Forced Migrant's Language Learning

What did we find out?

Learners felt that they succeeded through:

Having learning resources and learning opportunity:

  • Having learning material relevant to day-to-day experiences
  • Learning culture; inside and outside the classroom
  • Studying subjects of interest using English
  • Solving practical problems using English

Being around many and varied English speakers, and speakers of their own language:

  • Having positive social interaction with English speaking groups and individuals
  • Having informal learning situations
  • Making informal learning partnerships
  • Having a positive and encouraging teacher
  • Having someone that could explain things in their own language
  • Having someone they trusted who spoke their own language

Also by:

Living in a multicultural town or city where people speak varied English, many others are learning too, and people are used to hearing learners speak

Using initiative - making choices and taking opportunities to use their language and meet people

To find out more about I came to these conclusions please download a copy of the full dissertation (1.5 MB).

To comment on your experiences of learning, and whether you agree or disagree with the conclusions, visit my Forced Migrants' Language Learning Blog.