Community interpreting as a means to overcoming communication barriers for people with German as a second language: Areas of application, requirements, professionalisation

In Germany today, we cannot deny that we are living in a migration society with thousands of migrants facing major integration difficulties due to existing language barriers. Although the German Immigration Act of 2005 provides different mechanisms to improve the active integration of newly arrived immigrants, with all of these mechanisms being practical and necessary, they nonetheless only become effective in the longer term (integration and language courses). However, the act does not contain any offers that immediately provide support or help to eliminate the language barriers that these population groups with German as a foreign or second language are confronted with in everyday situations.