Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transcript

 
German bureaucracy doesn’t make it easy to build a new life here: there are long wait times for appointments challenging language courses and constant setbacks.

Even so many like Catalina from Colombia are taking the leap and moving here.

Catalina Fajardo, Kindergarten Teacher: “I want to try living outside my country away from my family to see if I can handle it.”

We’ll be following their experiences as they deal with German bureaucracy and finding out how immigration authorities are responding to criticism.

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German Language Teacher: “Very good. Very good.”

Catalina Fajardo wants to work in Germany as a kindergarten teacher. To get a work permit the Colombian needs level-B German; in other words an acceptable standard of reading and conversation skills.

But it’s not an easy language.

Catalina Fajardo, German Language Student: “Learning it as a foreign language is complicated. There are lots of structures, and sometimes when you’re learning a foreign language, you forget the grammatical rules.

Catalina is doing an intensive language course in Bogota run by a German placement agency it starts at Absolute beginner level and lasts 7 months.

Students must study several hours every day and they’re not allowed to work on the side. In return they receive a stipend of around €300.

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In Colombia, Catalina studied pedagogy and psychology. She’s qualified to work as a kindergarten teacher in Germany. she’s looking to improve her career prospects.

Catalia Fajardo, Language Student: “I think Germany with its multiculturalism is the perfect place for me to work and do the things I want to do. It feels like a unique opportunity for professional development.”

Catalina and her classmates will soon take the B2 level German exam. Not everyone passes first time. (If they don’t pass the language course will continue with a reduced stipend)

Colombian German Teacher: “The goal is that everyone succeeds but it’s very difficult to reach B2 level.”

Until Catalina passes she won’t get her visa, and she can’t move to Germany.

The pressure is on.

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The lack of digitization is a widespread problem in Germany. There are increasing calls from government workers for politicians to take action.

Back in Bogota, Catalina has passed the language test on her second attempt she now qualifies for a work permit.

She’s been recruited by a placement agency to work in Germany — and she’s looking forward to the move.

Catalina Fajardo, Kindergarten Teacher: “I want to try living outside my country away from my family to see if I can handle it. And to see whether I’ll decide to stay.

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Before setting off, Catalina spend some time with her older brother, Oscar.

She’s the youngest of three siblings and the first to immigrate.

Oscar Fajardo, Older Brother: “I want her to enjoy it to travel and make the most of it.”

Her brother wants to visit her soon too.

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This is Hanau in central Germany. Catalina will be working in a kindergarten like this one.

In Germany there’s a shortage of almost 100,000 kindergarten teachers — that’s about eighteen (18) missing employees in Hanau’s daycare centers alone.

Skilled workers from abroad can at least help the city fill some gaps; so far it’s working well.

Hanau Kindergarten Headmistress: “We have the feeling that people deciding they want to work overseas is a really big motivating factor.”

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Daniela Nogija is also from Colombia; she’s been in now for about a year.

Things haven’t always been easy for her.

Daniela Nogija, Kindergarten Teacher: “The weather is tough. We don’t have seasons in Colombia so winter here was very hard for us. And the language too.”

Those who have the support of an agency and a job offer have an easier time dealing with German bureaucracy it’s different for those who are doing everything themselves.

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Questions

Daycare Center. Catalina Fajardo is studying English because she wants to live and work in Miami, Florida, USA. Is this right or wrong? Which language is probably easier for her to master, German or Italian?

Nursery School. It’s very quick, easy and straightforward to live and work in Germany. True or false?

Preschool. Do Ms. Fajardo and other students pay tuition to attend German classes? Does the Goethe Institute organize the German courses?

Kindergarten. Describe the program.

Elementary School, Primary School. At university, Catalina majored in business administration, and has two years of experience in office management. Is this right or wrong?

Intermediate, Junior High, Middle School. Will Ms. Fajardo move to Germany, and then look for work?

High School, Secondary School. Is Catalina a “homegirl” or “homie”? Why does she want to live and work in Germany?

Vocational Technical School. Do you think Colombians have very close, close, medium close, loose, or no family ties?

Community College. Is there a glut of kindergarten teachers in Germany? Is the climate of Germany hot and tropical?
 
 
 
Private College. Do people from your town, city, region, or country emigrate or move to other regions or countries? If yes, what are the main destinations?

Public University. Are there immigrants in your town, city, region or country? If yes, where do they come from? What do they do?

Master’s Program. Is there an oversupply or shortage of teachers in preschools, public schools, colleges and universities?

Doctorate Program. My friends and I would like to live and work abroad. Yes or no?

Medical School, Law School. What might happen in the future?

Internship. What could or should people, business, governments do?