Among other regulations, this law requires non-European immigrants pass a difficult language test (Zertifikat Deutsch) to get citizenship or an extension of their residency permits. Karin Jurschick's film documents one of these so-called integration courses at an adult education center in Cologne. Here language students from China, Somalia, Afghanistan, Marocco and the Dominican Republic try to learn German. (Note: the coursecertificate is now called "Zertifikat Integrationskurs" which encompasses the German language exam and test about German culture, civics and history shown in the film.)
More and more immigrants have been the landing in Germany since the 1950's. But it wasn't until 2005 that a new immigration law went into effect.
Among other regulations, this law requires non-European immigrants pass a difficult language test (Zertifikat Deutsch) to get citizenship or an extension of their residency permits. Karin Jurschick's film documents one of these so-called integration courses at an adult education center in Cologne. Here language students from China, Somalia, Afghanistan, Marocco and the Dominican Republic try to learn German. (Note: the coursecertificate is now called "Zertifikat Integrationskurs" which encompasses the German language exam and test about German culture, civics and history shown in the film.)