Publication Date
2013
Research Design
Mixed-method
Abstract and Research Question
What are the English language skill challenges faced by refugees in Worcester, and how do they effect the facilitation of refugee integration?
Our research explores the role of English language proficiency in the process of refugee integration in Worcester. Through interviews with refugees participating to the African Community Education (ACE), our study found that most of the refugees in Worcester did not make the choice of their new hometown and had little knowledge about English language before coming in. The combination of those two factors makes it harder for them to get along with the members of their new community. Our research also found that with the educational environment conducive to learning English offered within the city of Worcester the refugees were able to overcome the initial challenges they were facing. The efforts to learn English are even greater when the refugees are informed about the social and professional opportunities that they would not have access to without speaking English.
Keywords
Refugees, African, Worcester, ESL, English, Integration
Did the research upon which this submission is based involve human subjects/participants?
Yes
If yes, did the research receive Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval?
Yes
When did the project/research take place?
01/13-05/14
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Sarkis, Marianne; Gusau, Abubakar; Diggs, Moudwe; and Pun, Prayas, "The Role of English Language Proficiency in the Process of Refugee Integration in Worcester" (2013). Local Knowledge: Worcester Area Community-Based Research. 22.
https://commons.clarku.edu/localknowledge/22