Starting January 2025, the Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftskunde e.V. (GfW) will launch a new language course named "MitSprache-Deutsch 4U" aimed at adult asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals with migration backgrounds living legally and permanently in Hesse, Germany.
This initiative, funded by the State of Hesse, caters to those lacking access to integration courses or funding opportunities. It aims to strengthen language assistance offerings, which are deemed fundamental for successful integration and social participation.
The course focuses not only on teaching the German language but also on imparting basic life skills and knowledge about societal values and structures. Participants will learn practical German through everyday scenarios, ensuring they not only learn the language but can also use it effectively.
Over the course of six months, the program will provide 300 teaching units at no cost to attendees, including all necessary materials. For more information on enrollment, interested individuals can contact social affairs and integration expert, lnas Saleh, via phone at 06187/299-153 or by email.
Meanwhile, at the Stephanuswerk in Isny, another impactful project named "BEF Alpha" has already begun aiding adults to learn German. Participants engage with hands-on activities like cooking together, where they not only prepare meals but also naturally acquire language skills. By using words associated with cooking, such as "boil rice" or "peel potatoes," participants gain familiarity with objects and vocabulary.
"Learning language doesn't have to be dull or merely vocabulary memorization," states Johannes Katein, deputy departmental head at the educational center of Stephanuswerk. His team consists of four teachers and one social worker, creating dynamic learning environments for 14 course participants.
Aside from language skills, the program offers participants practical vocational orientation and relevant internships, as well as training for daily life and cultural integration.
"Sheralie Naser," one dedicated participant, shared his aspirations, stating, "I want to become a baker." Sheralie, who fled from Afghanistan and arrived two years ago, benefits from the course's accessible design focused on adults who face challenges with reading and writing. Maria Berchmann-Radicev, course leader, praises his hard work, saying, "Sheralie is very diligent."
The project also offers significant advantages for mothers. By providing childcare services from Monday to Friday, it allows women to participate freely, with children learning German playfully through games and songs.
The initiative serves children aged nine months to five years, who come from diverse backgrounds, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Somalia. This holistic approach combining language instruction, vocational guidance, and childcare has shown effectiveness, according to Katein, but funding for such programs remains uncertain.
Katein emphasizes the importance of these programs, stating, "The high demand for courses offering childcare highlights the significance of such initiatives." Despite challenges, the positive experiences shared by participants reflect the necessity of language training and integration programs as they adapt to their new lives.
