Municipality/Region

Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Summary

Around 1,400 immigrants, representing 63 different nationalities, currently live in the municipality of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. A local survey conducted in 2014 as part of the Municipal Plan for Integrating Immigrants has shown that the main obstacle to their integration in the community is language. The municipality of Viana do Castelo has therefore recruited volunteer teachers and set up Portuguese language classes that are open to all interested foreigners.

Areas of integration covered by practice

• Integration of migrants in the labour market
• Integration of migrants in political and civic local life

Background and purpose

The goal of the practice is to better integrate immigrants in the host community and the labour market through language learning, as language is the main obstacle to integration.

While there is a government-sponsored programme, Portuguese For All (PPT), that provides 150 hours of instruction, the classes are held during a fixed period of the year and are time-intensive. Furthermore, PPT requires a minimum of 26 students to form a class, and the numbers are not always sufficient to run more than one class. These factors prevent many students from being able to attend, especially newcomers who may not arrive at the right time for enrolment that year.

Additionally, the language learning process needs to be reinforced over a longer period of time than PPT can support. It is for these reasons that the municipality has established separate language classes.

Timeframe

The practice started in 2010 with the introduction of Portuguese conversation classes, where a specialist in an area of interest to immigrants was invited to talk for one hour every two weeks. With the increase in the number of immigrants and the adoption of the Municipal Plan for Integrating Immigrants in 2014, volunteer teachers were recruited to give regular classes for two hours per week throughout the year.

The classes will continue for as long as arrivals of migrants continue and there is interest on the part of the students. Classes are guaranteed for all immigrants at least until the end of the current Municipal Plan for Integrating Immigrants (August 2020).

How does it work?

People interested in the language classes can enrol at the municipality at any time of the year and join existing classes corresponding to their level of knowledge of Portuguese. Classes are two hours per week and run continuously throughout the year, apart from holiday periods. Students practise both speaking and writing in Portuguese.

People can attend more than one class if the schedule permits. They can move to a different level when they want or when the teacher recommends it. All classes are free.

The classes depend on volunteer teachers who give the classes for free. The municipality publicises the classes, organises enrolment, recruits volunteer teachers and provides classroom space. As there are a considerable number of students enrolled at various levels, the municipality has entered into a partnership with a secondary school that makes classroom space available. The municipality also provides all the necessary teaching materials.

Other initiatives are organised as part of the classes, such as:

• visits to sites of local interest (museums, the Gil Eannes ship, the Centre for the Sea, Citânia and others)
• information sessions on areas of interest (finance, training, social assistance, entrepreneurship, etc.), which are also open to other foreigners who are not attending the classes
• cultural, sporting and recreational events

Results and evaluation

11 volunteer teachers and more than 100 students have already taken part in these classes.

Currently, there are 6 classes being taught by 7 volunteer teachers: 2 introduction to Portuguese classes, 2 basic-level classes, 1 second-level class and 1 advanced class. 90 immigrants have enrolled and come from 21 countries.

The impact has been highly positive and there are always more people wishing to join the classes.

Funding

The practice has been financed by the municipality. It received grant of around € 200 for purchasing books and dictionaries. All the necessary classroom materials (pens, photocopies and other materials) have been paid for by the municipality, totaling around € 350 per year.

Further information

Municipality of Viana do Castelo