digital teaching concept as well as an excursion program that also includes company visits to the border area. Activities: For this purpose, 15 primary schools and 15 secondary schools on each side of the border receive subject-specific Czech and German lessons for two years, which mainly deals with the topics of technology, companies and the labour market. In this way, learning the language serves not only the rapprochement of the two countries but also a direct practical relevance and in the future improves the perspectives of participants in the working world in the border region. In order to further optimise language learning, the project uses new digital media that not only increase students’ motivation in language learning, but also achieve better results. The use of these media makes it possible to integrate language learning from the school into the student’s leisure area, which leads to a broader engagement with the neighbouring language. A pronunciation dictionary, an interactive web application, as well as the purchase of tablets and the actionbound app ensure that digital media strengthen and expand language acquisition in the classroom, at home and as part of the excursions. Target group: The target groups are equally shared by students from primary and secondary schools. The purpose of the subject-specific language teaching is to reach schools that are already dealing with career orientation, using the contact networks of the Budweis Technical and Economic University of Applied Sciences to educational institutions. The primary schools in the project get first insights into the technology industry and acquire a subject-specific basic vocabulary with the help of the web application. The expected added value for the programme area: Thanks to their new language skills and the connection to the neighbouring country, the project participants will have more motivation to orient themselves across borders even in the later job search. In support of this, the visits of companies to the border region act as motivation and as a reward for the students. Many of these companies are active in both countries and are looking for bilingual professionals who will become increasingly available through the project in the future.

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