Integration and language courses for refugees
Those refugees who would like to remain in Germany for the present are advised to learn German. They should take into consideration that, without German language skills, it is difficult to cope in everyday life, to find work or to study. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees [Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge] is offering an integration course to help, while language courses are available in almost every town or local community.
The integration course organized by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees consists of a language course in conjunction with an orientation course, in which students learn something about the history, politics, legal system and culture of Germany. The language course reaches language level B1. The integration course is not compulsory but those who wish to work or study must have at least a B1 level in German.
It is also possible for participants to attend solely the orientation course if they have already acquired the language skills elsewhere. Moreover, the number of hours of the integration course may be reduced depending on the results of the placement test conducted at the start of the language course. Eligible for the integration course organized by the Federal Office are those refugees who possess right of residence valid for a minimum of one year. It is not available to asylum seekers with only temporary suspension of deportation. Asylum seekers can find information and relevant forms at the branch office for asylum applications.
It usually takes three months from registration to the start of the course. Those paying directly contribute 1.20 Euros per lesson to the costs of the course. Those without financial means or who receive financial assistance are not required to pay anything.
In addition, the Federal Employment Agency [Bundesagentur für Arbeit] offers a starter course for refugees. It is aimed specifically at asylum seekers who have good prospects of remaining in Germany. These include Syrians, Afghans and Eritreans. The course is designed to bridge the time until a decision has been made on the asylum application. As of 01 November, 100,000 asylum seekers from all over Germany can attend the course.
Those who have already attained language level B1 can attend vocational training schemes offered by the Federal Employment Agency, which also incorporate language development courses.
Most towns and local communities now offer language courses for refugees, which are often organized by volunteers.
Addresses for integration courses in the Saarland:
FIS Fremdsprachen-Institut-Saarbrücken GmbH
Alba Hasanbelli
Bahnhofstraße 101
66111 Saarbrücken
Diakonisches Werk an der Saar GmbH
Leonid Breutmann
Johannisstraße 4
66111 Saarbrücken
Tel.: 0681 700705
Leonid Breutmann
Viktoriastraße 4
66111 Saarbrücken
Tel.: 0681 700705
Breite Straße 63
66115 Saarbrücken
Malstatter Markt 3
66115 Saarbrücken
Ulrike Heß
Saarbrücker Straße 62
66130 Saarbrücken
Tel.: 0681 87764
Tatjana Brauer
Schillerstraße 2
66333 Völklingen
Tel.: 06898 9147625
Tatjana Brauer
Poststraße 50
66333 Völklingen
Tel.: 06898 9147625
Lector GmbH
Bleichstraße 27
66111 Saarbrücken
Tel.: 0681 925650
Birgit Schröder
Bertha-von-Suttner-Straße 1
66123 Saarbrücken
Tel.: 0681 8190748
Volkshochschule Regionalverband Saarbrücken
Nadja Bernardini
Schloßplatz 2
66119 Saarbrücken
Tel.: 0681 5064360
Maria Elena Korobov
Auf der Schmelz
66280 Sulzbach
Tel.: 0681 5064361
KursWechsel
T. Anisimova
Saarbrücker Straße 24
66265 Heusweiler
Tel.: 0680 69157701
J B F e.V.
Ina Henning
Mellinweg 20
66230 Sulzbach
Tel.: 06897 7780720
Volkshochschule Völklingen
Christoph Rech
Bismarckstraße 1
66333 Völklingen
Tel.: 06898 132585
Christoph Rech
Neue Straße 14
66333 Völklingen
Tel.: 06898 132585
Volkshochschule St. Ingbert
Natascha Tselios-Politz
Annastraße 30
66386 St. Ingbert
Tel.: 06894 3879512
Natascha Tselios-Politz
Fidelisstraße 9
66386 St. Ingbert
Tel.: 06894 3879512
Internationaler Bund IB
Jennifer Mohler
Schulstraße 20
66424 Homburg
Tel.: 06841 9935087
Jennifer Mohler
Talstraße 36
66424 Homburg
Tel.: 06841 9935087
Kreisvolkshochschule Saarpfalz-Kreis
Michael Knapp
Am Schloss 11
664420 Blieskastel
Tel.: 06842 924310
Michael Knapp
Schulstraße 20
66424 Homburg
Tel.: 06842 924310
