Language in transnational education trajectories between the Soviet Union, Israel and Germany. Participatory research with children

Abstract

The paper focuses on language in transnational education and puts children’s perspectives in the spotlight. In light of increasing transnational mobility, their voices are of particular significance: How do transnational children – children with migration experience – perceive the role of languages in educational trajectories? In order to answer these questions, a qualitative study was conducted with children of Soviet immigrants who were socialized in a Hebrew-speaking education system and who are today pupils in Germany. The findings from group conversation and language portraits allow deep insights into children’s perspectives on multilingual practices and highlight the importance of the environment – in this case, a German school that became part of transnational education by offering opportunities for students with migration experience.