Unsere Sprache(n) – Sprachreflexive Bildungsarbeit an der BAfEP Kärnten

Abstract

 In this paper, after highlighting the requirements for elementary education specialists with regard to the implementation of early language education and support, the focus will be placed on elementary education training at the BAfEP Carinthia. There are numerous empirically proven language-reflective methods that have demonstrated their effectiveness at the BAfEP, for example the creation of a language flow, designing a language portrait or the visualisation of multilingualism in the Linguistic Schoolscape. Furthermore, the co-operation project ‘Tell me your languages! Linguistic biographical approaches to (literary) multilingualism’ with the University of Klagenfurt also contributes to the empowerment of BAfEP pupils and students. The focus of this paper is therefore on language-reflective educational work, which makes it possible to become aware of one’s own inner and outer multilingualism and to critically reflect on existing language hierarchies. In this way, the prospective elementary education specialists elevate themselves to expert status on their own language repertoire and acquire an attitude that perceives linguistic diversity and its expansion as a valuable resource for lifelong learning, which will have a significant influence on their future careers.