Workshop – 5 October 2010„Second language training programmes: a basic requirement for

integration“

Foster communication and Language Skills from an Integrative Perspective

by Simone Urben

ECAP Foundation

Brief profile:

Charitable, not-profit provider of adult education in Switzerland

Founded in 1970 by the Italian trade union CGIL

9 regional offices throughout Switzerland

34,369 people signed up for courses in 2009

ECAP Foundation

Main activities Broad range of educational, advisory and

integration services: German courses Integration courses for new arrivals Vocational training and catch-up courses Employability promoting schemes on behalf of

job centres Courses in computing skills Courses in the native language and culture in

Italian Development of new projects and courses

Objectives of this paper

Part 1 The principles of Swiss Integration policy and

current trends Integration agreements – a measure requiring

immigrants to attend language courses

Part 2 Integration promotion of language skills: courses

offered by ECAP Integration course with information modules German for an elusive target group: courses for

cleaners

Swiss integration policy (1) Resident population (2009): 7,785,800 Non-Swiss-Population: 1,714,000 (22%)

Swiss Foreign Nationals Act (AuG) and Integration Ordinance (VintA) Definition of Integration as a dynamic process in

which both foreign nationals and Swiss themselves are involved

Objective: participation in the life of society and equal opportunities at work and in professional life

Language skills as one integration factor amongst others, but in many cases linguistic integration plays a key role

Swiss integration policy (2)

Current trends Restrictive tendency

Shift of Focus on individual integration careers

Degree of integration is heavily dependent on individual‘s language skills

„Integration agreements“ in some cantons and the risk of having the residence permit withdrawn if the „integration career“ is not sucessful

Integration agreements (1) Granting or extending of a resident permit can

be tied to conditions (attendance of language or integration courses)

The cantons can make an undertaking to attend such a course part of an integration agreement with the foreign national

Since 2008 the canton of Basel-Stadt has concluded 559 integration agreements with immigrants who

are not in a position to take care of matters relating to every day life

are „inadequately“ integrated need specific forms of support

Integration agreements (2)

ECAP Foundation is very sceptical and critical of the integration agreement as a tool because it targets only so called „post-integration“ is used only for people who do not come from an

EU member State in our experience is often used to bring great

pressure to bear is in any case prone to abuse

We are firmly convinced that to be successful, learning has to take place in a supportive climate of mutual esteem, free from any pressure.

Integrative promotion of language skills: courses offered by ECAP

Integration course with information modules

13 weeks / 180 lessons Courses for new arrivals Level A1 Involvement of mediators Information modules on „living in Switzerland“ and

„professional orientation“ Objectives

Elementary command of German to function in everyday life

Knowledge about public services in Switzerland and how to seek information and advice

Ability to plan first steps torwards integration in the world of work

German for an elusive target group

Courses for cleaners 13 weeks / 52 lessons 2x2 lessons per week

in the morning or in the afternoon or in the evening

Levels A1-B1 CHF 100.-

Objectives Improvement of communication at the workplace and in

everyday life Acquisition of sociolinguistic skills and sociocultural

understanding