Krefeld: integration at full speed

for Liberation
by Fabian Ritter

In Germany, language courses are considered the key to success. In the past, immigrants didn't have access to it. As a result, often they had trouble finding their way around and kept to themselves. Classes are compulsory and repeated absences are punished by reductions of up to 30% on social benefits. Narin Saed, a Syrian refugee who arrived in Krefeld in 2016, is grateful to have been able to attend these language classes every day for five years. "It's the key to successful integration," she says in very good German. She has reached the final stage of learning, the "experienced" level (C1), which enables her to communicate easily in everyday life.