In order to be able to find your way successfully in Germany, it is important that you should learn the German language. To do this, you have the possibility to participate in various language courses offered by voluntary or full-time providers in Schleswig-Holstein. Such opportunities vary from language support courses offered by voluntary individuals or neighbourhood initiatives to full-time initial orientation and certified language courses for your own personal and professional future.
Integration courses are German-language and orientation courses which can be successfully concluded with an internationally recognized certificate. In these courses, you can learn about such everyday topics as living and working in Germany, health and leisure or German culture and politics.
Integration courses take place at different locations in Schleswig-Holstein. It depends on your country of origin, on your residence status and on your level of proficiency in the German language whether you are able, or perhaps even obliged to attend an integration course.More detailed information on the different kinds of course available and their contents, on who can participate in these courses or may be obliged to attend, on the rights and obligations of participants and on where to find a course provider may be obtained from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF):
Informationen zum Integrationskurs
Schnellsuche über das BAMF-Navi
There are courses that support women in arriving and finding their way in Germany (Migrantinnen einfach stark im Alltag – MiA). The courses are aimed at women from all countries without German citizenship. Compared with classic language courses, the German language in these courses is not taught in a classroom, but in practical workshops or excursions. Topics can be migration experiences, role models, knowledge of German society or strengthening of educational skills. The main aim here is to strengthen the empowerment of women without striving for a specific target level.
MiA – Migrantinnen einfach stark im Alltag
Initial orientation courses are available throughout Schleswig-Holstein. These courses ("Starter Package for Refugees in Schleswig-Holstein": abbreviated to STAFF SH) are available on principle to all asylum-seekers in the community in which they are accommodated. This form of learning the language teaches you basic communication patterns in German and provides you with additional information on habits, modes of social behaviour and advisory and support services that are offered on the spot. Such initial orientation courses are offered by language-course providers acting throughout the federal state, such as the Association of German Adult Education Centres in Schleswig-Holstein, in cooperation with additional regional partners on the spot. A course comprises 100 teaching units, generally spread over ten weeks, with ten teaching units per week.
You may find information on STAFF courses in Schleswig-Holstein under the following links:
Erstorientierungskurse des BAMF für Asylbewerber mit unklarer Bleibeperspektive
Information on the courses offered and on conditions for attendance at courses provided at national level in vocational/professional language training may also be found under:
Berufsbezogene Sprachkurse finden
The E-learning portal made available by the Association of German Adult Education Centres gives you the opportunity to learn German online at integration course level (A1 – B1). The portal also provides a German-language course with a wide variety of materials for promoting literacy.
The E-learning portal can be accessed free of charge and may be found in several languages under the following link: Ich will Deutsch lernen: Zum Lernportal der VHS
Information in your language on the different levels of language proficiency defined in accordance with the joint European framework (CEFR) can be found under the following link: Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen
Below we list a collection of other possibilities available free of charge. The list shown on our website can in no way act as a substitute for specialized didactic appraisal.
Such programs can be used to support you in your efforts to learn the German language. However, you should not put your trust in apps alone to help you learn the German language. Apps cannot – and should not – be a substitute for language courses and practical training in everyday situations.
Arrival app (Ankommen-App)
You will find a great deal of information in this excellent app on your first steps in Germany, on German culture and German people and on asylum procedures, work and training. It also provides a very good opportunity for you to learn your first words and phrases in German.
Ankommen - Ein Wegbegleiter für Ihre ersten Wochen in Deutschland
"I want to learn German" ("Ich-will-Deutsch-lernen")
This website provides a German-language course at levels A1-B1 and a German-language course at level A1; it contains a wide variety of materials to promote literacy in German as a Second Language. It is also possible to study and improve your knowledge of German at the Workplace and Professional German.
The site can be used for self-study purposes or also as teaching material for integration or other German-language courses.
Ich will Deutsch lernen: Zum Lernportal der VHS
"City of Words" ("Stadt der Wörter")
Play the game which will introduce you to the German language.
Vocabulary trainer
A vocabulary trainer app for persons with no prior knowledge of German.
25 videos with the 100 most important sentences in German
The “Learn German for Refugees” app by papagei.com provides 25 interactive videos with the 100 most important sentences in German, and aims to improve your vocabulary and pronunciation during your first weeks in Germany. The app from papagei.com can be downloaded for iOS and Android.
