German Language Skills Research Articles

Migration-related determinants of health-care service utilization among persons with a direct migration background in Germany: an exploratory study based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

It is known that the health-care service utilization in primary care of persons with a direct migration background is lower compared to non-migrants. However, potential migration-related determinants of health-care service utilization are not known. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the associations between health-care service utilization and migration-related characteristics of persons with a direct migration background in Germany. The migration samples (M1 and M2) of the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) were used as the sample for this study. Associations between the number of visits to primary care physicians in the previous three months and migration-related characteristics were examined using generalized linear models. Associations between the hospitalization within one year and migration-related characteristics were examined using logit models. The mean number of visits to primary care physicians was about 2, and 8% of persons were hospitalized. Being born in a country other than Russia was associated with a higher number of visits to primary care physicians (+ 26% to + 34%). Both, a very strong connectedness with the country of birth and very good oral German language skills were associated with higher number of visits to primary care physicians (both + 13%) compared to no connectedness and fairly bad oral German language skills. Only the country of birth, connectedness with the country of birth and oral German language skills may be migration-related determinants of health-care service utilization with regard to the number of visits to primary care physicians by persons with a direct migration background in Germany. With regard to hospitalization, no potential migration-related determinants of health-care service utilization could be identified.

NATIONAL EXAMINATION SURVEY ON BLOOD PRESSURE OF OLDER AND VERY OLD PEOPLE IN GERMANY 2022-2023: WHY SELF-REPORTS, MEASUREMENTS AND MEDICATION DATA ARE NEEDED

Objective: The National Study on Health of Older People in Germany “Gesundheit 65+” aimed to provide up-to-date information on the health of older adults in Germany including blood pressure (BP) measurements at home by a study nurse. Design and method: Nationally representative examination survey of the population aged 65 years and older residing in Germany and with sufficient German language skills, using two-stage population registry sampling from 128 sample points from June 2022 to April 2023. Participation of physically or cognitively impaired persons was possible via proxy interviews and consent from legal representatives. Recruitment and data collection used a mixed-mode design. Three standardized blood pressure measurements at two-minute intervals were taken after 5 minutes rest with an oscillometric device (Mobil-O-Graph) using one of five cuffs according to upper arm circumference. The mean of the second and third measurement was used for analysis. Hypertension was defined as mean systolic BP (SBP) at or above140 mm Hg, or mean diastolic BP (DBP) at or above 90 mm Hg, or the use of antihypertensives (ATC-codes C02 antihypertensives, C03 diuretics, C07 beta-blockers, C08 calcium-channel blockers or C09 ACEI and ARB) in participants with self-reported hypertension diagnosis. Provisional weights account for unequal sampling and participation probabilities. Results: The “Gesundheit 65+” examination survey included 1,493 participants and 1,475 (98.8%) had successful BP measurements (763 men and 712 women aged 65 to 100 years). External quality control showed very good standardization of BP measurements in the home environment. Central BP data were available from 1,356 participants. Based on self-reported diagnoses alone the prevalence of hypertension would be 58.3% [95% CI 53.2-63.3] in men and 59.5% [53.8-64.9] in women. However, overall hypertension prevalence was estimated at 70.4% [65.8-74.7] in men and 72.3% [66.9-77.1] in women based on the study definition which combines self-reported physician diagnoses, standardized BP measurements and medication. Conclusions: Our study shows very good feasibility, acceptability and data completeness of standardized BP measurements using home visits. The prevalence of hypertension would be greatly underestimated in the absence of examination survey data with standardized measurements and detailed recording of medication.

UKRAINIAN FORCED MIGRANTS’ INTEGRATION IN EUROPEAN LABOUR MARKET: GERMAN VS POLISH CASE

The tsunami of forced migration caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 poses a significant challenge to the socio-economic systems of host European countries, in particular Germany and Poland, which are the two main destination countries for displaced Ukrainians. Despite relatively similar statistics on the number and demographic structure of Ukrainian forced immigrants, the two countries differ significantly in terms of the level of labour market integration of refugees, which is a key factor determining their social integration and economic outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to study the peculiarities and common features of the integration of Ukrainian forced migrants in the labour markets of Germany and Poland, taking into account the pre-war experience of these countries in attracting Ukrainian economic migrants. Methodology. The study is a comparative analysis of the pre-war and forced migration trajectories of the two countries based on data from the German and Polish statistical services and Eurostat in 2010-2022. Results. The article discusses the redistribution of the main demographic characteristics in the profile of Ukrainian migrants in the post-war period, which led to an increase in the share of women with higher education in the demographic structure of migrants. These demographic differences, coupled with the peculiarities of European labour markets, have affected the employment prospects of Ukrainian refugees in European countries of destination. The pre-war experience of temporary labour migration from Ukraine and social ties between refugees and members of the diaspora were recognised as factors that facilitated the integration of Ukrainian refugees. The analysis showed that in addition to the geographical and cultural proximity between Ukraine and Poland, the circular labour migration model that dominated relations between Ukraine and Poland contributed to the rapid integration of Ukrainian refugees into the labour market after the outbreak of full-scale war. The lack of German language skills is the most common reason for the lower participation of Ukrainians in the German labour market compared to the Polish one. In Germany, favourable labour market conditions combined with integration policies facilitate access to the labour market for Ukrainian refugees in the long term. Practical implications. By examining the previous circular seasonal migration of Ukrainians over the past decade and their labour market integration in specific destination countries after the outbreak of war, this paper provides a broader perspective for the study of the transition from forced to permanent migration. Value/Originality. Given the global growth of both seasonal labour migrants and forms of movement, the key findings of the study provide a better understanding of these changing categories of mobility and their implications.

A case study of an immersive learning unit for German as a second language

More and more children and adolescents in Switzerland show serious deficits in their German language skills. In order to specifically promote the language skills of students with a non-German first language, special lessons in German as a second language (GasL) are therefore offered in addition to the regular lessons. The aim of this case study is to evaluate the impact of a pedagogically sound immersive virtual reality learning unit for GasL lessons, which offers students the opportunity to actively speak German and to demonstrate this in the context of two GasL lessons. The research design is based on the “Design Science Research Framework”. In this context, the virtual reality learning unit was designed as an innovative prototype (artifact) and iteratively improved. The design considered the didactic framework of the official curriculum as well as the eleven general design guidelines for virtual reality learning units in an educational context. The virtual reality learning unit was tested in a field experiment with five students each at an elementary school and at a secondary school. The students found the virtual reality learning unit as a whole attractive and motivating. But there are operational challenges and necessary prerequisites that have to be considered and created in order to pragmatically and sustainably integrate immersive virtual reality learning units into the existing GasL lessons.

Hearing loss, depression, and cognition in younger and older adult CI candidates.

Hearing loss in old age is associated with cognitive decline and with depression. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between hearing loss, cognitive decline, and secondary depressive symptoms in a sample of younger and older cochlear implant candidates with profound to severe hearing loss. This study is part of a larger cohort study designated to provide information on baseline data before CI. Sixty-one cochlear implant candidates with hearing loss from adulthood onwards (>18 years) were enrolled in this study. All had symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss in both ears (four-frequency hearing threshold difference of no more than 20 dB, PTA). Individuals with primary affective disorders, psychosis, below-average intelligence, poor German language skills, visual impairment, and a medical diagnosis with potential impact on cognition (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases,) were excluded. Four-frequency hearing thresholds (dB, PTA, better ear) were collected. Using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, we assessed subjective hearing in noise. Clinical and subclinical depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II). Cognitive status was assessed with a neurocognitive test battery. Our findings revealed a significant negative association between subjective hearing in noise (APHAB subscale "Background Noise") and BDII. However, we did not observe any link between hearing thresholds, depression, and cognition. Additionally, no differences emerged between younger (25-54 years) and older subjects (55-75 years). Unexpectedly, further unplanned analyses unveiled correlations between subjective hearing in quiet environments (APHAB) and cognitive performance [phonemic fluency (Regensburg Word Fluency), cognitive flexibility (TMTB), and nonverbal episodic memory (Nonverbal Learning Test), as well as subjective hearing of aversive/loud sounds (APHAB)], cognitive performance [semantic word fluency (RWT), and inhibition (Go/Nogo) and depression]. Duration of hearing loss and speech recognition at quiet (Freiburg Monosyllables) were not related to depression and cognitive performance. Impact of hearing loss on mood and cognition appears to be independent, suggesting a relationship with distinct aspects of hearing loss. These results underscore the importance of considering not only conventional audiometric measures like hearing thresholds but also variables related to hearing abilities during verbal communication in everyday life, both in quiet and noisy settings.

Study on Health of Older People in Germany (Gesundheit 65+): objectives, design and implementation.

The longitudinal population-based study Gesundheit 65+ aimed to close data gaps on health and well-being of older adults in Germany in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The target population comprised persons 65 years and older permanently residing in Germany and with sufficient German language skills. Proxy interviews were possible and consent from legal representatives was obtained as necessary in order to enable participation of physically or cognitively impaired persons. A two-stage sampling process, was used to draw 128 primary sample points (PSUs) and within these PSUs sex- and age-stratified random samples were drawn from population registries. A mixed-mode design was applied to contact the study population and for data collection. Data were collected between June 2021 and April 2023. Participants were surveyed a total of four times at intervals of four months. At month 12 participants were offered a home visit including a non-invasive examination. Data on all-cause mortality and information on neighborhood social and built environment as well as health insurance data will be linked to primarily collected data at the individual level. Results will inform health politicians and other stakeholders in the care system on health and health care needs of older people in Germany.

The system of exercises and tasks for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence of prospective teachers of the german language

Exercises and tasks serve as learning tools for modeling a foreign language environment, a motive for communication, and a tool for improving cognitive-communicative and metacognitive learning strategies. The article deals with the methodical features of compiling a system of exercises and tasks for mastering the German language in the context of intercultural communication. The article considers a system of exercises and tasks for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence of future teachers during self-study work. An analysis of the specialized literature was carried out, which became the basis for the theoretical justification of the developing and use of exercises and tasks for the formation of a cultural secondary language personality. The generalized system covers all types of speech activities and contains communicative, semi-communicative and non-communicative exercises of a receptive, reproductive and productive nature, with the aim of forming and developing language and speech foreign language skills and abilities, which are based on the intercultural aspect. The author gives a number of examples of exercises according to the determined levels of mastering German-language material, namely receptive, reproductive-productive and creative. The criteria for developing exercises have been specified: focus on receiving or issuing information; communicativeness; motivation; level of action management; presence/absence of a game component; presence/absence of visual and illustrative supports; method of performing the exercise; cultural and emotional orientation of exercises. The system of exercises consists of subsystems, the goals of which are aimed at mastering the German language skills and abilities in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The specifics of using the acquired information for oral and written communication were studied. The article describes in detail the course of foreign language activities to ensure the consistent use of foreign language information for the purpose of acquiring cultural, linguistic, sociocultural knowledge and developing skills and abilities of intercultural communication. Special attention is given to the intercultural aspect of the content, the manifestation of which is the language and speech material, the communicative behavior of interlocutors during the intercultural communication. Interactive, innovative technologies and teaching methods are proposed for the effective application of exercises in order to optimize the educational process of future teachers during independent work.

Cultural immersion, acculturation strategies, and depressive symptoms among first-generation Vietnamese migrants in Germany.

Worldwide migration represents a major challenge of the 21st century. Despite the strong association between acculturation and mental health, research findings on underlining mechanisms remain inconsistent. Prior research urges to investigate sample characteristics in a more structured manner. The purpose of this study was to systematically investigate factors impacting acculturation and depressive symptoms in a large, not exclusively clinical, sample of Vietnamese migrants in Germany. This study investigated, with multiple regressions, factors (age at arrival, gender, education, religiousness, language skills, residence status, economic status, occupational status, migration motivation, duration of stay, and depressive symptoms) impacting the two dimensions of acculturation, dominant society immersion (DSI) and ethnic society immersion (ESI), in a not exclusively clinical sample (n = 582) of first-generation Vietnamese migrants in Germany. Further, this study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms, DSI and ESI with correlations and acculturation strategies with an ANOVA. Integration (72.5%) was the most common acculturation strategy, followed by separation (26.8%). In contrast, assimilation (0.5%) and marginalization (0.2%) were very rare acculturation strategies. As predictive factors for DSI lower depressive symptoms scores, male gender, higher education, and better German language skills were found significant. For ESI, less German language skills and older age at arrival were found to be significant. Higher ESI and DSI were correlated to lower depressive symptom scores. Compared to the three other acculturation strategies, integration was linked to the lowest depressive symptoms scores. The current study identified crucial factors in the acculturation process, such as depressive symptoms, language skills, education, gender, and age at arrival. Our findings emphasize that immersion into both the dominant and the ethnic culture plays an essential supportive role in the mental health of migrants.

Evaluation of a Web-Based Self-Help Intervention for Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent and severely distressing condition that can lead to functional impairments and is considered one of the most difficult anxiety disorders to treat. Following new technological developments, a highly structured cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach that has already shown success in face-to-face psychotherapy can be implemented: internet-delivered CBT (iCBT). There is now evidence for the efficacy of both guided and unguided iCBT interventions for GAD regarding symptom reduction. To establish the usefulness of such interventions, we plan to evaluate the efficacy of a web-based self-help program (Selfapy) for GAD in a relatively large sample. We aim to assess effects beyond symptom reduction, including effects on well-being, functioning, and mental health literacy, as well as the effect on health care burden, while testing the intervention in conditions comparable to routine care. Patients (n=156) who have been diagnosed with GAD, are aged between 18 and 65 years, have internet access, and have sufficient German language skills will be recruited for this study. The intervention group (n=78) will receive access to the 12-week self-help web-based program Selfapy. The waitlist control group (n=78) will receive no intervention in the context of the study. However, both groups will be allowed to access further health care services (eg, psychotherapy, medication), reflecting current routine care in Germany. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (T1) and 6 weeks (T2) and 12 weeks (T3) after the start of the intervention. The primary outcome will be generalized anxiety symptoms and quality of life at T3. Additional outcomes include depression, work capacity, therapy-related expenses and burdens, health literacy, and negative effects. By May 2023, all participants had finished the trial and the report was being prepared for publication. Web-based interventions may be an important addition to the German health care system to reduce barriers to treatment access. Further, they may prove cost-effective for the treatment of GAD. Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00023799; https://tinyurl.com/22bds38x. DERR1-10.2196/41440.

Exploring German Language Skills Learning Experiences Using The NURS Teaching Model

This mixed-method research study explores German skills using the NURS teaching model for students. It was conducted in the German educational department program at the Faculty of Language and Literature at Makassar State University. The research subject was 28 German academic students from two classes in the second semester. Research instruments in this study include syllabi, teaching plans, student activity sheets, and formative tests. Researchers use reading, listening, writing, and speaking tests to determine students’ competencies and skills. The data was examined by researchers using percentage techniques. German Average score of the students before they learn using the NURS teaching model is 75. The result shows that the average student's German-language skills in the A class are 80.75 and 83.50 for the B class. These improvements could be seen in the improvement in each class. Students of A class have improved in listening, 7.5% in reading, 13% in writing, and 11.5% in speaking. Conversely, students of B class have improved by 12% in listening, 9% in reading, 18% in writing and 15% in speaking. Another value of using the NURS teaching model in learning German is that it positively effect on the teachers’ skills, like management of teaching, time, and how to make students more enthusiastic during the learning process. It can be concluded that the NURS teaching model can improve students' German skills in the German educational department at the Faculty of Language and Literature of Makassar State University.

ALMANCA ÖĞRETİMİNDE COEDU YAZILIMININ KULLANIMI VE YARARLARI-USAGE AND BENEFITS OF COEDU SOFTWARE IN GERMAN LANGUAGE TEACHING-

The Coedu software, which was prepared to contribute to German language teaching, is discussed in the study. The aim of the research is to enable learners and teachers of German as a foreign language to access resources on the internet more quickly and to increase the quality of German language teaching. For this reason, the software called Coedu (Circle of Education) was designed and coded. In the research, a descriptive survey model was used, and the answer to the question "Does the Coedu education platform contribute to the improvement of the quality of German Language Teaching?" was sought. The study is limited to 32 second-year German language teaching students at Trakya University for the 2018–2019 academic year. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires with a total of 28 items were designed using the Likert model to gather the attitudes and opinions of the participants. After employing Likert-type questionnaire, the participants were given a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions asking them to interpret the lifelong learning, autonomous learning, and advantages of the Coedu platform, and qualitative data were collected from the participants. In the research, it was concluded that the Coedu software contributed to the teaching of German in many ways, including the improvement of German language skills, lifelong learning, and material development. The findings revealed that the software developed is effective in improving German language skills, and it both saves time and makes material preparation more enjoyable. Keywords: Computer-assisted German Language Teaching, Material Development, Instructional Management Systems.

The Deutsch.info Platform as a Means of Organizing German Language Students’ Independent Study

The article investigates the didactic properties of the deutsch.info German language learning online platform used by students of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University (Ukraine) in their independent educational activities. The aim of the present research is to identify the functional, content-related, technical, and aesthetic features of this web resource in the context of the current requirements for foreign language learning tools, to collect and analyze student feedback on deutsch.info based on their first-hand experience of using it, and to determine the conditions for its rational implementation into German language learning practice. Based on a survey featuring 37 students of the Faculty of Ukrainian and Foreign Philology of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University (Speciality 035 Philology. Germanic Languages and Literatures (Including Translation), Major: English), an empirical information research base is formed, which represents the full range of the students’ evaluations of the deutsch.info online platform as a means of independent study of the German language. The results obtained suggest that the majority of the respondents approve of the use of the web resource for an independent acquisition of German language knowledge and skills despite the lack of a German-Ukrainian dictionary and the inaccessibility of the site in an offline format. The platform benefits are reported to be its diverse and authentic content as well as its convenient navigation system. The collected data summarization allows for determining the conditions for the effective use of the deutsch.info platform in the practice of German language learning.

USEFUL WAYS LEARNING GERMAN LANGUAGE

This article explores effective and useful ways to learn the German language. Learning German offers various benefits, including expanded travel opportunities, academic pursuits, and career advancements. The article provides a comprehensive overview of methods such as language classes, immersion in German media, conversational practice, online resources, reading German literature, cultural immersion, goal setting, and tracking progress. It also emphasizes the importance of utilizing flashcards, joining online language communities, writing in German, engaging with German culture, utilizing language exchange apps, and seeking professional language tutoring. By incorporating these strategies, language learners can enhance their German language skills and achieve fluency in an engaging and efficient manner.

Non-inferiority of a hybrid outpatient rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial (HIRE, DRKS00028770)

BackgroundPhysiotherapeutic telerehabilitation in various musculoskeletal and internal diseases, including back pain, might be comparable to face-to-face rehabilitation or better than non-rehabilitation. In Germany, a standardized back school for patients with chronic back pain is provided in outpatient rehabilitation centers. The effectiveness of this standardized back school was shown in a randomized controlled trial in face-to-face rehabilitation. This study examines non-inferiority of a hybrid rehabilitation applying a digital version of the standardized back school against a rehabilitation applying the face-to-face back school.Methods/designWe recruit 320 patients in eight German outpatient rehabilitation centers. Patients are randomized equally to the intervention and control groups. Patients aged 18 to 65 years with back pain are included. Patients lacking a suitable private electronic device and German language skills are excluded. Both groups receive the standardized back school as part of the 3-week rehabilitation program. The control group receives the back school conventionally in face-to-face meetings within the outpatient rehabilitation center. The intervention group receives the back school online using a private electronic device. Besides the back school, the patients participate in rehabilitation programs according to the German rehabilitation guideline for patients with chronic back pain. Hence, the term “hybrid” rehabilitation for the intervention group is used. The back school consists of seven modules. We assess data at four time points: start of rehabilitation, end of rehabilitation, 3 months after the end of rehabilitation and, 12 months after the end of rehabilitation. The primary outcome is pain self-efficacy. Secondary outcomes are, amongst others, motivational self-efficacy, cognitive and behavioral pain management, and disorder and treatment knowledge. Guided interviews with patients, physicians, physiotherapists and other health experts supplement our study with qualitative data.Discussion/aimOur randomized controlled trial aims to demonstrate non-inferiority of the online back school, compared to conventional implementation of the back school.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00028770, April 05, 2022).

With a little help from my friends? Acculturation and mental health in Arabic-speaking refugee youth living with their families.

Refugee youth are often faced with the compounding challenges of heightened exposure to traumatic events and acculturating to a new country during a developmental period when their sense of self is still forming. This study investigated whether refugee youth's acculturation orientation (separation, integration, marginalization, and assimilation) is associated with depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms and aimed to identify additional indicators of acculturation that may contribute to mental health. A total of 101 Arabic-speaking refugee youths (aged 14-20 years), who were living with their families and attending school in Germany, took part in the study. They answered questions concerning traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and several indicators of acculturation, including cultural orientation, positive and negative intra- and intergroup contact, language skills and friendship networks. All participants were categorized into one of four acculturation orientations using median splits. Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests revealed that acculturation orientation was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms [χ2 (3, 97) = 0.519, p = 0.915] or posttraumatic stress symptoms [χ2 (3, 97) = 0.263, p = 0.967]. Regression analysis revealed that German language skills were significantly associated with lower scores of depressive symptoms (p = 0.016) and number of friends in Germany was significantly associated with lower scores of depressive (p = 0.006) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (p = 0.002), respectively. Policies that provide refugee youth with access to language classes and social activities with peers do not only enable them to actively participate in a new society but may also have a positive effect on their mental health.

Teacher’s perceptions of separate language learning models for students with immigrant background in Austrian schools

ABSTRACT The majority of European educational systems regard the provision of high-quality language and learning support for students with immigrant background as the greatest challenge and consider separate language support classes as ‘the solution’ to the educational disadvantages these students face. Austria recently implemented separate language support programmes (‘German language support classes and courses = GLSCC’) for students with beginner-level German language skills. There is a growing body of literature which indicates that separate language learning programmes result in lower academic achievement of students with immigrant background compared to inclusive programmes. This study presents teachers’ perceptions (n = 1.267) of positive or negative effects of the GLSCC in Austrian schools. With regard to positive effects, teachers view the GLSCC as an opportunity for individualised and differentiated instruction. However, many teachers reported negative effects in the social dimension which refer to social exclusion and processes of othering. Furthermore, the findings indicate a variety of deficiencies on a didactic (e.g. students miss content in other subjects) and organisational level (e.g. lack of adequate rooms) and indicate a strong need for improved teacher education and training to teach heterogeneous classes.

‘We are not the ones to blame’. Gamblers’ and providers’ appraisal of self-exclusion in Germany

BackgroundGiven low utilization by individuals experiencing gambling problems the potential of self-exclusion (SE) might be not fully exploited in Germany. This paper aims to gain insight into different actors’ perceptions and reflections on the problems and difficulties in the process of self-exclusion to delineate which specific attitudes hamper a successful implementation of SE.Methods13 individual and four group interviews with individuals experiencing gambling problems and governmental or commercial gambling providers were examined. A Grounded Theory Approach was used to portray the opinions of these different actors on existing regulations of SE and to delineate potentially diverging interests between the distinct groups.ResultsThe interviewees agreed on the usefulness of SE and consented that it is important to early recognize individuals experiencing gambling problems. They also considered the present practice insufficient but for different reasons. Individuals experiencing gambling problems and providers particularly disagreed on addressing individuals experiencing gambling problems. While individuals experiencing gambling problems stated that they had hardly ever been approached, providers argued that help offers were mostly rejected. Especially commercial providers also regarded insufficient German language skills and rapid fluctuation of guests as strong barriers to approaching individuals experiencing gambling problems. Interviewees from governmental venues furthermore suspected that commercial providers took addressing individuals experiencing gambling problems less seriously.ConclusionOur results emphasize the dilemma of conflicting interests in both individuals experiencing gambling problems and providers. Rather than acting against the economic interests of employers, venue staff blame individuals experiencing gambling problems for lack of problem recognition. Conversely, individuals experiencing gambling problems blame the providers for not offering help. To address individuals experiencing gambling problems appropriate staff training is required, and SE regulations need to be controlled by an independent body rather than by the providers themselves.

Abortion in Germany: legal situation, challenges and current developments considering the COVID-19 pandemic

Abortions are commonplace in Germany. For years, the numbers have changed very little, with about 60abortions per 10,000 women of reproductive age per year. Those affected and the doctors who perform the abortions have to overcome many hurdles imposed on them by legislation (e.g., §§218 ff., Pregnancy Conflict Act).This discussion paper presents data and facts on abortion in Germany. In addition, the following questions are answered: What are the reasons for not using contraception? What factors motivate unplanned pregnant women to terminate their pregnancy? What abortion methods are available? What are the hurdles that have to be overcome before an abortion? The legal situation in Germany is described and it is explained how vulnerable groups such as single parents and people with poor German language skills or alow level of education are particularly affected by the challenges that arise. Moreover, in recent years, fewer and fewer doctors are willing to perform abortions. In addition to personal motives, the high effort, and inadequate remuneration, the reasons include dealing with criminal complaints and hostility. As aresult, the practices that perform the procedure are rare and difficult to reach for unintentionally pregnant women. The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the situation, especially for vulnerable groups. However, it has been observed that telemedical offers for abortion "at home" gained in popularity.To ensure that unintended pregnant women continue to receive the professional care they need in the future, urgent measures must be taken to reduce the various hurdles.

Zahlreiche Faktoren verringern die Erfolgs-aussichten von Grundsicherungsbeziehenden

Abstract Who accomplishes a work-related exit from welfare benefit receipt for job-seekers and what prevents others from achieving it is a key question for practitioners and researchers. We use data from the Panel Study Labour Market and Social Security (PASS) to examine the relevance of individual labour market barriers in this context. In particular, an age of 51 years or older, long-term benefit receipt, severe health limitations, lack of vocational qualifications, and poor German language skills worsen the chances of leaving welfare benefit receipt. The presence of children in the household reduce the chances of taking up employment for women only.

PENINGKATAN KOMPETENSI BERBICARA GURU BAHASA JERMAN DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN MEDIA DIGITAL

The activity under the title Improving the Speaking Competence of German Language Teachers using Digital Media aims to improve German speaking skills of teachers at the BI level by using digital media. The importance of improving teachers' speaking skills, is one of the factors supporting the career of German language teachers, in addition to their pedagogical competence. Beside of that, teachers can apply it in the process of learning German in class. The expectation is teachers are able to develop themselves and learn for the advancement of their career and compete globally. According to observations, it is seen that not all teachers understand the model test of German language skills at level B1. In addition, some teachers still do not take advantage of developing digital media to improve language competence. One of the language skills that is deemed necessary to be trained is speaking. As one of the productive competencies, speaking skills need to be trained continuously as part of improving language competence. As an institution which produces professional educators, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Pattimura University needs to provide knowledge and experience in helping German language teachers improve speaking competence at B1 level. This activity involved 16 German Language teachers from high school in West Seram Regency. The used methods were varied, namely playing, lecturing, question and answer, discussion, partner work and group work. This activity is carried out in several stages. First, it begins with the introduction of the B1 level of speaking competency test. Second, providing material about digital media and techniques that can be used. Third, implementation. In this stage, the teachers practiced speaking with partners. Then they discussed and working the task in groups. Finally, presenting the project of the group's work about tourism spot in West Seram