Civic integration in the evening - Municipality of Woerden
Civic integration in the evening
Krtash Semere
Originally from Eritrea, 29-year-old Krtash Semere has been living in the Netherlands for three years. She loves technology and is happy that she has now started her MBO program in Electrical Engineering. 'In my home country, I worked as a mechanic for four years. That is what I want to do in the Netherlands now too.'
Krtash is eager to learn, which is why she did not want to start working immediately. She chose to continue her studies in technology alongside her civic integration course. TopTaal gave her the opportunity to do her civic integration in the evening, so that she could go to the Technical School during the day. She is now following the Electrical Engineering program. At the MBO, she only gets one hour of Dutch per week. Far too little, she thinks. Because she does not yet feel at ease with the Dutch language. She would like to improve her language skills at a faster pace.
Language is important when you start working or want to learn a trade
Evening classes
Krtash: 'The courses at TopTaal were very good. I learned to speak, read, and listen. I passed my Listening, Reading, and Writing exams. I am still waiting for the results of the Speaking exam. Language is important when you start working or when you want to learn a trade. Now I am going to do the ONA course, Orientation on the Dutch Labor Market, in the evening. That is mandatory for civic integration. The lessons are very important.'
Krtash finds the most difficult part of the Dutch language to be the multitude of meanings a word can have. Eritrean is more straightforward in that regard, according to her. What makes the lessons difficult is the fact that she thinks about her husband so much. The couple married ten years ago, but there is little chance that her husband can come to the Netherlands. Still, she keeps hoping. 'I live alone in the Netherlands now. My family lives in Eritrea. I long very much to be able to see my husband again.'
The courses at TopTaal were very good. I learned to speak, read, and listen