Eko-Kindergarten in Duesseldorf educates kids in both the German and the Japanese way
Of polite children, intercultural competence
and "exotic" rice pudding
By Sun-Mi Jung for R2-Horizon
Photo: aro
The German-Japanese kindergarten is located close to a buddhist temple.
Duesseldorf-Niederkassel. Rice pudding is a no go. Sweet rice – that just doesn’t appeal to the Japanese palate. Yet the many German sweets, especially those in the festive season are a sensation to the Japanese kids who attend the kindergarten of the Eko-House in Duesseldorf. R2-Horizon visited the bi-cultural kindergarten, that gets Japanese kids closer to German culture and vice versa. An exchange that is not limited to rice pudding, Christmas-cookies and eating with chop-sticks.
Two worlds are clashing
Already the first impression makes it clear: This is where two worlds meet. The kindergarten is located right next to a pittoresque Buddhist temple covered in powdery white snow on the day R2inside is visiting – which makes it look especially pretty. Kindergarten and temple both belong to the Eko-house, a center for Japanese culture right in Duesseldorf. In the kindergarten the visitors are meet first by a grand Christmas-tree, that still waits to be decorated while the sign on the door says in German and Japanese: this is where the Eko-Kindergarten is located.
Photo: aro
Bianca Ruckert manages the kindergarten.
Photo: aro
Lunch-time!
“We are quite unique in Germany“, knows Bianca Ruckert, the German manager of the institution, who leads a team of three Japanese and three German kindergarten teachers. Unique, because here, German and Japanese values, traditions, religions, teachings and both languages are taught and lived equally. That would not be the case in a strictly Japanese kindergarten, as they also exist in many spots in Duesseldorf and in the vicinity. And of course, that is also not the case in most German kindergartens.
Always in both languages
“There are Japanese days and German days here“, explains Ruckert, aged 41, talking about the concept, “yet always in both languages.“ On German days the kids spent their time in groups of mixed age while the German educators organize the programme. On Japanese days, the groups are divided by age and the Japanese colleagues organize the day, minding the curriculum provided for Japanese kids: Which leaves far less space than the German ideas, which emphasize cognitive abilities far more. It is almost comparable to German school-preparatory lessons. The kids are faced with tasks such as finding out which items don’t fit thematically. (The ball doesn’t fit in with the fruits shown otherwise around it.) Or which figurine fits into which car. (You’ve got to match the patterns of clothing with the patterns printed on the cars.) A Japanese kid is expected to perform with his or her mind as early as possible. A German kid is not so much expected to meet standards, people try to boost its entire personality by individually bringing forward strengths. And playing a lot is considered part of a healthy development.
Photos: aro
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