Raising a bilingual child in Berlin

Speaking Turkish at home doesn't delay your child's German. Children learning two languages say their first words and sentences at the same age as children learning one. At first they may seem to know fewer words in one language, but when you add up the words in both languages, the gap closes. Mixing the two languages is also normal and temporary.

In fact, the risk goes the other way. In Berlin, children learn German at Kita and at school anyway. Without a conscious effort at home, Turkish can fade quickly after school age.

This guide is for families in Berlin raising their child with Turkish and German (and sometimes a third language).

At home: who speaks which language?

There's no single right method. What matters is that your child hears each language often enough and in a lively way. These are the three approaches families use most:

One parent, one language: Each parent speaks their own native language with the child. This is the most common method when parents have different native languages.
Turkish at home, German outside: If both parents speak Turkish, speaking Turkish at home works well in Berlin. German comes from Kita, school and friends anyway.
By time or place: For example, a certain language is spoken at weekends or at the dinner table. This can work in families with three languages.

Speak your own native language. Talk to your child in the language you express yourself in most comfortably. Even if your German is good, lullabies, jokes, anger and love are richer in your own language. And that feeds your child's language development.

School age is a critical time. Once they start school, children may want to speak German at home too. This is very common. The most recommended approach is to keep answering in Turkish, without pressuring your child and without switching languages.

German at Kita

Kita is the strongest place for your child to learn German naturally. In Berlin, Kita is free and from the age of one no reason is needed for 7 hours a day.

A language check before school is compulsory.

Children who go to Kita: Educators assess the child's German about 15 months before school starts. If support is needed, targeted language support is given at the Kita throughout the last year before school.
Children who don't go to Kita: The Schulamt sends the family a written invitation and the language test is compulsory. If support is needed, the child must attend a Kita 5 days a week, 5 hours a day, for 18 months before school.

The test only measures German, not Turkish. The result says nothing about your child's overall language development. Being offered support isn't a failure either, it's a chance to prepare for school.

Questions to ask the Kita: Are there other Turkish-speaking children or educators? How do they approach multilingualism? Some Kitas ask families to bring books or songs in the children's home language. This helps your child see Turkish as something valuable.

Turkish at school

In Berlin there are three ways to keep Turkish going at school.

1. German-Turkish Europa-Schule (SESB). Half of the lessons are taught in German and half in Turkish, by teachers who are native speakers of each language. As a state school, it's free.

Schools: Aziz-Nesin-Grundschule (primary school, Kreuzberg) and Carl-von-Ossietzky-Schule (secondary school, Kreuzberg). Check the current list with the school office (Schulamt).
Admission: Your child needs to speak German or Turkish at native-speaker level. The school runs a language test. The test can't be repeated and must be completed in the first half of the year before school starts.
Class make-up: Places are divided equally between German-speaking, Turkish-speaking and bilingual children. If there are too many applications, places are drawn by lot. Children with a sibling at the school have priority.
Home address: The catchment-area rule doesn't apply to these schools. You can apply from anywhere in Berlin.

2. Turkish home-language lessons at a regular school. 75 primary schools in Berlin offer Turkish home-language lessons (Erstsprachlicher Unterricht). In 2024/25 about 2,500 children took part. The lessons are optional and take place outside normal school hours. Ask the school management whether your child's school offers them.

3. Turkish at secondary school: At a Gymnasium, if your child's Turkish is certified at B1 level, they can be exempted from the second foreign language requirement. At some schools Turkish can also be chosen as a second or third foreign language.

When you're worried

First look at both languages together. Speech disorders are no more common in bilingual children than in monolingual children. But if a child is assessed only on their German, they can wrongly seem to be "behind".

If the problem is only in German: It usually means your child doesn't get enough contact with German. The solution is more Kita time, playmates and German books.
If your child is also clearly behind their peers in the structure of Turkish: See your paediatrician.

When to see a doctor? See a doctor if, at age 2, your child knows fewer than 50 words in both languages combined and doesn't put two words together, seems not to understand what is said, or loses words they used before. The U7 check-up around age 2 is a good opportunity to talk about this. Tell the doctor what your child says in Turkish too.

Logopädie: Speech therapy is prescribed by the paediatrician and paid for by statutory health insurance. If possible, look for a therapist who speaks Turkish or has experience with multilingual children. If a specialist advises you to stop speaking Turkish at home, that advice doesn't match current research. We recommend getting a second opinion.

Turkish resources

Public libraries (Stadtbibliothek): Berlin libraries have Turkish children's books and audiobooks. The Wilhelm Liebknecht / Namık Kemal Library in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is a good place to start. With one library card (VÖBB) you can use all public libraries in Berlin. The card is free for under-18s.
Bilingual books: Books with Turkish and German text on the same page are especially useful when parents have different native languages. One parent can read the book in Turkish, the other in German.
Bringing books from Türkiye: Asking relatives for age-appropriate picture books is the cheapest way to get Turkish books for your child.
Audio content: Turkish fairy tales, children's songs and audiobooks keep the language alive without adding screen time.
Playgroups and activities: Family centres, libraries and associations run Turkish story times and playgroups. You can ask in the BACIM community about groups in your area.

Practical tips from mothers

Keep Turkish fun. Don't let your child see Turkish only as "the language of rules". Games, songs, cooking together and tongue twisters are the most effective ways.
Find Turkish-speaking friends. Children learn language most from their peers. Regular meet-ups with Turkish-speaking families help far more than talking to parents.
Make video calls with relatives a habit. A short weekly call with a grandparent helps your child connect Turkish to a real need.
Don't correct mixed sentences, repeat them. If your child says "Ben Kita'da Rutsche yaptım", answer "Ne güzel, kaydıraktan kaydın mı?" That way they learn the missing word without losing the joy of talking.
Make the most of holidays in Türkiye. Long summer holidays give Turkish a big boost. A short dip in German afterwards is normal and recovers quickly.
Don't aim for perfection. Your child's Turkish may not be the same as their peers' in Türkiye, and that's completely normal. The goal is for them to use both languages as part of their life.

This section will grow with the experiences of women in the BACIM community. If something has worked for you, you're welcome to share it.

Sources

This guide is not a substitute for medical or educational advice. Information checked as of October 2026.

This guide is not legal or tax advice. Rules can change; check important decisions with the responsible office.

Help us improve this page

Common questions on this topic

All questions on Children & School →