Apps and greater trust for improved intercultural communication in schools

Equal opportunities and access to high-quality education are crucial factors in shaping children’s life trajectories. At the same time, the integration of families from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds is playing an increasingly important role in fostering a sustainably organised society. For children from migrant backgrounds, it is therefore particularly important that they successfully integrate into Swiss schools and benefit from good learning conditions. For schools, however, communicating with parents who speak other languages often poses a major challenge. For example, teachers are frequently unsure which channels are best for reaching parents. Should they communicate by letter, via the school app or by telephone? They are also often faced with the question of how best to deal with parents whose German language skills are limited.

An interdisciplinary team develops recommendations for schools

As part of a project funded by ZHAW sustainable, an interdisciplinary team of ZHAW researchers from the Institute of Applied Media Studies, the Institute of Multilingual Communication and the Institute of Diversity and Social Inclusion investigated how schools can improve their communication with parents who speak other languages. The aim of the project was to develop recommendations for schools that recognise and value cultural diversity while at the same time making the most of the potential offered by digital tools and newer technologies such as machine translation. School leaders, parents with a different first language, teachers and interpreters were asked about their views on intercultural communication in schools and the challenges they encounter. This made it possible to take as many perspectives as possible into account and to incorporate the experiences of different groups into the evaluation. A further key factor in achieving this diversity of perspectives was that the parents were interviewed in their first language. Caritas Zurich also supported the ZHAW in recruiting parents for the interviews from its network associated with the Copilot mentoring programme.

Translation apps and digital solutions can help

How, then, should schools go about communicating with parents who speak other languages? The results of the study show that, for successful communication between schools and parents who speak a different language, particular attention should be paid to three areas, namely the use of digital tools, dealing with language barriers, and raising awareness of intercultural differences. Digital tools, such as school apps or automatic translation tools, should be used in a targeted but nuanced manner. School apps, for example, offer a wealth of features that are not always fully utilised and are often worth exploring more closely. Automatic translation functions can be a valuable aid for simpler content, helping to overcome language barriers and any reluctance to engage. Nevertheless, apps should not be regarded as a complete substitute for existing communication channels.

Interpersonal trust and informal exchange are essential

As with any form of intercultural communication, building interpersonal trust is also of central importance in schools. Parents who speak other languages often approach schools with different expectations and feelings. It is important here to show understanding and appreciation for their perspectives while at the same time clearly and explicitly communicating the expectations that schools place on parents. Relevant information on the Swiss school system, for example, presented in an accessible format and translated into common foreign languages, can also help bridge intercultural differences and promote understanding. According to those interviewed, such understanding develops particularly through informal exchanges between teachers and parents and when there are regular opportunities for such exchanges.