This paper will discuss how (national) values are by law incorporated into the process of integration and the conception of language teaching material in Austria. Further, consequences for the positioning of migrants will be discussed.
In 2017, a new integration law was introduced in Austria that makes it compulsory for a certain group of migrants (refugees, people with subsidiary protection status and people from third countries) to pass a language and value test – failing can result in sanctions such as losing financial support by the state. Values are now part of the official integration process and have been incorporated into language teaching material and language classes, this has consequences for both, language learners and language teachers. The introduction of the law was accompanied by criticism from non-governmental organisations as well as from language experts. People who are subject to integration at present have to achieve even more than before; learning the language and to assimilate on different levels is not enough. Proof has to be given that values have been learned. But what are (Austrian) values and how are they defined? And do we have certain values once we are able to choose the right answer in a multiple choice test? The new policy adds another hurdle in the integration process and impacts the perception and positioning of migrants in society.
