Learning German
Good German language skills will facilitate your integration. The government-funded integration courses are the central services offered to learn basic German.
Participation in the integration course is usually voluntary. In some cases, however, the immigration authorities or the Job Centre may require you to participate in such a course.
The choice of the language school is up to you.
The immigration counselling centres will help you in your search for a suitable course ( "First Steps").
Brief overview of language and integration course providers
(list not exhaustive)
Berlitz Deutschland GmbH
Services
- Full-time and part-time integration courses of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
- Joining courses according to skill level
- Free and non-binding skill level assessment
Please bring:
- Identity card or passport
- Non-EU citizens:
Confirmation from immigration authorities or Jobcenter of eligibility or obligation to participate
Vocational Training Institute of the Archdiocese (Bildungswerk der Erzdiözese)
Language courses of the vocational training institute
Services:
- German as foreign language from level A1 to C1, integration courses from module 1 to 6
- Admission to the integration course or documents to apply for admission
German Academy for Employees - DAA Freiburg (Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie - DAA)
Provider of further education, German and vocational training and further education courses, Training schools of the Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie Freiburg
Services:
- Job-related German courses (ESF-BAMF)
- German lessons
- in conjunction with job application coaching
- Career counselling
- Computer training
Please bring the following to your counselling
appointment and assessment:
- Language course certificates
- Notice of eligibility for benefits (Alg I, Alg II, AsylbLG) or registration as person seeking employment (Afa)
Integration courses (Integrationskurse)
Services:
- Integration course
- Integration course for parents
- telc German test for immigrants
(DTZ) orientation course - LiD test
Please bring the following to your counselling
appointment and assessment:
- Identity card/passport
- Admission documents
- Notice of eligibility for Alg II benefits or
notice of eligibility for housing allowance or child benefits
iOR Language School / Language Academy (iOR Sprachschule/ Sprachakademie)
iOR Sprachschule, with offices in Freiburg and Lörrach, offers German and integration courses
Services:
- German courses A1-C1
- Integration courses A1-B1
- Telc and DTZ
- Tests
- Holiday programmes
- Summer courses
- Family courses
- Courses for businesses
- Internship language certificates
Please bring:
- For a personal consultation, assessment and registration, please bring the following: your passport and admission documents
"Südwind" Freiburg e. V.
Provider of integration courses
Services:
- Integration courses for parents and women
- Integration courses including literacy courses
Please bring:
- Passport
- Notice of obligation to take the integration course or eligibility for the course, if available
Freiburg Adult Education Center (Volkshochschule Freiburg)
Wide range of language, integration, vocational and general education courses
Services
- The courses are held in a central location and are easily reachable with public transport. The buildings have a lift and are generally wheelchair-accessible.
Please bring the following when registering for an integration course:
- Copy of your passport
- Residence permit
- Notice of eligibility for ALG-II benefits / housing allowance
- Notice of eligibility to take part in an integration course
Learning German
Good knowledge of German will make life easier in Germany. To learn German, various options are available to you. If you want to take a German course, you should first contact your Social Service Centre.
Various German Courses
Integration courses
(660 lessons, one lesson = 45 minutes)
For refugees entitled to asylum or recognized as a refugee, participation in an integration course is usually mandatory.
For refugees without recognition, participation is voluntary, but not all groups of origin can participate in the courses. Only asylum seekers coming from Syria, Iraq, Iran and Eritrea who already have asylum approval or proof of registration upon arrival may participate in the integration courses. Likewise, people who have been granted suspension of deportation according to Sect. 60a (2) sentence 3 of the German Residence Act or persons with a residence permit in accordance with Sect. 25 (5) of the Residence Act have the opportunity to take integration courses.
For these groups, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) issues qualification certificates which the persons must present to an integration course provider within 3 months to register for an integration course. The certificates are issued upon application for asylum or on request by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
German courses of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Freiburg
(300 lessons, one lesson = 45 minutes)
The courses are meant for persons who are likely to stay in Germany for longer periods and are (still) not entitled to an integration course (for example, people from Afghanistan).
Job-related German courses
(ESF-BAMF courses and other job-related German courses)
To register for a job-related language course, completion of an integration course and/or German skills at a minimum level of A1 is usually a prerequisite.
Other courses
(literacy courses for women, short-term projects promoting the German language)
These courses are usually meant for certain target groups and are limited to a fixed time period.
Below you will find:
Freiburg language schools that offer integration courses – complete overview
For more information (in German) on the integration course providers, including the times at which the integration courses take place, go to:
kursnet-finden.arbeitsagentur.de/kurs/
Other offers of German courses and language support:
German courses in the Rasthaus Freiburg
Free German courses for beginners and advanced students. Interested people can always drop in without an appointment.
Adlerstraße 12, 79098 Freiburg
- German courses for beginners and advanced students
Montag - Donnerstag 18.30 - 20.00 Uhr und
Mittwoch und Freitag: 10.15 - 11.45 Uhr - For more information on literacy courses and courses for women including child care, go to:
Refugees learning German
Freiburg website for volunteers and refugees who want to practice German with each other
Offers of German courses from volunteers
In many refugee centres there are volunteers who like to help refugees learn German. Please contact your Social Service Centre if you want to make use of these services.