At a press conference on Thursday, Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr introduced the winners of the second Vienna Mutmillion initiative. While the first million was dedicated to projects supporting students’ mental health, the second million focuses on improving German language skills in Vienna’s classrooms. Two project leaders, Teach for Austria and Startklar, presented their innovative approaches to language promotion.
“Wien is setting new standards in language promotion: With the second Mutmillion, we are supporting groundbreaking projects that range from language role models for students, learning German through emotions, to creative and innovative workshops. This variety shows how modern and effective language promotion can be designed. Each project strengthens not only the language and social skills of our children and young people, but also opens up real perspectives for a successful and self-determined future,” said Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr.
Nearly half of Vienna’s primary school students lack sufficient German skills to follow lessons—this affects one in five children in elementary schools across the city. According to recent figures, nearly two-thirds of these students were born abroad. Vice Mayor Wiederkehr has once again called for nationwide measures, such as a mandatory second year of kindergarten, to ensure early language support. Until such measures are implemented, the city of Vienna is providing quick and unbureaucratic support to schools. The second Vienna Mutmillion was dedicated to innovative language promotion projects. By November 27, 2024, 29 project ideas were submitted to the Department of Education and Youth. A council selected eight projects that specifically aim to strengthen social and communication skills.
One of the eight projects, “Favoriten: Du kannst das. Sprache. Bildung. Chancen.” strengthens the linguistic and social competencies of students in the 10th district. The core idea of the project is the principle “Every pedagogical interaction = language promotion.” Specially trained teachers (TFA Fellows) integrate language-sensitive methods, such as vocabulary building and scaffolding (step-by-step learning assistance), into all subjects. Through close cooperation with parents, schools, and volunteers, the project promotes equal opportunities and successful educational paths.
“Our vision is that every child can realize their potential, regardless of their origin or social background. Language is the key to education and a successful future. We are excited to be part of this project, promoting educational fairness and language support in Favoriten,” said Magdalena Strauch of Teach for Austria.
Starting in January, the project “Say What You Think! Say What You Feel,” run by Startklar, will be implemented at 15 schools. The aim is to connect German acquisition with expressing opinions and emotions. In workshops, children will learn to clearly express their feelings, needs, and opinions in German. For instance, in the “expressing feelings” module, they will practice using phrases like “I would feel good because…” or “I would be afraid because…” while learning the subjunctive II and descriptive adjectives, all while enhancing their awareness of their bodies. The project combines language promotion with social learning, strengthening participation and the school climate.
“From numerous discussions with schools, we know that linking German acquisition with social learning is essential. The goal is to enhance the children’s ability to express themselves, prevent conflicts, and support a positive school climate,” said Janine Fischer, Chairwoman of Startklar.
