Froebel

FROEBEL values an approach to early learning which develops a child's autonomy and self-confidence and which recognises children as free, active, feeling and thinking human beings, seeing patterns and making connections. Early learning at FROEBEL relates to all capabilities of each child: imaginative, creative, symbolic, linguistic, mathematical, musical, aesthetic, scientific, physical, social, moral, cultural and spiritual. Our childcare involves joy, wonder, concentration, unity and satisfaction - and activities or experiences that have sense, purpose and meaning to the child.

We respond to the increasing importance of linguistic and language abilities by providing bilingual early childhood education and care. We follow the Immersion Concept and employ native German-speaking early childhood teachers who work alongside their English-speaking colleagues. Our German team speaks with the children in their mother tongue only, all day. Thus, every child is immersed in a second language on a daily basis, gets familiar with the language melody, and learns it in a playful way without the need of "teaching lessons". Staff supports their communication with the children through mimics, gestures and daily routines. It is an integral part of the "immersion concept" that the learning of the new language follows the same principles as the learning of the child's first language. Children use the experience they recently gained in mastering their primary language, and therefore abilities they already possess and develop.

FROEBEL recognises the importance of play as a central integrating element in every child's development and learning, and the integrity of childhood in its own right. "Language learning" and learning in general is not forced upon a child. We regard ourselves as a learning facility but not a teaching facility. The benefits to the children are multiple: they not only learn another language but also develop their multicultural awareness and their linguistic abilities in general. Early bilingual education also gives children advantages in their future professional life.