Getting the Arbeitsamt to pay for a German course

Has anyone had success in getting the Arbeitsamt to pay for a German course and if so what sort of course were you able to attend?

Yes they paid for me but you must attend the course 80% otherwise you lose money.

I did a "Vollzeit-Sprachkurs Bedema, Kurstyp A1"

That's interesting Steve. I visited the Arbeitsamt yesterday and was told "that it was not in their catalogue". Now if I was an aussiedler or refugee that would be another story. My German needs improvement after working in a mostly English workplace. Even my employer at the time was happy to send the workers off on English language courses but German courses were not on!

Oh yes, the Arbeitsamt did mention that they would be offering Business English in their catalogue. Now I ask you! How will that help?!

that's exactly what happened to my boyfriend aswell. They said if we go to a different country, nobody would pay for our courses aswell and that Aussiedler is a different thing, because they are kind of german in germany

And who is all going too pay that all ha have a gues

I wondered why my class was full of Turkish and Russians

I have been planning to take my son back to the uk for his secondary education and rang the employment agency to see what was available,all they could offer me was help finding a job. After making 19 years of contributions from a well paid job.because I am not a single parent and because I have not made any contributions in the previous 2 years I am entitled to nothing. Now I am not a scrounger on the state (have never asked for help before) but to be offered nothing,including retraining made me feel a bit miffed to say the least, in view of the fact that we came out here as my husband was facing redundancy. As far as i saw it I was a person entering the uk without a job but very willing to work. How long do you have to live in Germany to claim refugee status?Ah well I suppose it's sods law when a man serving a life sentence for rape has just won 7million pounds on the lottery. ( I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the topic just a little rant

kath

You have a good rant Kath, the trouble is you are not from the middle east or africa or any other non european non tax paying country or I am sure they would bend over backwards to help you.

I wasn't looking to scrounge just to see what's rightly available. After all the aim is to get back to work and improvement in German language skills would surely make "one" more employable. The guy was happy to wait until next year where one would be compulsed to take some sort of educational course. When asked what courses are available - he mentioned business English!! Well, if they are willing to fork out for business English why not business German?

Colonial Girl, I hope you don't think I was suggesting that you were on the scrounge, far from it, I was just agreeing with you that working and contributing seems to bring you nothing these days and it is sometimes a bitter pill to swallow. I think it would be better if countries did offer language courses as it certainly helps with integration and employment and productivity.
Off topic again I have just read that the victims of the rapist lottery winner may be able to take civil action against him and I hope they get a good whack of it. Please note I am not someone who can't wish people great happiness in their good fortune just when it

happens to bad'uns.
Kath

It's like a friend of mine in Sweden. She got made redundant and gets no help in retraining etc from the govt. However, her headscarf-wearing neighbours get all the social benefits from the welfare system plus Swedish classes, plus training...

Next week she's going back to the employment agency wearing a headscarf

(May I just add that I have nothing against people wearing headscarves!)

But it does make your blood boil doesn't it that as an EU citizen you get sweet FA. There is nothing unified about the EU.

I've often wondered what would happen to me if I decided to go back the UK tomorrow (without a job first) and try to claim any kind of benefit. They can't tell me I've not paid any contributions in the UK, because even after being a student and then being unemployed straightaway after uni you are entitled to unemployment benefit. Where's the difference!

I'm ranting there with you Kath!!!

No worries Kath. I just wanted to elaborate. In fact, I think Holland makes it a condition of your residency permit that you must attend state subsidised language and cultural integration courses.

I also read that article about the rapist who won 7 million pounds on a weekend release. (He was in for life for attempted rape.) Seems only fair and reasonable that his victims should get some financial compensation but I suppose the only means of getting it will be to sue him - that would also be such an ordeal for victims.

Actually I think Holland is one of the less complicated countries to stay, especially for Brits aswell. My boyfriend lived there for a while and all he had to do was going to the police station and got a stamp in his passport, that he entered Holland.
That was all he needed. And it was easier to find a job though he did not speak any dutch, because they all talk English there.

I asked the arbeitsamt about paying for a German course and they referred me to the aliens office (Auslanderbehorde). So I went there and asked them and they told me I would have to get a residence permit - aufenthaltserlaubnis. I said I was an EU citizen and I was entitled to stay in Germany and not going to apply for one on principle. They said tough...if you want a course you have to get a permit.

I think the principle is that if you are aiming toward getting German citizenship then they will pay for some language course.

If its needed for you to get re employed they will do.Know someone who has done it

Well, you havn't put anything into your profile to give us something to go on but apparently for EU citizens there is no such thing as an Aufenthaltserlaubnis any longer...

The Sozialamt will pay for the integration course, which is mostly German lessons (four hours per day, four days per week for up to six months or however long it takes to get your Zertificat). You don't need an Aufenthaltserlaubnis if you're an EU citizen, what you need is an Auslanderbehorde employee who's up to date. Try going back and asking for someone else. Or explain the situation to the Sozialamt.

I told them I did not need an aufenthaltser as I am an eu citizen but they said it was a requirement for the application for the german course. I asked also at the arbeitsamt and they said they could help if I was an asylum seeker or Turkish but because I was an EU citizen they would not.

Where are you from ?

@ arsenal21

See here. In short, if you are in work or receiving ALG I you can get the course at €1 per hour, if you're receiving ALG II or Sozialhilfe it's free. EU citizens can attend if there are free places - there are a lot of providers so finding a free place shouldn't be a problem, in fact I know several EU citizens who've done the course. Be aware that funding is from the BAMF so a lot of participants will be refugees etc..

Thanks Wheel, that helps a lot.

I recently was told by my unemployment advisor at the Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit (BfA) that I could not take German language courses as part of continuing education programs funded by the BfA, and he referred me to the BAMF, which offers German courses to the B1 level (basic German) as part of 'integration'.

However, German language courses are listed on the BfA's website for continuing education! See here: http://www.kursnet.arbeitsagentur.de/kurs/index.jsp

After making a few inquiries, it seems to me that the BfA does fund courses (basic, intermediate and advanced German), but one has to be receiving ALGII and assistance from the JobCenter before the German course is funded by the BfA.