A project aimed at writing a curriculum for English in the primary school has been completed under the auspices of the EDK-Ost. A working group in which the Canton of Zurich was represented has written a curriculum document which was published in October 2006.

Knowhow from the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) has supported the project.








The curriculum document can be accessed at
http://www.volksschulamt.ch/file_uploads/bibliothek/k_229_Unterricht/k_268_LehrplanLP/3211_0_englischprimarlp-erg.pdf

 

In four Cantons of German-speaking Switzerland, the voters have had the good sense to reject the popular initiatives 'Nur eine Fremdsprache in der Primarschule', which would have prohibited the teaching of English and French in parallel. It would have led to a situation as it exists in Appenzell Innerrhoden, where the second national language French is learnt only from Grade 7 on (and not by all pupils).

The results of these plebiscites are important for the Canton of Lucerne, where a similar initiative will be put to the people in the near future. Schaffhausen, Zug, Thurgau and Zurich have courageously gone ahead and set the pace for Lucerne.

Information on the votes and their aftermath can be obtained at www.sprachenunterricht.ch

 

Despite attempts to coordinate language teaching objectives and methodology in regions such as central and eastern Switzerland, what emerges after 5 years is an impression of disorder and unnecessary diversity.
In Central Switzerland, despite a decision to coordinate teaching materials, three different courses are now being used with widely differing approaches. A similar picture seems to present itself in eastern Switzerland.