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‘Each child counts’: the importance of all-day school

All-day schooling is not a given in Germany. Except at Phorms.

Published: 16 December 2016 13:26 CET
'Each child counts': the importance of all-day school
 
Only 60 percent of schools currently offer a whole-day programme, and just over ten years ago, the majority of German schools operated on a half-day basis, with lessons ending around midday.

But Phorms doesn’t do half measures.

Indeed, Phorms has always been committed to doing things a little differently – from revolutionary bilingual education to top-notch technology in the classroom.

Phorms Education, which introduced a new model of education in Germany ten years ago, now has seven schools in the country: in Hamburg, Berlin Mitte and Berlin Süd, Frankfurt City and Frankfurt Taunus, Munich and the Josef-Schwarz-Schule in Baden-Württemberg. They also run an additional international school in Heidelberg, H.I.S.

Today, Phorms boasts a thriving educational community that goes above and beyond the expectations and requirements of any ordinary school. And the all-day schooling system, it would seem, has had a big part to play in its success.   

A winning formula

“Each individual child counts,” explains Michael Gehrig, the head of Phorms Schools in Frankfurt.

“We support and help students grow at both ends. There are students with weak spots, who need to be supported, and then there are students who are gifted – who are very curious in the world – and for these students we offer an enrichment programme.”

The all-day system allows greater flexibility in the time spent on certain subjects, bringing a host of extracurricular opportunities and educational support to students depending on their individual needs. It’s not one-size-fits-all – it’s personal.

“Our primary teachers have more flexibility in their plans as far as when they can do maths and when they can do English, or when they can extend some hours,” explains Marc Nevin, English Teacher at Phorms in Munich.

Besides teaching English, Nevin also helps coordinate the Extension and Enrichment programme in Munich – you can read all about this programme, and the additional support Phorms offers here.

“The extension and enrichment programme is kind of a dialogue and work-in-progress with the students,” Nevin says.

“It shouldn’t be another class for them necessarily, so I bring in inspiration from things that other students have done, and we try to help each other with ideas,” he continues.

“They dictate what they want to do, and we try to create this workshop atmosphere so that students can work on what they want to, the areas they want to develop.”

Building a community

Phorms schools go one step further than simply providing an all-day programme, however. They offer  different afterschool workshops and activities between 4 – 6pm, and even whole-day programmes and activities for students during the holidays.

“There are lots of different types of activities available after school – from dance and judo, to chess and woodwork,” says George Betts, Extracurricular Coordinator at Phorms Campus Frankfurt City.

“There are quite often activities in the local woods, and we’ve been very proactive in astronomy and engaging the children in overnight stays – so there’s a whole range of activities that are rather diverse and quite unique.”

It is these extracurricular activities, Betts says, that help to create the close-knit educational community that everyone at Phorms, including the students and parents, value so highly.

“A big part of our community is based after school or before school,” Betts explains.

“We have a lot of parents and children who are engaged in the more social aspects of the education we offer – afterschool activities, for instance – and it brings a lot of parents together as a community. As a result of being integrated within our all-day school system, the parents are not just coming to pick up their children, they quite often form social bonds with other parents, and that develops over time.”

Inspiration meets integration

Whilst creating a strong and supportive educational community within their schools, Phorms also cares passionately about immersing the students in the local German community.

“One of the things that I find unique about Phorms is that while it is a globally minded school, it is very much rooted in the local community,” Nevin states.

“We’re rooted in the community because most of our students are local – quite a few of them have parents who have either worked or studied overseas, and want their children to have a more international education,” he continues.

“And we also have expat children whose parents want to use the experience for their children to learn more about the German culture as opposed to going to an international school where they would be a little bit more isolated from the community.”

While Phorms may pride itself on successfully immersing students in the local German community, for Michael Gehrig, it’s the international team of staff members that makes Phorms Education so unique.  

“The internationally based staff – together with the German colleagues – form an excellent team, sharing all their teaching experience and techniques from around the world to become better teachers and people,” he exclaims.  

“It is this marvellous and energetic team who make Phorms run.”

You can learn more about the Phorms schools and their concept at one of their information events. Click here to find out more.

This article was produced by The Local and sponsored by Phorms. 

LEARNING GERMAN

‘Forget about bilingual Kitas’: Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

With greater numbers of international workers choosing to settle in Germany and raise a family, the question of how to best raise bilingual children is often considered. 

Published: 25 April 2024 15:01 CEST
'Forget about bilingual Kitas': Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

The Local asked its readers who have raised bilingual children in Germany to tell us how they managed to raise children who speak German in addition to their parent’s mother tongue. 

Trust the (school) system. 

One piece of advice was echoed by several readers: Trust the German education system to take care of teaching German through immersion. 

Siniša, 44, from Hesse, who speaks Croatian and English at home, told The Local: “Speak your native language at home. The school will ‘cover’ German and other languages.”

Steve, 55, who lives in Munich and speaks English and Spanish with his daughter agrees.

“Be consistent and raise your child in your native tongue. At a local school, they will learn German quickly,” he said.

Chris, 44, from Hamburg, who speaks English with his children, backed the idea of leaving kids’ schools to take charge of teaching them German.

“Get the kids into the German education system as early as possible and let them learn themselves from native speakers. As a bonus, they’ll pick it up quickly and not pick up a ‘non-German’ accent either,” he said.

Read more: ‘Multilingualism is an enrichment’ – The challenges of raisin bilingual kids in Germany

Readers also noted that even in the preschool stage, children can handle multiple languages. 

Julie, 41, who lives in Hamburg and speaks English and Italian at home, said: “Relax and go with the flow. Don’t get hung up on finding bilingual Kitas for toddlers if they already get significant exposure to the non-German language at home. Languages seem to develop in different spurts at different speeds.”

However, liaising with schools in Germany was noted as an essential skill. 

Kim, 46, based in Sindelfingen, with a family speaking both English and German, said: “It’s essential for at least one parent to understand German when children attend a German school. They can help explain language and cultural differences. They can also help with administrative matters and even homework.”

Maintain the mother tongue.

While readers were keen to encourage parents to trust the immersion process that German schools provide, they were also quick to advise a concerted effort to maintain speaking the mother tongue in and around the home. 

“For international parents, I think it’s very important that their children do not lose touch with their mother tongue, as it is a very special part of their identity,” said Prashanth, 42, who lives in Munich.

Anne-Marie, 52, from Frankfurt, who speaks ‘Singlish’ (Singaporean English) with her children, stated that it’s essential to be firm.

“Speak in your mother tongue to your kids from the day they are born. Be consequent about it, even in front of other people who do not speak your mother tongue,” she said.

Karl, 44, who lives in Celle and who speaks English and the indigenous American Ute language with his children, said getting family on board is important. 

“Communicate with all family members your decision, intentionally speak all of the languages, when possible provide translations so family members present are not excluded from conversations,” he said.

Charles, 40, from Berlin, even stated that speaking German at home may prove detrimental: “Don’t speak your own mediocre German with them. It may be hard to see them speaking another language as their more comfortable primary language than your own.”

Charles, who speaks English at home, added: “Find books and shows to share with them in your native language to continue the shared experience.”

Read More: What foreign parents should know about German schools

Just let it happen with the kids…

Sometimes, it seems, becoming bilingual takes care of itself. 

Paul, 40, from Munich, married to a German, said: “Our oldest just started speaking English one day around age 3. She had heard so much she could understand and just started talking. 

“The twins are starting to speak more and more English. It wasn’t a problem since she was fluent in both by age 4. I advise patience and not expecting perfection at a young age.

Crystal, 38, who lives in Nuremberg and speaks English at home, responded: “At first, my main concern was getting as much German into our lives as possible so my son would be ready for Grundschule. 

“Now I’m swinging the other way. My advice is to try to relax. There are always other things to worry about, and kids learn so much really quickly.”

…but also challenge yourself

Finally, respondents to The Locals’ survey repeated that raising bilingual children is something that requires a degree of effort – on the parent’s behalf. 

J.K, 40, who lives in Hanau and speaks English and Telugu at home, told The Local: “Language is very important for the kids to grow in a culture. 

“Parents should facilitate situations around the kid to better integrate locally. Parents (at least one) should be able to speak German at a level better than B1. 

“If not, supporting kids in their education is difficult, and this will hamper their chances of reaching a higher education level.”

Read More: Six surprising facts about Germany’s school system

Moreno, 40, who lives in Munich and speaks Portuguese with his children, was firm in his advice: “Don’t choose the easy way for you, parents. Don’t hide in your language community bubble. 

“If you intend to live in Germany for a long time, put your kids in German schools and get them in touch with the German community.

“If you don’t speak German like me, deal with it. But don’t transfer your problem to your kids.”

Have we missed any crucial advice for raising bilingual children in Germany? Tell us in the comments section below.

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