The secret of Germany's success | 41 comments (41 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 7)

My prediction is that economic activity in large parts of the East is "already extinct, we humans just don't know it yet." I've already seen this pattern in large parts of Wales and Northern England. When traditional industries die off the patterns of our current economy are predicated on people moving. Existing communities (often left composed only of the elderly and some unskilled younger workers) wither as there is much reduced economic demand for people these days...

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 03:44:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 5)

If I had the opportunity, I would set up a system whereby the Eastern Germans would be hired to tutor the immigrants in all of Germany in German language skills either by telephone or by computer in return for higher living assistance.

As native-speaking Germans they would have a natural advantage but might require some training.

German society as a whole would improve its productivity and better integrate the "left behind" groups into society.

It's a plan that I would spend more time developing maybe to propose as some sort of subsidised business plan but I would require some help.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 07:51:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 4)

A little more info may be required for some.

In Germany, there is a thriving tutoring business for people's children as children are still separated rather early into various streams for either university or trade school.

Much of this is based on how well the child speaks German.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 07:54:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (none / 1)

So, anybody interested in helping me research this a bit better?

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 08:21:27 AM EST
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Re: The secret of Germany's success (none / 1)

these teachers could also be set up to be used by the Goethe Institute for example, as a resource to teach German worldwide.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 08:25:17 AM EST
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Re: The secret of Germany's success (none / 1)

I know that some people do hire tutors to learn online but does anyone know if this is an efficient way of learning? Can people with no pedagogical experience be trained quickly to teach?

I was listening to a podcast about how to learn a foreign language and the podcaster was listing this as a new way to learn and this gave me this idea.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 08:59:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 2)

I've been doing some research this afternoon and it seems that yes, peoplel can be taught quickly how to tutor others.

NOW, I would require some help in the following please:

who to address this idea to - Länder or Bundesminister? and if so, for which Ministry?
is there a place I can find some idea of the existing subsidies for this type of idea?

Thanks for your help. If I get this together, I hope to put together some sort of rough plan in the next week.

Maybe Eurotrib can become some sort of activists' hatchery as well as a blog. Wouldn't that be something?

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 12:18:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 3)

When it comes to language courses for integrating migrants, it looks like the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge is who you want to talk to. You can get the lowdown here.

This is different from extra instruction in a school context; for that you would need to address the Länder individually.

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 12:37:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (none / 1)

thanks, dvx. that's part 1.

Is there some sort of site with existing government subsidies, do you know?

I know several countries that have this.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 12:45:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 2)

Sorry mmmm, I don't know of one. The Länder all have their own programs, as do some regions, but I don't know offhand where I would find a central list.

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 01:29:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (none / 1)

Thanks, I found some names of people that could help.

I am pretty excited about this. It's nice to act, not just talk.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 01:41:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 2)

I had a company which had a number of English as a 2nd language personnel. We brought in an English tutor once or twice a week (I don't remember.) It was highly beneficial for them and for us English speakers. Everyone was more comfortable exchanging ideas, etc.

Whether this could translate into a language lab with screen and cameras internet-linked into a native speaker who isn't trained in language tutoring...sounds like a stretch. But if there is a way to get someone trained up quickly into a program...perhaps you are onto something.

Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.

Frank Delaney ~ Ireland

by siegestate (siegestate or beyondwarispeace.com) on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 01:48:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (none / 1)

I don't exactly understand what you mean, but drop me a line and we'll "talk" off-line.

by zoe on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 02:10:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The secret of Germany's success (4.00 / 4)

Hehehe...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Tue May 15th, 2007 at 07:56:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The secret of Germany's success | 41 comments (41 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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