How Much Language is Enough? Some Immigrant Language Lessons from Canada and Germany

90 Pages Posted: 9 Sep 2002 Last revised: 16 Apr 2023

See all articles by Don J. DeVoretz

Don J. DeVoretz

Simon Fraser University (SFU) - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Holger Hinte

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Christiane Werner

Associated Economic Consultants Ltd. (A.E.C.) - Vancouver Office; Simon Fraser University (SFU)

Abstract

Germany and Canada stand at polar ends of the scientific debate over language integrationand ascension to citizenship. German naturalization, as of January 2000, contains an explicitlanguage criterion for naturalization. The first German immigration act that will presumablycome into effect on January 1, 2003, does not only concentrate on control aspects but alsoaims at language as a criterion for legal immigration. Canada, in effect, does not base entryor citizenship on knowledge of either of its official languages. Acquisition of a secondlanguage in Canada is voluntary and largely dependent on labour market incentives. Whichsystem of second language acquisition – the statist German system or the laissez faireCanadian model – provides the best milieu for immigrant second language acquisition? Thispaper undertakes a comparative review of Canadian and German legal and educationalprograms in order to answer this question.

Keywords: migration politics, language skills, integration, immigration, citizenship

JEL Classification: F22, I29, J60, J61

Suggested Citation

DeVoretz, Don J. and Hinte, Holger and Werner, Christiane, How Much Language is Enough? Some Immigrant Language Lessons from Canada and Germany. IZA Discussion Paper No. 555, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=327564 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.327564

Don J. DeVoretz (Contact Author)

Simon Fraser University (SFU) - Department of Economics ( email )

8888 University Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6
Canada
7788086703 (Phone)

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Holger Hinte

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Christiane Werner

Associated Economic Consultants Ltd. (A.E.C.) - Vancouver Office ( email )

Suite 300 - 311 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1T3
Canada
604-681-6990 (Phone)
604-681-8393 (Fax)

Simon Fraser University (SFU) ( email )

8888 University Drive
RIIM Department
Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6
Canada

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