The content and stages of the procedure , format: Article, area: Integration

Each integration course consists of a language course and an orientation course. The general integration course comprises 700 lesson units, and depending on the orientation of the course that applies to you, the course may last for up to 1,000 lessons in total. Those who have a good starting point as regards learning may also take the integration course as a fast-track course consisting of 430 lesson units.

The language course

The language course forms part of the integration course. The general integration course takes up a total of 600 lesson units, whilst the special courses are made up of up to 900 lesson units. The fast-track course consists of 400 lesson units.

The language course will cover important aspects of everyday life such as:

• work and career,
• basic and further training,
• bringing up and raising children,
• shopping/trade/consumption,
• leisure time and social interaction,
• health and hygiene/human body,
• media and media use, and
• housing.

You will also learn to write letters and e-mails in German, complete forms, make telephone calls and apply for jobs. Topics will vary depending on which type of course you attend. If for example you attend a youth integration course, you will deal with topics which are of particular interest to young people such as applying for an apprenticeship.

The final stage of the language course consists of the "German language test for immigrants" (DTZ).

The orientation course

You will attend the orientation course following on from the language course. It takes 100 lesson hours to complete, whilst the fast-track course version lasts 30 lesson units.

In the orientation course you will discuss the following, for example:

• the German legal system, history and culture,
• rights and obligations in Germany,
• forms of community life, and
• values that are important in Germany, such as freedom of religion, tolerance and gender equality.

You will complete the orientation course by taking the "Life in Germany" test.

Some other things that you should know

There are full-time and part-time courses available, albeit the integration course is attended on a full-time basis as a general rule.

Part-time courses can be offered in exceptional cases, for example if you are employed. Afternoon and evening courses are also offered in these cases.

The course provider will carry out an assessment test before the integration course begins. The result will help the provider to determine with which stage of the course you should begin, and whether it would be useful for you to attend a special integration course.

If you have always regularly attended the lessons and have used up your full quota of lesson units on the integration course but have not attained language level B1 in the language section of the final examination, you can apply to repeat 300 lesson units on a one-off basis. You can then also re-sit the language examination once free of charge.

Skipping stages of the course and changing course providers

You may skip stages of the course, and you can repeat individual stages, even if you have already attended 1,200 lesson units. You will however have to pay for the course yourself in this case.

You may change to another course provider where specific circumstances apply, particularly if you have relocated, in order to change between part-time and full-time courses, in order to enable you to look after your children, or to take up training or employment.