The integration panel. Development of knowledge of German and progress in the integration of literacy course attendees , Date: 2012.07.09, Order number: FFWP42, format: Working paper, area: Authority

Literacy course attendees can considerably improve their written and oral knowledge of German as the course progresses. On average, attendees improve their knowledge of German by at least one level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

More frequent contacts with Germans and the intention to remain in Germany

Course attendees have more frequent contact with local Germans at the end of the course than at the beginning. The most frequent contacts with Germans are with neighbours, while contacts are had least frequently with German friends. 86 percent of respondents would like to remain in Germany forever. 14 percent already have German nationality; 62 percent intend to naturalise. The attendees’ general satisfaction with life also improved as the course progressed.

Attendees give a positive evaluation of the literacy courses.

83 percent of respondents at the beginning of the course and 72 percent at the end of the course assessed the learning speed in the courses as “just right”. The vast majority of course attendees had considerable or very considerable fun while attending the courses, both at the beginning and at the end. The attendees found the course most helpful in understanding German better and above all in reading and writing. 74 percent of the respondents also considered that the course provided an added value for their everyday lives. This means that it is also highly beneficial for official visits, in leisure activities, in planning their careers or looking for a job and in crèches, in kindergartens or school.

A large share of women attend the literacy courses.

The share of women attending literacy courses, at 72 percent, is even higher than in general integration courses. Those attending the literacy courses, at an average of 42, are an average of eight years older than persons in general integration courses. Most attendees come from Turkey and Iraq. As one might expect, the educational level in literacy courses is lower than in general integration courses, the course attendees having attended school for an average of five years. 70 percent of respondents do not have a school-leaving qualification, in comparison to 13 percent of those attending general integration courses.

Contact

Dr. Nina Rother

Position: Head of Division

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The overall goal of the integration panel is to examine the effectiveness and sustainability of the integration courses. In the underlying survey of literacy course attendees carried out at the beginning and at the end of the course, the development of knowledge of German, in particular the knowledge of written German and the social participation of the attendees, was analysed. In addition, the study covered how integration takes place in different attendee groups and who benefits from the literacy courses most.

The study was drafted by: Karin Schuller, Susanne Lochner and Dr. Nina Rother with assistance from Denise Hörner.

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