EU Member States take different approaches to language education for beneficiaries of international protection, linking to work is particularly successful

Almost all EU Member States provide support to beneficiaries of international protection for language and literacy learning, but approaches vary considerably between countries. Combining language education with work, as well as offering digital tools and practical lessons, appears to be especially effective.

> Read the full EMN study (comparison between 24 countries*) and the EMN Netherlands two-pager (comparison of results from a Dutch perspective)

Beneficiaries of international protection receive support with literacy and learning the language in almost all countries (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, SE, SI, SK; RS). This can take place through government-provided language courses (CY, ES, IE, IT, LU, SI; RS), within an integration programme (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SE, SK), or as part of employment-related guidance (BG, CY, DE, EE, EL, ES, FR, IE, LT, PL, SE). Volunteers also sometimes organise language classes.

Serbia, for example, offers free language courses during the first year following a positive asylum decision. Sweden provides combination programmes in which people with an asylum permit learn Swedish while attending higher vocational education. The Netherlands stands out as the only country offering three different learning pathways for language acquisition during the civic integration process.

Linking language education to work is successful

According to the Netherlands and 13 other countries, linking language and literacy support to employment works well (AT, BE, CY, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, NL, IE, IT, SE). This may involve work-based learning pathways, projects with employers, or training within specific sectors such as construction or healthcare. The Netherlands additionally emphasises that participation in activities in reception centres and engaging in (voluntary) work during the reception period helps support successful integration.

Other countries highlight digital tools and language lessons for everyday situations as effective. Seven countries (AT, DE, EE, FR, IE, LU, LV) use digital tools to support language learning outside the classroom, such as the French app Bonjourbonjour and the Irish platform KELS.ie. Five countries (BE/Wallonia, Brussels-Capital Region, CZ, EE, IE, LT) offer practice-oriented language lessons, focused on situations such as shopping, public transport, leisure activities and daily life, including parenting.

Flexible class schedules, childcare and self-study

More than half of the countries, including the Netherlands (AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, EL, FI, FR, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, NL, SE; RS), offer additional support measures. These aim to make participation in language and literacy programmes accessible to as many beneficiaries of international protection as possible. The Netherlands provides:

• flexible class schedules or the option to study part-time (as do AT, BE, DE, EE, EL, FI, FR, LT, LV, SE (parental leave), SI);
• childcare (as do AT, BE/German-speaking Community, CZ, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IE, LT, LU, LV, MT, SE);
• online or hybrid courses, including self-study modules (as do AT, CZ, DE, EE, IE, LT, LU, LV, SE; RS).

Dutch municipalities are also obliged to relieve people with an asylum permit of financial responsibilities during the first six months of their civic integration process. Municipalities therefore deduct fixed costs such as rent, health insurance and gas/water/electricity directly from the benefit payments.

Outside the Netherlands, EU Member States and EMN observer countries offer additional support for language education, including:

• convenient course locations, such as schools or reception centres (AT, BE/Flanders, Brussels-Capital, EE, IE, LT, SE);
• individual support, such as financial assistance, a mentor or specialist team, or individual lessons (AT, BE, IT, LV, SE/project by the City of Uppsala; RS);
• coverage of transport costs (BE/Walloon Region, BG, DE, ES, IE);
• special courses for women or mothers with children (DE, ES, FI, FR/by local NGOs, SE).

*Participating countries: Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Cyprus (CY), Czechia (CZ), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE), Greece (EL), Finland (FI), France (FR), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Latvia (LV), Malta (MT), Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), Sweden (SE), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SI), Spain (ES); Serbia (RS)