Almost three years after arriving in Ireland from Cuba, Mr Vladimir Villazon (46) has finally got a place on a formal language training course.
"I started studying three weeks ago," he said. "It was very frustrating to be waiting such a long time but I am happy to be doing the course now."
Mr Villazon, who is married with a baby girl, arrived here without a word of English, which he said "made my life very hard. All I could do was use the international language, my hands".
Like other asylum-seekers, he could not work or avail of education or training facilities while his asylum application was being processed. "I waited nearly three years to be allowed on a FAS course. It is not good to be doing nothing for so long."
Mr Messahel Brahim (34), from Algeria, shared the view that one of the biggest obstacles for refugees arriving in Ireland is the language barrier. "My English was terrible. Learning the language was the first thing I had to do and it really helps to do a course. I found it was not enough to do one or two hours a day twice a week. It has to be more regular."
Both refugees are now attending special English language classes through the Refugee Support Unit, which was established last year by the Department of Education under the aegis of Trinity College Dublin. Students from these classes can progress to special training courses at FAS centres and on to mainstream FAS courses or employment.
Mr Brahim said when he arrived in 1998 with his wife, a doctor, he felt quite isolated and mixed only with other Algerians. He has since begun to integrate more, partly thanks to the Trinity course.
"I have a good impression of the Irish people. They have been very friendly," said Mr Brahim.
Both he and Mr Villazon agreed the State agencies could do more to integrate refugees at an early stage, when they were at their most vulnerable. It was important, they said, to allow people to work and educate themselves so they did not become dependent on social welfare supports.
A former banker, Mr Brahim has just started a computer course and hopes to start work soon. As for Mr Villazon, he said his priority was "to get a skill".
