Additional qualifications
Basically, the qualification required to teach on integration courses is a university degree in the subject of German as a foreign language or German as a second language. If these specialist qualifications have not been acquired as part of a degree in German as a foreign or second language, teaching on integration courses is only permitted if the teacher has participated in an additional qualification course in the area of German as a second language approved by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Acquiring additional qualifications
The additional qualification for teachers in the area of German as a second language (DaZ) can only be acquired at institutions that have been accredited for this purpose by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The design of the additional qualification for teachers in the area of German as a second language is used by the BAMF as the basis for granting accreditation.
The teacher must agree the application formalities for the additional qualification with the institution offering the qualification. Upon successful completion of the additional qualification, teachers on integration courses will receive a certificate.
The minimum requirements for admission to an additional qualification course are stipulated in the Accreditation criteria for additional qualifications.
Additional extra qualifications
In addition to the additional qualification for teachers in the area of German as a second language, there are also additional qualifications for teachers who are teaching on literacy and orientation courses. The qualification profile for these teachers presupposes the knowledge and skills in the area of DaZ required for the general integration course but recommends special training over and above this to ensure standards of quality are maintained.
Additional qualifications for teachers on literacy courses
The plan for a nationwide literacy course indicates that its proposals with regard to curriculum and methodology can only be optimally implemented if the teachers on the government’s literacy courses possess the corresponding specific skills.
The BAMF recommends therefore that teachers who teach on literacy courses attend a supplementary additional training course. This measure comprises a total of 80 lessons. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has accredited the following institutions to implement these courses:
- Internationaler Bund Bielefeld
- Volkshochschule Berlin-Mitte
- Herder-Institut / University of Leipzig
- Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Niedersachsens / Hanover
- Bayerischer Volkshochschulverband (bw) / Munich
- FIF – Förderung von Integration durch Fortbildung / Mainz
- Landesverband der Volkshochschulen von Nordrhein-Westfalen / Düsseldorf
- IIK - Institut für Interkulturelle Kommunikation e.V., Berlin
- Volkshochschule Wiesbaden e.V.
- Sprachhaus Köln.
Additional qualifications for teachers teaching on orientation courses
Orientation course teachers must cope with a number of demands based on the objectives of the course and the specific characteristics of the target group. The curriculum for a national orientation course refers to the special characteristics of methodology and didactics. To ensure that the curriculum’s content and learning objectives are implemented in an optimum manner during the 45 teaching units available, teachers must be able to draw on particular knowledge and skills. The BAMF recommends therefore that teachers who teach on orientation courses attend a supplementary additional training course. This measure comprises a total of 30 lessons. The BAMF has accredited the following institutions to implement these courses:
- Volkshochschule Berlin-Mitte
- Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg
- Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Niedersachsens
- Internationaler Bund Iserlohn and Bielefeld
- Goethe-Institut.
