Creating a better link between professional and language learning

The Ordinance on Support for Vocational German Language Learning has been in force since 1 July. It has created general conditions that are independent of financing provided by the European Social Fund. The purpose of vocational language support provided via funding from the Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales [Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs] is the advanced acquisition of language subsequent to the integration courses offered pursuant to the Residency Act, the aim being to help improve the labour market chances of newly-arrived immigrants. Iris Beckmann-Schulz, Head of the IQ Competence Centre for Vocational German Language, explains how this can be achieved and what further steps are necessary.