Heritage language instruction (HSU) in Oberbergischer Kreis

Many children and young people in the Oberbergischer Kreis grow up multilingually. Heritage Language Instruction (HSU) supports them in systematically developing their family language further and using their multilingualism as a resource.

The HSU is a school programme of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is aimed at pupils with an international family background who speak German and another language, or who are growing up with that other language. The goal is to preserve, build on and expand their spoken and written skills in their heritage language, as well as to promote intercultural competence and multilingual learning.

The HSU is particularly important for pupils in lower secondary education: at the end of lower secondary education, a language examination in the heritage language can, or must, be taken under the applicable regulations. The examination is conducted at the level required for the intended school-leaving certificate; the result is certified on the report card.

Successfully passing the HSU language examination is more than proof of language proficiency. The result is documented on the leaving certificate and can offer concrete advantages for further education.

• Recognition: Performance in the heritage language is officially recorded on the leaving certificate.

• Compensation option: An at least good performance can offset a poor performance in a foreign language when awarding certain school-leaving qualifications.

• Upper secondary school: Under the relevant conditions, the heritage language can be continued in the upper secondary level (Gymnasiale Oberstufe) as a continued foreign language.

• Strengthening multilingualism: Existing language skills become visible and recognised as a school achievement.

The HSU language examination can therefore be significant both for the school-leaving qualification and for further education.

HSU teachers can also bring their linguistic skills into mainstream lessons. Through cooperation with class and subject teachers, multilingualism is used as a resource for learning in the class or learning group.

Possible forms of cooperation include:

• joint lesson planning and team teaching,

• language-comparison tasks in German and the heritage language,

• support in understanding technical terms and assignments,

• use of multilingual materials,

• joint projects on language and culture.

Example: KOALA

One example of linking the heritage language with German is KOALA – Coordinated Literacy Instruction in Early Education. Here, HSU teachers and primary school teachers coordinate their work, particularly in teaching reading and writing. The children use their knowledge of both languages and discover similarities and differences.

In this way, HSU teachers can make an important contribution to language education, multilingualism and educational equity.

Which forms of cooperation are implemented depends on the possibilities and the pedagogical concept of the respective school.