Do I have the right to attend a German language class?
Not as long as you are an asylum applicant. But it changes once you're a recognized refugee, have been granted asylum and are allowed to stay in Germany long-term.
Then you actually have to participate in a so-called integration course.
There you mainly learn German, but you'll also learn about your rights and obligations and the basics of German politics and society.
Information how to get into one of those integration classes are provided by the local immigration office.
There are special regulations for young refugees: Asylum applicants who have been to school for less than years or more fall under Germany's compulsory education law in almost all federal states. They usually have to start school six months after their arrival. Most German schools have so-called welcome- or integration classrooms. Here, children also learn German and teachers tell them about German way of living and culture.
Who helps me learn German?
If you want to learn German while your asylum application is being processed, the best thing to do is look around for local opportunities. There are often volunteers like teachers, who offter German classes in refugee homes. These courses are free.
If you want to learn German like that, you can also turn to the local refugee aid centers or representatives of the state refugee councils.
If you have the money, you can of course also take conventional German classes. One of the most well-known providers is the Goethe-Institute. But their classes, which last between two and eight weeks, cost between 610 and 2,140 Euro.
More affordable classes are offered by the so-called adult education centers ("Volkshochschule" or VHS). Classes, however, only start twice a year, usually in March and September. On the VHS website, you can look for classes all over Germany:
//www.vhs.de/ (information in German)
Many universities now also offer special German classes for refugees. Check whether the university closes to you has any such German courses available. Offers vary from city to city.
What kind of material can I use? What does DW offer?
If you have access to a computer, you can start studying by yourself with Deutsche Welle teaching materials. You can find various classes for different entry levels here:
DW's German language courses.
Beginners start with the A1 level. If you know a little bit of German, you can take the placement test here. The results will tell you at which level you should start. Deutsche Welle German classes are free.
Volunteers who teach refugees German often use a workbook developed by two retired teachers, who developed it specifically for this purpose. It teaches the most important words that asylum applicants need to know when they first come to Germany.
You can purchase the book at the teachers' website.
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Top tips for learning German
Speak out loud
Speaking a new language is so hard because it requires you to use the knowledge you have just learnt, and call on it quickly. That's why you need to practice a lot. If you don't have anyone to speak German to, then just practice with yourself.
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Top tips for learning German
Label household items in German
Take a small piece of paper, write the name of the item and stick it on. It's a simple way of learning, all day long! Our tip: write the definite and indefinite article for the noun too, plus the plural form of the word. Otherwise, you'll have to learn those words again later too.
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Top tips for learning German
Read German children's books and comics
Children's books and comics are written in a simple style and there are also pictures. That's why they are so good for people who are starting out at learning German. Some children's books are written in two languages.
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Top tips for learning German
Write your shopping list in German
Learning German vocabulary that is useful for everyday life is particularly important. Try to write your shopping list and other notes for yourself in German. It might take a bit longer, but we promise that you will learn a lot.
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Top tips for learning German
Write your shopping list in German
Learning German vocabulary that is useful for everyday life is particularly important. Try to write your shopping list and other notes for yourself in German. It might take a bit longer, but we promise that you will learn a lot.
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Top tips for learning German
Don't wait til your German is perfect
The most important thing is that you can be understood. That doesn't mean that every sentence has to be perfect. And it is not a big deal if you can't get the article of the noun right. Think about it: many people that you speak with, won't even know any other foreign language.
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Top tips for learning German
Listen to German radio
When you are a beginner, it may be hard to understand anything at all on German radio. But, by listening more, you will develop a feel for the language. For more advanced German speakers, it's a good way to learn a lot about German culture and, at the same time, to improve your language skills.
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Top tips for learning German
Find a German for language exchange
A good opportunity to come in contact with native German speakers is to get a "tandem partner." You should try to meet a German person who wants to learn your language and then you can help each other. This helps you not just to learn vocabulary and expressions, but also to get into the rhythm of the language.
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Top tips for learning German
Use German recipes for cooking
Cooking isn't just a way of fueling yourself for the day, it is also an important part of life. The best way to learn the name of different foods is to cook them yourself. If you don't like German food that's not an issue: you can cook Italian dishes, as long as the recipe is written in German!
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Top tips for learning German
Read books that you know, in German translation
Your favorite book is probably something you know like the back of your hand, right? That's a great advantage if you want to read the book in German. You know the plot, so you can read it and just concentrate on the language. Give it a try!
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Top tips for learning German
Listen to German music and learn the lyrics
Music makes you feel emotion and it brings people together. But it can also help you learn a language too. In Germany there are a lot of different singers (like Helene Fischer, Pictured here) and bands, so you are sure to find something you like. DW has a program „Learn German with music." Click on "More" and you can listen to some songs that will help you learn German.
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Top tips for learning German
Watch films or TV in German
This is also a good way to combine learning German and enjoying a bit of entertainment. There are lots of good German films or TV series, many with subtitles. But you can also watch one of your favorite Hollywood films, in the dubbed German version. Or you could give DW's show "Jojo sucht das Glück" a try. Just click on "More" at the top of this slide to get there.
Author: Simona Dunsche / al