INTEGRA
INTEGRA – Academic GFL training for academically qualified refugees
Within the framework of the INTEGRA DAAD programme, the German as a foreign language department at the SDI München offers academically qualified refugees courses to improve their German language skills and/or methodological workshops that give them access to higher education.
A traditional higher education entrance qualification is not required. Those interested in the programme must prove their residence status and send us a translated copy of their school leaving certificate. The funding programme provides at least 24 lessons per week. It takes between 2 and 8 months, depending on the language level. The B1-C1 courses are currently being held exclusively as online courses. Lessons take place on a fixed basis on Monday - Friday between 9:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The following services are also included in the programme:
- Academic counselling and study orientation
- Evaluation of certificates
- Participation in university workshops ("study efficiently”)
- Participation in a language exam (TestDaF/telc B2 or C1 Hochschule)
Funding is also provided for workshops and seminars for linguistically competent refugees who are interested in activities in the field of voluntary interpreting (block events).
Project
TranslAid – crash course for aspiring lay interpreters
A success story since December 2017: our “language mediation” project for aspiring lay interpreters, which originated in a migration context. In cooperation with ArrivalAid, a non-profit organisation supporting refugees, we offer volunteers with sufficient communication skills a tailor-made two-day training that provides them with the necessary interpreting skills to support refugees in communication situations such as hearing preparations, legal advice in the field of asylum and aliens law, doctor's appointments or job placements. The initiative operates within the framework of the TranslAid project, which was launched by the four Munich organisations MigraMed, Refugee Law Clinic Munich, Münchner Freiwillige – Wir helfen e.V. and ArrivalAid.
Prof. Regina Freudenfeld is the person to contact at SDI München for the project cooperation. The training uses role-playing, which involves developing, simulating and reflecting on relevant language mediation activities. The volunteer hearing facilitators from ArrivalAid and the students from MigraMed and the Refugee Law Clinic Munich, who cooperate with the organisation, are also involved, so that TranslAid participants can practise in authentic scenarios and also train and reflect on the interaction between clients and professionals.
The project draws on previous workshops for academically qualified refugees, which were carried out within the framework of the Integra DAAD funding. The aim of the training is to develop relevant case studies that will serve as a future guideline for the urgently needed communication skills of lay interpreters.
