Scientific evaluation study commissioned by the Saarland Ministry of Education and Culture. Saarbrücken: Ministerium für Bildung und Kultur des Saarlandes. 2016.
Since 2003, German skills have represented one of the primary integration requirements for so-called Third Country Nationals to obtain a residence permit for Austria. They are obligated by law to not only study German but to reach a... more
Since 2003, German skills have represented one of the primary integration requirements for so-called Third Country Nationals to obtain a residence permit for Austria. They are obligated by law to not only study German but to reach a defined level of proficiency within a designated time frame. If the Third Country National does not pass the test, he or she can get deported to their country of citizenship. This article draws from the concepts of Spracherleben, the lived experience of language, as well as the linguistic repertoire, and the method of language portraits (Busch 2013), to present the personal experience of learning German as a Third Country National. Based on one interview, this article discusses emotional effects this linguistic obligation has on an individual and further explains his experience of language in society.
