The ÖIF representative told us that the pass rates of the exams show that Ukrainian displaced persons are making good progress in learning German and that the need for higher course levels is constantly increasing. This also corresponds to the generally very positive feedback from the Ukrainian community.
In addition to the German courses offered by course providers, the ÖIF also expanded the freely accessible online German learning programmes on Sprachportal.at, the largest German learning platform in the German-speaking world: in addition to its own online German courses, which are implemented in cooperation with the Ukrainian universities of Drohobych and Uzhhorod and which Ukrainian displaced persons can attend without registering, the ÖIF expanded its part-time and job-specific German learning programmes in particular last year. At www.sprachportal.at, a range of daily online German courses and job-specific online courses as well as free learning and practice materials are available to all German learners.
© Rainer Moster
Irina Blokhina is a ballerina and classical dance teacher from Dnipro. She worked at the Dnipro Opera and Ballet Theatre for almost ten years. She was invited to Austria at the beginning of the invasion by the famous ballet teacher Alex Ursulyak. Now Irina teaches adults Pilates and barre, gymnastics to children in the club ‘Prestige,’ and chess. Irina has been able to combine these hobbies since childhood. She has been studying German for almost two years thanks to ÖIF, and during this time, she has already managed to pass the B2 level exam and started to master C1.
‘I study the language five times a week for three hours. I am lucky with the teachers. The courses offer a lot of varied material. I try to communicate a lot with native speakers, and I can say that my learning of German was very positively influenced by the chess teaching in Austrian schools. I’ve been playing since I was a child, taking part in tournaments. In Vienna, I found a chess union where I met people who believed in me and helped me. That’s how I got a job as a teaching assistant at a school and gained invaluable experience communicating with Austrian children. It also gave me the opportunity to improve my German,’ says Irina.
Irina goes to Vienna for her courses even though she lives in St. Pölten. She says that the choice of courses in the big city is better and that with proper planning, this is not a hindrance. During this time, Irina managed to find a job, participate in a choreographic competition in Italy, and receive a special jury prize as a performer.
However, only some people’s experience of learning German is as organic as Irina’s.
©Anastasiia Mamay
Anastasiia Mamay, a ceramic artist from Kyiv raising her son and studying at KunstUni Linz, often gets up at five in the morning and goes to bed at midnight to get everything done. She also lives in St. Pölten and goes to Linz almost every day during the semester to study. She devotes several hours a day to German. Anastasiia has studied the language at several schools in Linz and St. Pölten: ‘It depends very much on the teachers. I was lucky with them. In Linz, the classrooms were more modern than in St. Pölten, and we were given more material. The teacher, Ursula Pointner, devoted her time to us completely, not on the phone, which unfortunately also happens in courses.
She says the course is four months long, but that’s not enough time to master the material. ‘People who come here have to work somewhere, they have to study, and often they have children. Personally, I feel that this is not enough time to learn the language. Even though I passed the B1 exam, I feel this is a stretch. I would have had one more month, and the result would have been better,’ says Anastasiia.
She believes that more than this level is needed to find a normal job. The artist tries to use German at university, but it only happens sometimes. If something is unclear, she has to switch to English.
‘For further life in Austria, being fluent in German is essential. Austrians respect their language and will demand it from you. I think it’s the right thing to do. For people who come here and are going to live here, it is necessary. It also shows respect for the country that gave protection.’
© Marianna Kotsan
Marianna Kotsan, an artist and PR manager from Kyiv, started learning the language only six months after arriving in Vienna. However, she wanted to start right away. The delay was due to bureaucratic difficulties related to the processing of the Blue Card. ‘At first, it was difficult to orient myself on what to do, where to go, and what procedures to go through. At the end of the summer of 2022, I enrolled on an initial course at ÖIF. It was an A0 course with alphabet learning. The course was precious because I got to know other Ukrainian women with whom we are still friends. But in terms of language, it turned out to be a waste of time, because I already had an elementary level,’ says Marianna.
Marianna spends six to seven hours a day on the course because the classes last three hours, with homework and travelling added to that time, and so five times a week.
‘There are big pauses between courses. After completing the studies, you have to sign up for an exam, take it, wait three weeks for the result, and then only sign up for the next level and wait for it to start. All of this takes a total of three months. And unfortunately, the knowledge is quickly eroded,’ the artist reasons.
Marianne has lost 50 percent of her hearing since the invasion began, but says this has not stopped her from learning the language, and she is treated with understanding at the courses. She worries that she could not pass the B2 exam on her first attempt. Out of the whole group of twelve people, only one student, who is already studying at a local university, could pass it. Marianna says she needs a C1 level to find a job in her specialty: ‘It’s not a quick process. Besides, learning a language when you are under chronic stress because of the war and forced migration is very difficult, you just can’t keep anything in your head. The last failed exam was also very stressful for me. I realize that the B2 level is a better opportunity to study and find a job, but so far, it’s a glass ceiling for me, but I’m trying to cope with it.
Marianne says that she needs help to distinguish between dialectal and individual pronunciation. However, with a hearing aid, she understands the language well and is able to maintain a conversation if her interlocutors speak clearly and loudly. If she doesn’t understand, she is often ashamed and silent. Among the positive aspects of Vienna, Marianna highlights empathy.
She is grateful to the counselors at ÖIF, AMS, and other institutions that help her find a job. Unfortunately, she has not yet found a place where she could be useful, but she hopes for the best.
Office Ukraine staff are in constant contact with Ukrainian artists and are aware of the difficulties faced by temporarily displaced people. The most common are difficulties in finding a job, learning the language, and integrating into local society. Most are under stress and find it difficult to cope with everyday responsibilities. Learning the language is an essential aspect of integration. Still, even with available courses and the desire to learn German, more is needed. Everything takes time and patience. We are delighted when people come to us and tell us that they have managed to organize their schedules, moved to the next level, found a job, and completed a project. We hope that there will be more such stories every day.
“English integration course for Ukrainian refugees” is an ongoing project by Anatoly Belov.
Anatoly Belov’s art project, a textbook for learning English at A1 level, is based on true events that happened to the author of the book and his acquaintances and friends, Ukrainian refugees in various European countries. The textbook, in the form of a comic strip, focuses on learning English in the context of integration into European society.
The artist also refers to misunderstandings and conflicts that sometimes arise, both with people from the European Union and with Ukrainians, including conflicts within the Ukrainian community.
‘As my integration process into the society of the European Union continues, while the Russian-Ukrainian war also doesn’t end, refugees are also constantly confronted with new life situations.
There are also plans to continue my comic book with our personal experiences from the A2 level language course,’ states Anatoly Belov.
