Speak Freely

I just got good news for (some of us) foreigners who need all the help we can get with this language. Free help is on the way!

I emailed a question to the ministry for public affairs and here's what they responded*:

Dear Madam/Sir,

in July 2008 a Decree on integration of aliens entered into force, which forsees the implementation of certain measures with the aim of facilitating the
integration of aliens in the slovene society.

Among those measures is a Slovene language course, provided by the Ministry of the Interior free of charge, but only to aliens fulfilling certain conditions:
- third-country nationals with the permanent residence permits and their family members with residence permits, issued on the basis of family reunification,
- third-country nationals that reside in Slovenia on the basis of temporary residence permits at least 2 years and have been issued a temporary residence permit for at least another year and their family members with residence permits, issued on the basis of family reunification.

The implementation of the courses will begin presumably in May 2009 and you will be able to apply for the course in April 2009 at the administrative unit, where you reside.

A decree is available at http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200865&stevilka=2821,
however only in slovene language (Uredba o integraciji tujcev, Uradni list RS, št. 65/2008).

Best regards,
PR Office, Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Slovenia.

I will look into this more in the summer by inquiries at the local admin unit (because the language isn't the clearest and the public servants are quite often not the sharpest knives)...but if I am entitled to free goods or services I am always diligent in the pursuit! Will keep you posted.


*I know this is full of errors. I should probably offer my proofreading services to the government....