Elie: ”This is how I got to know Sweden as a country”

Elie Sassine came to Sweden from Lebanon in late 2013.  

A few months later, Elie started to study Swedish for immigrants (SFI), at Iris – and since then he’s had a rising career within the same company.

”SFI opened so many doors for me,” he explains.

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In Lebanon, Arabic and French are spoken, with some English.

When Elie came to Sweden from Lebanon, he found he was suddenly in a country where they speak a completely different language to him, with a culture that was far from the one he was used to.

As soon as Elie got his social security number three months after he arrived, he signed up for SFI, so he could learn to speak Swedish.

Another three months later, he had completed both the C and the D-level of the course – something that usually takes about a year.

”Yes, it all went really fast and I learned quickly,” Elie laughs.

His progress did not go unnoticed at the school, who decided to hire him.

”Fortunately for me, the school recognized that I could be an asset for them as an employee, to help students with the language studies” he explains.

Elie’s first job was to be an extra asset for the students, along with a responsible teacher, especially the ones that needed a bit extra help.

”It was mainly translation, so that the pupils could better understand. But it went on to be a lot more than that, Elie says.”

Today, Elie has worked with most of Iris’s products.

He’s been a support worker for people who have entered into education through Arbetsförmedlingen, had his own classroom within SFI and he’s now teaching math at their Komvux (adult education), both as a distance course and in a classroom.

“SFI was the way in” 

According to Elie, SFI is the reason for his successful career. Not only did he learn the Swedish language, but SFI was also a great way for him to learn about Swedish people and  culture.

”The SFI course opened my eyes to the fact that everyone’s different.

”I, as an immigrant, suddenly found myself in a classroom with people from all around the world, where everyone had different backgrounds and reasons as to why they were sitting in that classroom.

”I understood that the Swedish language was what connected us – but I learned that it was far more than that,” Elie says.

He continued: ”We learned a lot of things about Sweden which are crucial to someone who wants to live here.

”We learned to understand the people here and how they think, and not least, what is expected from us.”

Elie’s tips for immigrants in Sweden

Arriving in a new country isn’t easy, as most people who have had to make that transition would probably agree.

In Elie’s case, there weren’t any major problems for him as an immigrant, and he’s convinced that his integration is a key part of that.

”When you first arrive in Sweden, you should use the opportunities you’re given to build a future.

”Take SFI as an example, that’s something you can do for free – so you should definitely do that.

”I see SFI as a ’key’ to the country. Some people come here with the wrong mindset, thinking that they aren’t allowed to be themselves anymore.

”That’s not true, you should always be yourself, but you need to understand the Swedes and their culture,” he says.

How to study SFI at Iris

To study SFI, apply at your ’hemkommun’, the municipality where you’re registered.

You’ll find more information on how the application process works on your municipality’s website.

In order to study at Iris, it’s important that you inform your ’hemkommun’ of this when you’re applying.

There are Iris schools in Liljeholmen, Vällingby, Flemingsberg and Linköping.

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