What could structured support for heritage language education look like? Answers from Switzerland

Heritage language courses in Zurich

• 45 % of all pupils are bi- or multilingual

• Approx. 10‘000 pupils are enrolled in HSK classes

• 32 languages

• Provided by consulates, parents’ associations etc.

• Over 330 active HSK teachers

Support for HSK in the Canton of Zurich

• HSK grades inserted into regular school report

• Administrative support: registration, location, etc.

• No direct financial support

• Quality of HSK teaching granted through recognition procedure

• Free courses at the PHZH for HSK teachers (Zurich University of Teacher Training)

• Networking

• Conference twice a year

Requirements in the Canton of Zurich

• Organization

  • Democratic

  • Politically and religiously neutral

  • Non-profit

  • Open to all children of the language community

  • Cooperation with parents and students

  • Cooperation with local schools, school management and ministry of education

  • Designates a coordinator

  • Makes sure teachers can attend compulsory in-service teacher training

• Curriculum and teaching

  • 2 lessons/week at pre-school & classes 1&2, otherwise max. 4 lessons/week

  • Teaching aligned with the framework curriculum for HSK (2023)

  • Supports multilingual development and integration of students into Swiss society

  • Supports peaceful coexistence of people of different origins

  • Political and religious neutrality

• HSK teachers

  • Qualification

  • Either teaching diploma

  • Or Bachelor degree and 10-day teacher training offered by Zurich University of Teacher Education (Nachqualifikation)

  • Certificate B1 in German (minimum)

  • Present extract from criminal record

  • No criminal offence

What the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) offers for heritage language teachers

https://phzh.ch/hsk

Paid for by the Canton, access to the courses requires a B1 level of German and must work at a recognized heritage language program

• Introduction to the school system of the Canton of Zurich (EMO)

• The EMO (Einführungsmodul) continuing education module focuses on the school system in the canton of Zurich and the tasks of HSK teachers.

  • Target group: All HSK teachers new to the canton of Zurich.

  • Duration: 6 days

  • Every year form January to June, spread over three months, on two consecutive days each time (3 x 2 days)

• In-service teacher training courses: Module A (Foundations)

  • This module deals with basic pedagogical and didactic knowledge and quality aspects for modern and professional HSK teaching, taking multilingualism into account. Participants try out new or unfamiliar approaches. They compare their own teaching experiences with the requirements in Switzerland and develop them further. At the same time, participants expand their specialist vocabulary.

  • Duration: 45 working hours / 6 half-days of classroom teaching

  • Target group: HSK teachers without teaching diploma

  • Every year from October to June

• In-service teacher training courses: Module B (In-depth study)

  • Each year, a new focus of particular importance is determined for this module, for example ‘Cooperative and discovery-based learning methods’ or ‘Competence-oriented teaching’. Participants learn and try out new approaches and methods for their teaching, reflect on their experiences and benefit from cooperation, exchange and networking with colleagues. They also expand their technical vocabulary.

  • Duration: 45 working hours / 4 half-day sessions

  • Target group: Module A participants and other interested HSK teachers and coordinators

  • Every year from June to November

• Introduction to the HSK framework curriculum*

  • Teaching and learning

  • Competence-oriented teaching

  • Competence-oriented assessment

  • Homework

  • Teaching material

  • Teaching methods

  • Neutrality

  • Curriculum should be aligned with the curriculum 21 (adopted by the 21 German-speaking cantons)

• Teaching materials online www.myheritagelanguage.com

Legal basis for the support of heritage language teaching

• Federal Act on the National Languages and Understanding between the Linguistic Communities (Artikel 16)

• Ordinance on the National Languages and Understanding between the Linguistic Communities (Artikel 11)

• Volksschulgesetz (VSG) 2005 - Cantonal law on compulsory education in Zurich (Artikel 15)

Key documents

• HSK Stundenplan Zurich (list of courses)

• HSK Guide

• HSK framework curriculum document (in het Nederlands)