Herman Gundert is a name most Malayalis who have grown up learning the history of the Malayalam language won't forget. He was a German missionary, linguist, and scholar who wrote the first Malayalam dictionary in 1872. Today the University of Tuebingen in Germany has a chair named after Herman Gundert, dedicated to teaching and researching Malayalam! Affordable quality education and the lack of skilled labourers have made Germany a hub for immigrants who come to learn and work, and we Malayalis were among the first Indians to migrate to Germany.

Migrating to a foreign land and raising a family there takes a lot of courage, but it is very rewarding in terms of opportunities and exposure. However, when you start to raise your child in a foreign environment, passing on your culture and language can become difficult. As a Malayali parent in Germany, introducing your children to their own roots while they are mostly exposed to a different culture and languages like German, English, and French will be a challenge. But Akshharam can help you!

Challenges of Teaching Malayalam in Germany

As a Malayali parent in Germany who is trying to pass on your culture and language to your little one, you would have to face a lot of challenges.

Limited Exposure: In Germany, Malayalam is obviously not a widely spoken language; children learn languages when they get language exposure, but in Germany, limited exposure to Malayalam can make it difficult for your children to pick up the language. Even when you make an effort to talk in Malayalam at home, children who spend most of their time at school might still gravitate towards German and English. However, you can use long breaks in the school year during Easter, summer, and winter to your advantage and practice speaking in Malayalam at home with your kids! Introducing them to Malayalam media, such as movie songs and age-appropriate movies, during these breaks can also help you familiarise them with the language.

Limited Resources: Unlike German or English, you might only have limited resources available to teach your kid Malayalam in Germany. As a native Malayali, you will be their most reliable resource to learn Malayalam from, but teaching your kid Malayalam while balancing your commitments and the child’s academic commitments might not work as well as you want them to.

Language and culture are interlinked, and in Malayalam’s case, it is an inseparable bond. Cultural identity is crucial, especially in a globalized world, so when your child grows up in Germany, surrounded by various foreign cultures and tongues, the best way to help them connect with their own culture is to help them learn their mother tongue.

Akshharam

When a child who grows up in a foreign environment doesn't get the kind of education they need about their roots, it can isolate them from their own culture and community. Akshharam is an online platform for Malayali children growing up outside of Kerala to learn Malayalam and connect with Malayali culture. Our live classes, carefully crafted curriculum, regular assessments, and teaching methods are all designed to make your child’s journey to discover their mother tongue and roots an enjoyable adventure!

We know how hectic it would be to balance learning Malayalam with the German school system for your kid, but Akshharam’s comprehensive program is tailored to fit seamlessly into your child’s routine without disrupting their academic progress. In total, we have four modules in our program that gradually improve the Malayalam writing, reading, comprehension, and conversational skills of your kids as they make progress through each module. They are the following:

• Harishree: An introductory program where Malayalam alphabets and words are taught.
• Vaayanashaala: A module focused on improving the reading and writing prowess of learners in Malayalam.
• Thoolika: A foundation course in conversational Malayalam and independent Malayalam writing.
• Kilikonchal: The final module where everything the kids have learnt so far is perfected. This module is all about conversational Malayalam practice.

Learn with us

We, at Akshharam Online Malayalam Learning School, start our lessons from the roots, so even if your child is completely new to Malayalam, he or she is most welcome! Learning Malayalam can open a whole new world for your kid to explore, and that includes the rich pool of literature, art, culture, and history attributed to Kerala; it will also help them connect with their grandparents and extended family better. Create the best opportunity for your kids to connect to their roots and culture by enrolling them in Akshharam’s online Malayalam classes for kids! Connect with us to learn more about our program structure.