Swiss government pays you to learn German

Language Corner
1
Hi, guys I just enrolled in HDS, a language learning school in St Fiden near St Gallen it is really top notch, and I am very happy. It costs a little more than a lot of other schools out there and it seems to be worth it. However talking to my fellow classmates, which mainly come from Sri Lanka, Eritrea and former Yugoslavia, I am findiing out that they didn't have to pay anything for the class, because they are unemployed.

Does anyone where to go for this? I could get very little info from them since we can only communicate in German, and we are in the 3rd day of class.

I am from the U.S.A. currently unemployed and want to learn German as fast as I can to facilitate the job hunt, but why should I be the only one that pays, if all of them are getting the aid from the state.

Thanks,

2
I am also unemployed and the RAV will be paying for an intensive German course. HOWEVER, I also am eligible for unemployment. So, this is why the RAV has given me the green light for a German language course here in Basel. I do not know your situation. How long have you worked consecutively here in Switzerland?

3
Do you qualify to receive unemployment in CH? Have you contributed enough to the system so you can benefit? If not, pay and be happy

Some of the people in your class might be asylem seekers and therefore CH government pays their tuition.

4
You are right, with the asylum seekers.

This is my situation: I just got here 3 weeks ago from the U.S. I don't have a job , so that means I haven't contributed. I did already get a tax bill for my wife and I though.

Thanks for the info.

5
I think not only asylum seekers,but anyone with a permit(i have B permit)can get the help from the govt for language course if you could prove them that u r unsuccessful to find a job here in swiss with your German skills.....

when i came here on B permit depending my husband, govt paid for two french courses....For almost one year i tried for work and then i registered in the local gemeinde for unemployment.Then i got a call from the cantonal office and i had a interview with them where i showed them that i have applied for so many jobs and i got rejected(i took the rejected papers that i received back with my bio data).So they told me that they can help me to find a job and they had send me for two french courses and also for the exams...but during that time you should be here in swiss(difficult to take any vaccation) and every month you should go to the unemployment office to show them that your still applying for jobs...The unemployemnet office will really help you ..try to register first with your local unemployment office...but before that you should apply for some jobs ...

6
I took some language classes in Berlin and most of my classmates were unemployed Swiss guys who got the trip and lessons as part of their unemployment benefits. One or two of them gave it an honest try...

7
If you qualify for unemployment benefits in Switzerland then as part of the assistance that they provide to get you back into work, they may agree to pay for language courses. Hence why the others are being funded to be there and you are not. (For info, the basic rule for receiving Swiss unemployment benefits is to have paid 12 months of contributions in Switzerland or another EU country within the past 24 months).

Best of luck learning German, and also with your job hunt!

8
I got the unemployment help for learning language with out working here in swiss,but that was 6 yrs before..maybe rules might have changed....

9
From my understanding you should be able to claim your USA unemployment benefits in Switzerland if you have worked in USA at least for 1yr...check this out to be sure it is correct...

10
If you are here with permit and are unemployed, register with RAV (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) . Period.

Not having paid into the system will hinder your entitlement to financial benefit from the related, but different body, the Arbeitslosenkasse .

The RAV is a job centre and they have your German assessed and may support your learning up to and not beyond the B2 level. Additionally they may send you on strategy courses and provide you with other assistance to help you in your job search.

But to the OP, I strongly suggest you contact your local RAV and see if they'll help you in some way or another.

11
And then there are of course different integration initiatives which vary from Canton to Canton, where the German courses are subsidized. E.g. here .

12
Because I am non-U, I have been given an L permit (ohne Erwerbstaetigkeit). Before that, I worked in Ireland for almost 2 years (until November 2009). I have just had a second (and decisive) job interview canceled because of my work permit, not to mention all the other rejections I had so far.

Do you think I might be eligible for RAV contribution to German courses? I have already done 1 course on my own money.

13
Switzerland.

14
Thanks to everyone for the replies and comments, I have two appointments with the Rav next week and by then I will know more if its really worth the time for me, depending on the benefit or if maybe I should just pay my own class and be happy I'm not a refugee or asylum seeker.

Either way I will post my experience for the benefit of others.

15
Why do you assume only refugees and asylum seekers are eligible for German classes through the RAV? It's available to any non-German speaker who happens to be unemployed and has paid into the system.

Plenty of expats have come here working for an international company not having to speak a word of the local language. Suddenly they find themselves unemployed and the RAV often sends them on a language course to boost their chances of getting back into the working world again.

16
agreed, not having contributed to the system will most likely disqualify you from recieving unemployment money. however, that should not affect their support for your language school. They are only willing to pay for the first three months, for fundamental knowledge.

I paid for the first 4 months of courses before my residence permit came, and they are unable to assist with further courses. Of course with my work qualifications I may need to be able to say a little bit more than "hello, do you take cream or sugar with your coffee?"

17
Just for everyone to not confuse, there's office of un employment benefits, which pays un employment, then there the office of reinsertion which evaluates your skills and potential causes that might restrict you from working, both offices work together with people who contributed or not, you don't need to contribute beforehand to benefit the reinsertion or national language courses, even if you proof you got skills and experience in certain domain but not certificate or education, they can insert you in a course.

I totally encourage people to research their information very well before closing doors for others who are trying to become well integrated.

18
hi everyone,

I am a B permit holder and is myself paying for the German course for 2 months already.

i just took a look at the RVA office leaflet in my Canton and i read most of it but still i am unsure of something, do they assign you to a particular German course or would they give allowance to pay for the course that you are already attending?

i will bring my dictionary with me when i visit the office this week but just in case some one know this then i can decide whether to continue my enrollment of the current course which i have to pay the fee by the end of the week.

it seems that the RVA is working with this school http://www.sprachinstitut.ch/index.php?id=3&sid=1&key=2 as it mentioned their course in the leaflet, but i am not sure whether i have to pay for it or not.

i tends to ask my classmates in my current german course but i dont know if people like others to ask them if they pay for their own course or if it is being sponsored.. they seems dont even want to mention that they are unemployed..

19
They do pay directly the schools, you just have to attend and search for work during the study.

They do work with various schools, they will advice which one you will goto,when i first arrived, they sent me to Inlingua in Geneva.

20
OK, I went to the RAV interview today. They told me I need to be in CH at least 3 months, submit 5 to 8 job applications a month, send them proof that I was denied. After the 3 months, they will pay for the German Language class. In the same school I'm in.

They also told me, that they have 2,000 people registered jobless ( don't know if in that office or the Canton) and they only find around 50 jobs a month for them, and usually they are low skilled jobs. So I was better off, getting a headhunter or looking on my own than using their services.

They told me where to get my Bachelor's diploma certified, also to get my social security card (AHV) and some other tips. So I guess it was worth it.

Good Luck All!