Language Through Art
- (c) Museum Folkwang, 2011
Stiftung Mercator is committed to ensuring that all school students in Germany have equal access to education and culture. One key prerequisite is for students to have a good command of German, which is why Stiftung Mercator has been investing for many years in language tuition for people of migrant origin. The Language Through Art project expands the activities pursued so far to include an important additional element – the use of arts to promote language acquisition in a fun and creative way, also outside the school environment.
Structure and organization
Language Through Art is a cooperation project between the Museum Folkwang and the University of Duisburg-Essen (DaZ/DaF), supported by Stiftung Mercator. School students of migrant background broaden their linguistic expression and capabilities through active artistic-aesthetic engagement in the museum and in schools. At the same time, the development of arts education in schools is ensured by means of a joint qualification programme for cultural mediators and language teachers and by training of young teachers at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Art offers a number of highly concrete ways in which to engage intensively with objects and experiences, such as paintings. Students can use their own bodies to re-enact what they have seen or can paint or draw for themselves the impression they have gained from a particular picture. This makes it easier for them to express concepts that they may not yet be able to describe using language. The project gives students the opportunity to approach language in a playful manner, dispelling fears and building motivation. At the same time, however, they are also familiarized with important art works and cultural institutions, such as a museum. This helps break down any barriers which may be impeding their progress in German and preventing them from engaging with art.
Objectives
The project uses artistic methods to improve German language skills while at the same time offering access to cultural education via the medium of language. It thus has a dual impact, improving students’ educational qualifications by promoting language acquisition and integrating arts education within the education system by training teachers. This is a perfect example of how to combine Stiftung Mercator’s thematic clusters of Arts Education and Integration in one project.