Multilingualism

Here, you will find both research findings and practical information on topics of Multilingualism & Education.

The basis for the information presented here are the findings of the research cluster ‘Language Education and Multilingualism’, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (link) from 2013 to 2020. The findings from all 21 projects of the cluster have been compiled – and supplemented with additional materials – by the Coordination Office for Multilingualism and Education, based at the University of Hamburg.

The underlying principle of research on multilingualism and education in Germany is that German is not the only significant language for a large proportion of the school population. Many children grow up speaking different languages in their family settings, and almost all pupils learn at least one foreign language at school. Multilingualism is therefore a reality for education in Germany, offering immense opportunities in a globalised world but also posing challenges for the individual, educational institutions and society. The research findings and information on this website are intended to assist in meeting these challenges and to make the best possible use of the opportunities offered by multilingualism.

The content on our website is organised into sections for Academia and the General Public, but one does not preclude readership by the other. In any case, we hope you enjoy exploring the content presented here!