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After a Decade Teaching Refugees, German Instructor Says Language Alone Falls Short

He reports that widespread illiteracy plus war trauma left many stuck at basic literacy.

Overview

  • Vanamali Gunturu, a longtime German teacher in the Munich area, delivers a sobering ten-year appraisal of the 2015 refugee cohort.
  • He argues that integration requires adopting societal values, not just learning German or entering the workforce.
  • He recalls emergency classes with up to 25 pre-literate adults and estimates only 30–40% overcame illiteracy.
  • He says punctuality, cleanliness, and mutual respect have not taken hold for most students and faults weak expectations from schools and authorities.
  • He identifies religion as a core identity factor driving conflicts with secular public norms, while noting isolated successes and that he continues teaching at VHS Germering.