Admission of Immigrants and Language Education in Germany

Focusing on German Language Education

Abstract

In the first half of this paper I review the history of the admission of immigrants to Germany, and discuss the transformations seen in language education aimed at immigrants. In the second half I deal with three topics that particularly illuminate the present conditions of Teaching German as a Second Language. First I discuss the German language programs aimed at pre-school immigrant children which are attracting great attention recently, taking the program in the state of Hessen as an example. Next I discuss policies for assisting elementary and middle school students with German, focusing on the state of Niedersachsen. Finally I discuss the integrated German course for immigrants that was established in response to the Immigration Law of 2005 as an example of German language education aimed at adults. This course consists of 600 hours of language instruction supplemented by a 45 hour orientation course on German society. The Immigration Law declares that a wide variety of players should be involved in the integration of immigrants into German society, including religious organizations and the Aliens Authorities.