I’ve been working as a teacher for German to mainly refugees, in particular to primary and functional illiterates, for the last 10 years. In case you are wondering: funcitonal illiterates in this context means that the students can write and read in another script, e.g. Arabic or Kyrillic, but not in the Latin based alphabet as used in German and many other European based languages; primary illiterates have never learned to read or write at all. I’ve blogged about my experiences, I still do but I haven’t written anything new in a while. Maybe I’ll find some time during the upcoming holidays. The blog is here. One of the resons I’ve slacked a bit is that things repeat itself in the classroom. Similar issues, different people. I still think my first entries from 2016 and 2017 are best.

I’ve talked a lot with other teachers recently, we all have noticed a steady decline in the capabilites of learning a language in the students. There were always one or two students that are really struggling in any class but these days the whole class is struggling and we often seem to make very little progress.

If I were to name one quality that I rate above any other that is needed for integration it would be: curiosity. CURIOSITY!

Without curiosity in the people, the customs, the surroundings, etc. there is no chance of integration. There is more to it, of course, and the existing society has to bring something to the table, too, to make integration possible. It’s a balancing act that needs willingness on both sides.

FOWC with Fandango: Integration

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