Language Acquisition and Language Development
In the day-to-day workplace, it is essential that employees and employers speak the same language. This applies not only to spoken language but also to reading and writing. At the same time, learning German is a major challenge for many people with an immigrant background.
The federal government offers two programs designed to support language acquisition for immigrants and refugees: integration courses and job-related German language courses. The federal government also offers special vocational language courses for apprentices with a migrant background.
In addition to these government-funded programs, there are a number of other opportunities to improve one’s (vocational) German language skills. On the “Kursnet” portal for vocational training and continuing education from the Federal Employment Agency, you will find a wide range of language courses with a vocational focus and for different language proficiency levels. The courses are offered on a full- or part-time basis and can also be taken online. In addition, there are numerous offerings from private language schools and independent language instructors who teach outside of traditional settings. Furthermore, the market offers countless self-study books, online courses, and language learning apps. Publicly funded and volunteer-run projects, in turn, provide free resources that can complement language learning. The German Adult Education Association (DVH), for example, offers the online learning platform www.iwdl.de. The Goethe-Institut’s website also features free online resources for learning German.
Our regional advisors can assist you in finding the right program and are also available to answer any questions you may have about language learning in the workplace.
In the resource center, you will find more detailed information on assessing language proficiency, as well as tips and resources for promoting language acquisition in the workplace.